Penalties for Failing to Yield to a Pedestrian in New York
Driving in New York City and the surrounding areas is exasperating to say the least. If you try to cross an intersection, you could be sitting there all day if you allow every single pedestrian to cross. Drivers are expected to follow the traffic laws, but they may do their best and still get surprised with a ticket for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
Getting a traffic ticket in NYC may not seem that life changing, but tickets add up quickly and the penalties can snowball, causing significant impact to your life. There are very real penalties for failing to yield to a pedestrian in New York, and you should speak to a traffic violation attorney to help you avoid getting hit with those penalties.
What “Does Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian” Mean?
When pedestrians have the right-of-way, such as when they are already in a crosswalk, or when they have a signal indicating it is their turn to cross, if you fail to stop to allow them to cross the street safely, you have committed the violation of failure to yield.
It seems simple enough, but in NYC where congestion and gridlock are huge problems, it’s easy to find yourself in a situation where these “rules” are tough to follow. For example, if you are at a particularly pedestrian-heavy corner, you may never cross if you yield to every single person.
Police officers or traffic enforcers can be a bit overzealous when they send you a ticket for failing to yield. They don’t usually look at the whole situation or the particulars of your circumstances. Of course, you want safe streets for pedestrians, but you shouldn’t be ticketed for the traffic congestion you didn’t cause.
What Are the Penalties for Failure to Yield?
If you receive a ticket, you shouldn’t pay it without first talking to a traffic violation attorney. Paying your ticket is considered an admission of guilt, which will automatically add points to your driving record. The more points you get, the greater the chance you have of losing your drivers license.
Here are the penalties for failure to yield to a pedestrian in New York:
- Fine of at least $105
- Three driving points
- Possible driver responsibility assessment fee
- Possible misdemeanor and jail time if injury or death occurs to the pedestrian
Fight Your Failure to Yield Ticket
If you’ve received a ticket for failing to yield, don’t pay up just yet. A skilled traffic attorney can help you fight against a traffic conviction, allowing you to avoid the penalties for failing to yield to a pedestrian.
Contact the Law Office of James Medows for a free case review. Our number to call is 917-856-1247, or you can simply complete our online contact form on this page.