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NY Traffic Ticket Defense Articles

Legal insights, guides, and tips for handling traffic tickets in New York.

Traffic Law Basics 2 min read

What are Traffic Infractions as Opposed to Misdemeanors?

By Seth M. Azria, Esq.
Traffic Infractions and Traffic Misdemeanors in New York

1. Traffic Infractions are Not Crimes

"Traffic Infraction" is officially defined by the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 155 as non-criminal. If you are charged with a traffic infraction—as opposed to a misdemeanor or a felony—it means that you do not have to appear in court and you may answer the ticket by mail. Your answer may be "guilty" or "not guilty."

Legal Warning:
Even though an infraction is not a crime, we strongly advise against pleading guilty without first seeking a reduction. Pleading guilty can result in heavy fines, points on your license, and increased insurance premiums.

2. A Misdemeanor is a Crime

A misdemeanor, on the other hand, is classified as a crime and generally requires a physical appearance in court for an arraignment. Misdemeanors also carry increased fines, harsher penalties, and the potential for a permanent criminal record.

The most common misdemeanor traffic ticket in New York is Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO). For our clients facing misdemeanor charges, we always try to appear in court on their behalf and otherwise make the legal process as easy as possible.

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I contacted the office after receiving a speeding ticket. I was informed of my options and the likelihood of various outcomes and retained the services of the Azria office. The entire process was seamless and I was informed of the progress of the proceedings every step of the way. In the end, the case was reduced to a non moving violation. I would highly recommend the firm.

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Mr. Azria has been incredibly helpful towards my case! especially enduring the circumstances of corona virus conditions and policies, he has helped me dismiss my case once and for all! Any questions i had were answered within hours and i was always kept up to date. a great thanks to him and his firm from my father and I!

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I got a speeding ticket in the wonderful state of NY.(I live in Texas) I called Seth Azria and he was the best attroney I have ever dealt with just a great guy. He got my ticket reduced to a parking ticket with no points and his fee was very affordable. I will def use him again for any other instance I may need.I travel to Ny from time to time. I def recommend him worth every Penny.
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I highly recommend Azria & Bruffett Law Firm for their professional service handling traffic tickets. I got my first speeding ticket in October 2021 after driving in US for 8 years. Since I never had an experience dealing with traffic ticket before, I have no clue how to proceed the next steps. After asking for opinions from friends, I decided to ask for professional help because speeding ticket highly depends on states and there is no universal answer. After reading other people's review about Azria & Bruffett Law Firm, I decided to use their service to handle my case. I followed their step by step protocol to provide information and the firm would work with clients swiftly and closely and negotiate best interest. Most importantly, they are highly responsive and will proactively give updates. In summary, I start having a piece of mind since the moment I signed the contract. They charge a reasonable price for my case and I am very happy that my ticket got dismissed after 2 months