Manhattan Speeding Ticket Lawyer

Believe it or not, the stakes are high after you’re given a speeding ticket. To mitigate the ticket’s effects on your life, work with a Manhattan speeding ticket attorney.

Being given a speeding ticket may seem like a common, harmless occurrence. But in reality, this type of charge could have serious ramifications on your life. Luckily, our team at the Law Office of James Medows is here to help you make things right and protect your future.

While most of us have witnessed someone speeding or have done so ourselves, it doesn’t mean it’s any less illegal, and if a police officer has evidence against you, it can be tough to get out of a ticket. That’s why it’s so important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You need help building a strong defense to protect yourself from the serious consequences of a ticket.

Fortunately, our team can help you succeed and get your sentence reduced or dismissed completely. We encourage you to team up with a Manhattan speeding ticket lawyer to fight your ticket and move on with your life.

Traffic Laws in New York

Although they may seem relatively straightforward, the driving laws in New York can be rather complicated. Most people are aware of what is called absolute speeding law. This essentially means that drivers are required to adhere to the given speed limit in any area. If you go over that number, it will be considered speeding, and you will be given a ticket.

But what many people don’t know is that there is actually another driving law to be aware of. This is called basic speeding law. This regulation stipulates that simply following the posted speed limit is not enough. You must also consider the conditions of the road.

For example, perhaps there is an area where the speed limit is fifty miles per hour on a normal, sunny day. Under basic speeding law, this same rule would not apply if the road was dark and wet. At that point, you would need to account for the conditions and slow down.

This law can lead to many people getting a ticket simply because they aren’t sure what would be considered speeding in the current conditions. Here’s the good news: Your Manhattan speeding ticket defense lawyer will be able to argue this point on your behalf in traffic court.

Camera Ticket or Officer Ticket?

Additionally, it’s also crucial to be aware of how you might be given a speeding ticket in Manhattan. Most people know they can be pulled over by a police officer for speeding. However, there is another way that is much more subtle.

Many states, including New York, utilize motion-activated public cameras that take photographs of the driver’s license plate and gauge his or her speed. After the photo has been taken, an officer will review the footage and send out a speeding ticket.

Obviously, this can be quite frustrating and confusing. Technology isn’t perfect, after all, and you might be issued a ticket unfairly, all because of a malfunction or error with the camera or a misinterpretation of the photo or footage.

Whether you’re dealing with an officer-issued ticket or an automated one, we will find any issues and defenses for your case. After all, machines can malfunction, and you may find your Manhattan speeding ticket dismissed despite what may seem like clear evidence at first.

Penalties for Manhattan Speeding Violations

While receiving a speeding ticket might seem like a minor offense at first, it’s actually a charge that can come with some hefty repercussions. The penalties for speeding have the potential to affect your life in a variety of ways, from your financial security to your ability to drive at all.

The Financial Toll

The primary penalty most people associate with speeding tickets is the fine they’ll have to pay. The severity of these fines can vary extensively, and if your charge is more serious, you might find that your finances are compromised.

In New York state, speeding tickets can range anywhere from $45 to $600, depending on the circumstances of your case, including how fast you were going. This can be a devastating amount for some people, depending on your financial situation.

After all, $600 may be a significant portion of your rent, food budget, or other necessary expenses you need to live your life. Even a $45 fine may cut into the funds you need for daily expenses, and this just adds strain to your life.

Long-Term Problems

But there’s another penalty many people don’t consider when they’ve been given a speeding ticket. And failing to fight the infraction could have severe ramifications on your life. If you choose to leave it alone and simply pay off the ticket, you could be setting yourself up to have a suspended license.  

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has a point system that affects the status of your license. For every moving violation you’re convicted of, a number of points will be added to your driving record. If you hit or exceed eleven points within an eighteen-month period, your license will be suspended.

Similarly to the cost of the fines associated with your ticket, the number of points added to your driving record will depend on how fast you were going. For example, someone going less than ten miles over the speed limit might only get a few points, whereas a person going forty miles over may have an automatic suspension.

If you don’t fight this, it will affect much of your life going forward. While many people choose to walk around the city, your license may get you to work or school, and losing it will add to your daily burden. These points won’t go away quickly, either, so even if you still have your license, they could affect you down the road.

The Point System

The point system helps the DMV track multiple offenses and punish those who make several infractions during a short period. Don’t forget—you may be charged with more than one infraction in a single ticket. In addition to your speeding ticket, then, you might have others that’ll bring you closer to a suspension.  

