Queens Traffic Ticket Lawyer
The only real way to get out of a traffic ticket is to fight it in court. If you decide to fight, team up with a Queens traffic ticket attorney who can help.
A speeding ticket here and a cell phone ticket there may not seem like too big of a deal, but those fines are large and the points on your license last a long time. Trying to get out of a traffic ticket in Queens or handle the details yourself is generally a difficult endeavor.
To boost your chance of beating your traffic ticket, you’ll probably want to find a Queens traffic ticket lawyer to guide you along and fight for you every step of the way. After all, you don’t want to risk the penalties associated with a ticket.
Our attorneys at the Law Office of James Medows are experienced with Queens traffic ticket cases. We’ll be able to give you a good idea of what to expect and how to proceed. We’re here to protect you from the worst consequences and keep your drivers license intact.
New York’s Point System and Traffic Tickets
New York’s Traffic Violations Bureau tracks traffic violations and penalties using a point system for drivers licenses. Nearly every traffic violation carries a predetermined number of points, which will stay on your license for eighteen months.
When you reach six points in that time, you will be charged three years of driver responsibility assessments of $100 plus $25 for every point after six. This can total $675 with eleven points, which can put a serious financial strain on you and your family.
Earning eleven or more points in eighteen months will also get your license suspended until you pay for, attend, and pass a driving safety class, followed by more fines and fees. Losing your license in Queens is usually the worst you can look forward to, and it will cost you much more in the long run.
Once your license is suspended, you’ll have to do everything the hard way. Getting the kids to school, picking up groceries, and arriving at work on time all become much harder to accomplish. You might even be ridiculed by friends and family, or your bosses might lose faith in your judgment.
Moving Violations in Queens
You might be accused of committing one of dozens of traffic violations, and they all come with heavy fines and points on your license. In some circumstances, certain traffic offenses could even come with jail time. You may also see multiple infractions for the same stop. If the officer believed you were speeding while on your cell phone, for instance, you can get points on your license for both infractions.
The following are some common types of traffic tickets issued in Queens, as well as their potential penalties:
- Speeding – Exceeding the speed limit can come with anywhere from three to eleven points on your license, as well as a fine ranging from $45 to $600 or more (depending on your past offenses).
- Cell Phone Use – Improper cell phone or portable electronic device use while driving can carry a $50 to $450 fine (depending on the number of previous offenses you have had), as well as five points on your license.
- Disobeying Traffic Signs – Failing to obey traffic signals, stop signs, or yield signs could land you a $100 to $1,000 fine and three points on your license.
- Tailgating – Following another driver too closely could mean a fine between $85 and $535 and four points on your driving record.
- Failing to Stop for a School Bus – Expect a fine between $343 and $1,093 and five points on your license.
- Changing Lanes Unsafely and Improper Passing – Three license points and a hefty fine usually come with this charge.
- Other Moving Violations – General moving violations can result in two points on your license and varying fines.
Queens Traffic Ticket Penalties
The fines, points, and assessment fees from traffic tickets will have other consequences on your life. Exceeding the allowable number of points can lead to you losing your license, which can really mess up your day—and the next few months or years—but you can also expect to see other consequences.
Losing a license is tough, and when you’re unable to pay for those fees, it puts you in a dire situation. You need your license to keep your job and provide for yourself and your loved ones. If you’re unable to drive, it puts a strain on others and can make it more difficult to pay those fees.
If you’re paying for public transportation or covering someone else’s expenses for transporting you, that’s more expenses to add to the car insurance you’ll need to maintain even while you can’t drive, as well as the fines that come with a ticket. Over time, all of these can add up to a devastating amount.
Auto Insurance Penalties of Traffic Tickets
If you think the fines associated with your Queens traffic ticket are bad, try doing the math on higher insurance premiums for the foreseeable future. It’s not pretty, and it can haunt you for a long time moving forward.
Auto insurers have their own point system, and some keep points on your risk factors longer than the government does. Your rates can rise for every point, and if things get bad enough, you’ll lose your coverage, no reasonably priced provider will help, and you will have to spend thousands more on a high-risk insurer.
Of course, simply getting the traffic ticket doesn’t necessarily mean you will face all these punishments. Under New York state law, you have the right to defend yourself in court. Don’t waste that opportunity by going to court without a qualified Queens moving violation lawyer by your side.
Special Traffic Penalties for Different License Types
In New York, there are several different types of drivers licenses. The type you have will affect the punishments you could face if your Queens traffic ticket sticks.
For general adult licenses, the penalties discussed above are the norm. But you might hold a professional license or even a probationary or junior license. The penalties for using a cell phone while driving offer a good example of how penalties vary for holders of different licenses.
