New York’s Ulster County is a popular destination spot for vacationers from New York and neighboring states. Much of Ulster County is comprised of the Catskill Mountain and resort-related activity makes up a major portion of its local economy. The county boasts more than 95 mountains; the highest point is 4,180 feet above sea level. 

Drivers cited for speeding in Ulster County should contact an experienced traffic ticket attorney who can fight to get the fines and other penalties reduced. Speeding tickets in Ulster County carry many hidden costs and can wreak havoc on one’s auto insurance rates. 

New York State Speeding Ticket Costs

A typical speeding ticket in Ulster County can cost between $150 and $600, depending on how far above the posted limit one was going. If convicted of speeding, a driver must also pay a mandatory state surcharge of $88 (if ticketed in a city) or $93 (in a town/village). A speeding ticket can also add between 3 and 11 points on one’s license. If a speeding ticket conviction brings the point total to 6 or more, the DMV will issue a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee. This is separate from the fine and costs $300 plus an additional $75 for each point over six. A driver’s insurance rates are likely to go up following a speeding conviction, which can add several hundred dollars to the fine cost of a speeding ticket. 

Speeding Ticket Data from Ulster County, NY

In 2022, a total of 13,684 speeding tickets were issued in Ulster County, accounting for 28.6% of all traffic tickets. This was just 153 fewer tickets than the previous year. The vast majority of the tickets were handed out by state troopers (80.6%), followed by local law enforcement (12.9%) and county police (6.5%).

The weekend was the prime period for drivers to get ticketed for speeding, with most citations being issued on Saturdays (15.7%) and Sundays (15.8%). Most of these tickets were for the traffic violation § 1180-d (Speed in Zone), as well as for § 1180-b (Speed Over 55 Zone) and § 1180-a (Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent).

Number of Speeding Tickets Issued in Ulster County (NY), 2013 – 2022

New York driver’s license holders were issued the most speeding tickets (80.6%). This was followed by drivers from the Northeast region of New York (13.1%), those from different U.S. states (3.9%), drivers from unknown areas (2.1%), and Canadian drivers (0.4%).

Only a small fraction of drivers in Ulster County (6.7%) managed to have their speeding tickets dismissed. Nevertheless, hiring an experienced traffic ticket attorney is the best way to  minimize the impact by reducing the ticket to a lesser offense, resulting in fewer or no points. Using their extensive experience and expertise, the attorney will negotiate with prosecutors to secure the best possible outcome.

Ulster County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets

Ulster County is located immediately to the west of the Hudson River, south of Albany County. Tourism is the major driving force of Ulster County’s economy (no pun intended). In addition to Catskill Mountain resorts, the area is known for its many nature trails, parks and preserves, including Minnewaska State Park, Mohonk Preserve, Sundown State Park, VerNooykill State Forest, Witches Hole State Forest, Shawangunk Ridge State Forest, and Sam’s Point Preserve. All these ensure there are many tourists traveling up I-87 through the county and along its many local roads. Police keep a close watch on those patronizing the local resorts and other businesses to ensure that drivers are driving safely and at the appropriate speed. 

Hiring an Ulster County Speeding Ticket Lawyer

Ulster County speeding tickets can ruin a person’s otherwise peaceful mountain vacation—but it doesn’t have to. Those who hire an experienced traffic ticket attorney can secure the best chance of getting the fines and points reduced or eliminated. In addition, by hiring an attorney a person does not have to make the climb to attend traffic court; an attorney can handle most speeding ticket matters in lieu of the driver. 

Contact Rosenblum Law to assist you with your speeding ticket matter in Ulster County. We can offer you a free consultation about your case and have our attorneys fight on your behalf. Our attorneys have represented clients in Ulster County for both traffic and criminal matters, including those in Denning, Esopus, Gardiner, Hardenburgh, Hurley, Kingston, Lloyd, Marbletown, Marlborough, New Paltz, Olive, Plattekill, Rochester, Rosendale, Saugerties, Shandaken, Shawangunk, Ulster, Wawarsing, and Woodstock. Call 888-434-0406 or email Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation about your case.

Speeding Ticket in Other Counties