Each infraction has a different point value, and your need to act becomes even more urgent as you get closer to eleven points. In New York state, the point system for speeding violations can be broken down as follows:

• Drivers going between one and ten miles over the speed limit will be given three points on their license.
• Drivers going between eleven and twenty miles over the speed limit will be given four points on their license.
• Drivers going between twenty-one and thirty miles over the speed limit will be given six points on their license.
• Drivers going between thirty-one and forty miles over the speed limit will be given eight points on their license.
• Drivers going forty-one miles or more over the speed limit will automatically be given eleven points on their record, and their license will automatically be suspended.

How to Defend Against Manhattan Speeding Tickets

With the help of a qualified Manhattan speeding defense attorney from our firm, you’ll be able to avoid the stress and outcomes mentioned above. Your attorney will handle all communications and negotiations with the court on your behalf. We’ll also implement some effective defense strategies to either have your charges reduced or thrown out completely.

Some defenses your attorney may utilize include the following:

• Proving that the officer who issued your ticket didn’t gauge your speed properly
• Arguing that the camera that led to your ticket malfunctioned or recorded information incorrectly
• Proving that the officer incorrectly displayed his or her evidence against you
• Proving that you had to speed to keep yourself safe, such as driving over the speed limit because you wanted to get around a vehicle whose driver you believed to be drunk
• Proving that you had to speed to avoid harming another person

It’s not easy to find success with these defenses without the help of an attorney. When you have one on your side to help you prepare your case, the stress won’t be on you. Your lawyer will be ready to fight for your case and seek what’s necessary to get your speeding ticket dismissed.

How a Speeding Ticket Lawyer Can Help

When fighting your speeding ticket, you may be considering self-representation to save money on attorney fees and get the process going as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this can hurt your case and leave you stuck with all the fees you had before, plus court fees.

Many people turn to the Internet for help with their ticket, but unfortunately, much of the information out there is misleading or may focus you on a specific defense that may not work for your unique case. For example, many people may argue against any minor mistake in their ticket, such as the wrong car color, but clerical errors usually aren’t enough. You’ll need a much larger mistake for this strategy.

Representing yourself means that you lose the chance to use all the resources a lawyer will have available. For example, a lawyer will have access to expert testimony or information about the area that you may not have, which limits your case when you choose to represent yourself.

You Need a Voice of Authority

While disputing a ticket may sound simple, it can take work, especially when speaking against a police officer. After all, the police may have plenty of evidence against you, and they are likely a common sight in the courtroom. When they’ve handled so many tickets, they have authority in that area.

Fortunately, a speeding attorney in Manhattan will be able to fight back for you. While the judge may be inclined to agree with the officer, a lawyer can use his or her experience and knowledge of speeding ticket laws to get your ticket reduced or dismissed. Using some of the strategies listed above and more, we can fight back against the treatment you’ve received and keep your record clean.

If you’re not completely certain about the direction you are taking with your case and what defense you’ll use, contacting a lawyer can make a huge difference. Fighting a speeding ticket won’t be easy, but with the right help, you can get the results you’re after.

Manhattan Speeding Ticket FAQ

Below, we have answered some common questions about speeding tickets in Manhattan. If you give us a call, we’ll be happy to answer any other questions you have.

I was issued a ticket for speeding and improper cell phone use. Can you help with more than speeding tickets?

Yes. It’s not uncommon for officers to issue tickets for multiple violations in the same traffic stop. And while this type of offense can accumulate points on your license quickly, we can defend you against all kinds of traffic tickets in Manhattan, from cell phone tickets to wrong-way driving infractions.

How will a speeding ticket affect my auto insurance premiums?

Insurers examine your driving record to calculate your monthly premiums. This is yet another reason to fight a speeding ticket. While the immediate fines can be burdensome, higher insurance premiums years into the future can prove to be far more costly.

Will I get points on my license for a speeding ticket I received out of state?

Unless the ticket was issued in Ontario or Quebec, your New York drivers license will not be affected by out-of-state tickets. The state of New York has an agreement with these Canadian provinces, and speeding tickets issued there can affect your New York driving record.

Team Up with a Manhattan Speeding Ticket Attorney

If you were charged with a speeding violation and want to fight back, our team at the Law Office of James Medows is here to help you find success. We would be happy to help you as you fight to have your ticket reduced or dismissed.

Give our office a call today at 917-856-1247 or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page to schedule an initial consultation with a Manhattan speeding ticket lawyer.

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