In addition to being one of the most affluent counties in the U.S., Westchester also has the dubious distinction of being the No. 2 county for speeding tickets. This is likely because of the massive number of highways and thruways that crisscross the landscape, undoubtedly peppered with police on the lookout for speeding and other traffic offenses.
It’s tempting to just pay a speeding ticket issued in Westchester and be done with it. But that would be a huge mistake. Paying a ticket exposes a person to myriad consequences. This includes points, insurance rate increases, and even the risk of a suspension. Instead, a driver’s best bet is to call an experienced traffic ticket attorney to help him/her avoid the consequences of a conviction.
New York State Speeding Ticket Costs
Initial fines for speeding in New York range from $150 to $600, sometimes higher. But the fine is only part of the cost. Each citation also comes with a NYS surcharge of $88 to $93. Moreover, anyone who gets six or more points on their license will also be required to pay a DMV Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA). This is a separate fine that costs $100 per year for three years. Each point over six costs an additional $25 per year for three years. A single speeding ticket can also result in hundreds of dollars in insurance premiums increases, which typically last for three years or more.
Speeding Tickets Data from Westchester County NY
In 2018, police in Westchester handed out almost 40,000 speeding tickets. Despite this being less than one-quarter of the tickets issued in the county, Westchester speeding tickets still outnumber some counties’ total number of annual citations. More drivers were tagged for speeding in August (11%) than in any other month. State Police wrote a little over half (51.6%) of all speeding tickets, with much of the remainder handled by local police (43.8%). Unlike in many other counties, drivers in Westchester more often were ticketed for speeding in the middle of the week, particularly Tuesday.
Number of Speeding Tickets Given in Westchester County, NY
| Year | # of Speeding Tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 40,838 |
| 2010 | 45,448 |
| 2011 | 37,790 |
| 2012 | 38,859 |
| 2013 | 37,646 |
| 2014 | 38,121 |
| 2015 | 40,224 |
| 2016 | 44,403 |
| 2017 | 41,315 |
| 2018 | 39,350 |
Odds are any person pulled over for speeding in Westchester will end up with one or more non-speeding tickets. More than 85 percent of drivers who were stopped for speeding in 2016 received other citations. Drivers who are charged with speeding (or any other infraction in Westchester County) have the option to fight the charges and either get acquitted or negotiate a reduction in fines and points.
Westchester County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets
Located just north of New York City, Westchester is the second-most populous county on the mainland of New York State. The county measures 450 square miles, and is home to six cities, 19 towns, and 23 villages. Ten major highways run through the county, including the New York Thruway (I-87), I-95, the Bronx River Parkway, the Cross County Parkway, the Hutchinson River Parkway and the Taconic State Parkway.
Hiring a Westchester County Speeding Ticket Lawyer
Don’t accept the consequences of a speeding ticket in Westchester County. An experienced traffic defense attorney can assess the charges and offer a defense that will mitigate the fines and exposure to points. In fact, if a driver hires legal representation he/she may not have to show up to court themselves.
Contact the Rosenblum Law to assist you with your speeding ticket matter in Westchester County. We can offer you a free consultation about your case and have our attorney’s fight on your behalf. Our attorneys have represented clients in all the courts in Westchester County for both traffic and criminal matters including Bedford, Cortland, Eastchester, Greenburgh, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, New Castle, New Rochelle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Peekskill, Pelham, Pound Ridge, Rye, Scarsdale, Somers, White Plains, Yonkers, and Yorktown. Call 888-434-0406 or email Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation about your case.