No. You will not have to appear in Court
For all traffic infractions; like speeding, cell phone use, passed red light, you will not have to appear in court once you hire us to represent you. However, if you are charged with a misdemeanor, for example Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, your appearance in court will be required.
We will let you know if your personal appearance is required.
A Criminal Charge Based on Driving with a Suspensded Licence
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation or “AUO” is a misdemeanor, and therefore a crime under New York law.
A person is guilty of the offense of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the 3rd degree when a person operates a motor vehicle upon a public highway while knowing or having reason to know that their license or privilege of driving has been suspended, revoked or otherwise withdrawn by the DMV.
AUO Charges May Come as a Surprize
AUO charges sometimes...
Adjournment means to put off a court session until a later time.
In traffic cases, lawyers routinely request adjournments to give time to meet with the prosecutor, obtain a necessary document, or for other good reason related to the case. Courts liberally grant adjournments for good reason.
If we tell you that your case been adjourned, it means you don't have to worry about the court date on the ticket. Thereafter, we keep track of the dates and, if necessary, request additional adjournment to give time to complete your case. Once you hire us to be your...
You Get Your First Speeding Ticket Ever
You are late for an important meeting and decide that getting there faster is worth the risk of getting your first ticket. You hit the gas and the speedometer soon reads "78 mph." You are driving in a 55 mph zone, and flashing lights have just appeared behind you.
The officer writes you a speeding ticket for 78 mph in a 55 mph zone. At this point, you can plead guilty by mail, try to represent yourself, or hire a lawyer to represent you. The process of representing yourself seems confusing and complicated and you think hiring a lawyer...
Pleading Guilty by Mail Creates a Conviction and Consequences Add Up Fast
After I explained to a client the way fines, points, and other consequences of traffic tickets accumulate, she thought that I should make: "Don't Just Plead Guilty by Mail" the tagline of this website. Others have reacted with sentiments like, "I wish I had I called you earlier." This is an important topic that affects all drivers so I encourage you to read on- if you would like the information personally, I invite you to call (315) 364-1155.
Here is a...
Absent a trial, the process described below applies to the vast majority of traffic violationsincluding tickets issued for speeding, cell phone use, failure to use seat belts, running a stop sign or red light, etc.
1. Sending the Letter of Representation to the Traffic Court
First we send a letter to inform the the court that we represent you and to enter a plea of not guilty on your behalf. We will also adjourn your case to later date to give us the opportunity to negotiate a reduction of your ticket. As a result, the court date printed on the ticket is no...
Completing a defensive driving course will reduce your point total by four points for suspension purposes and will reduce your insurance premiums by 10%. This article explains exactly how this works and provides links to NY DMV approved courses.
Continue Reading...
Driving is considered a privilege and because we do not have a right to drive we should take care to protect that privilege. Suspensions related to traffic infractions may come from the DMV or be initiated by a court.
Court Initiated Suspensions
A court will direct the DMV to suspend a driving license if a driver:
Fails to answer or appear for a ticket; or,
Fails to pay a fine to the court
When the court reports a driver to the DMV, the DMV will send a notice to to the driver that their license will be suspended on a certain date if no corrective action is taken....
A Driver Responsibility Assessment is a fee imposed by the New York State DMV on drivers with certain traffic, alcohol, or drug related convictions. The DMV will mail the bill for this assessment to your home after your case has been concluded and it must be paid in addition to fines, surcharges, and other penalties from the courts.
Pleading guilty to traveling 86 mph on the New York Thruway is enough to incur the assessment and it will cost you an extra $300. This extra penalty has surprised many people.
There are 2 relevant time periods involved: 1) the eighteen month window and 2) three years after a traffic conviction.