Probationary and Junior Drivers in Queens
New drivers with Class DJ or MJ drivers licenses or learners permits, as well as drivers under a probationary period after regaining their driving privileges, could have their license suspended for as long as 120 days if they’re given a ticket for improper cell phone use while driving.
A second conviction within six months of getting your license back could lead to lead to a suspension of a year or longer.
Potential Professional Penalties in Queens
Motor carriers and those who hold commercial drivers licenses face even more serious restrictions and career-ending penalties for cell phone use on the road. Pretty much any use is heavily penalized, and if it’s in your hand at all, they’ll presume you were using it.
Defenses for Queens Traffic Tickets
Your traffic ticket lawyer in Queens will conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding your traffic stop. Some tickets can be thrown out on the dash-cam footage alone. The courts and police just assume most people will take the path of least resistance and pay the fines. Don’t prove them right.
If we’re lucky, a technicality will solidify your case. If the officer was behind on some kind of training or his equipment, such as a radar gun or speedometer, hadn’t been calibrated properly or tested regularly, we might be able to get the most important evidence against you tossed out.
They may try to twist the words you used during the encounter against you, but we’ll be ready for tricks like these. Our goal is to get the case dismissed, win in court, or get you the best deal we can arrange. We’re here to serve you, so it’s always your choice, but we’ll be there to give you clear advice for every maneuver.
Defenses Against Traffic Cameras in Queens
Many drivers may assume that, if there’s a traffic camera involved, they’ll have to pay no matter what. When they forgo their chance to fight the ticket, however, they lose their chance to possibly have their case dismissed when a dismissal is a real possibility.
After all, traffic cameras may be different, but they’re not perfect. They can malfunction as easily as humans can err. Indeed, these cameras must have proper upkeep or their accuracy will be compromised.
Much like the officer who is behind on training or the untested radar gun, the tools used to charge you and give you a ticket can be disputed. This may be the best way to tackle your case, and fortunately, we will know what direction to take your case in. Every ticket will be different, but we can review your case with you and make sure you’re on track to a dismissal.
Why Hire a Traffic Attorney in Queens?
With many possible defenses laid out online, many people choose to take the Internet’s advice and try to defend themselves in court. But this is never as easy as it might sound. While you may save a little on legal fees, you risk losing your case by not preparing yourself with professional advice and guidance. Without the help of a traffic ticket lawyer in Queens, you may end up with a license suspension.
After all, an experienced lawyer may spot a flaw in the ticket’s evidence that you might otherwise miss. When your bank account and drivers license depend on finding these flaws, this can be detrimental to your case.
You also won’t have the resources a lawyer will have to use for your case. For example, a lawyer will know what to ask, can contact expert witnesses, and will have seen many other cases like yours. As such, we’ll know what to look for based on the context surrounding your ticket.
While representing yourself in traffic court may save you some money in a short-term sense, not using your chance to work with an attorney could mean leaving yourself to deal with the fees and penalties you were trying to avoid. When you’re facing a traffic ticket, getting it dismissed is priority number one.
Queens Traffic Ticket FAQ
Unfortunately, handling a traffic ticket can feel a little complicated, especially if you’ve never tried to fight one before and aren’t sure where to begin. Luckily, our lawyers are prepared to get you started and answer any questions you have. If you have a question and you don’t see it here, reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to help.
How long do I have to decide whether to appeal a traffic ticket?
In Queens, you’ll have thirty days to file your appeal, and you’ll need to send in that plea to the court or Traffic Violations Bureau. Your options to file will depend on which agency is receiving your ticket, but you’ll typically be able to send it in by mail or online form, or you can deliver it in person.
Does attending driving safety school in Queens reset my points?
Driving programs will subtract points from your license after completion, which can help if you’re nearing that eleven-point range. Keep in mind, however, that this doesn’t undo a conviction, and your insurance premiums may still be affected, depending on your policy.
What if the officer spelled my name wrong or my car’s make or model is wrong on the ticket?
Unfortunately, clerical errors like these may not be enough to completely dismiss your ticket because minor errors won’t affect your understanding of the ticket. If there are major errors, however, an attorney can help you understand how to use them to your advantage.
Speak with a Queens Traffic Ticket Attorney Today
The consequences of a traffic ticket can be vast. To avoid those consequences, you really don’t have any other choice than to fight back. You need a lawyer who knows how to win that fight.
Our team at the Law Office of James Medows will treat you with the respect you deserve, the honesty you need, and the support you desire. You can schedule a no-obligation, complimentary legal consultation with a Queens traffic ticket lawyer by calling us at 917-856-1247 or filling out the contact form below.