Caution: Less Vehicle Accidents Likely Means More Traffic Tickets
Every year, about 3,000 New Yorkers are seriously injured while more than 200 are killed in traffic crashes. Further, getting hit by a car is the leading cause of injury-related death for minors under 14 and the leading cause for seniors. As a result, New York City’s Vision Zero initiative is a citywide plan that aims to reduce the number of traffic accidents.
Implemented in 2014, this policy priorities safety and engages in projects centered around engineering, enforcement and education to help make this vision possible. For example, NYPD traffic policing focuses on enforcing moving violations, like speeding and failing to yield to pedestrians, that are likely to kill or injure people. Speeding incidents have reduced by 60% near schools where cameras operate thanks to the city’s camera speed program.
While this is all intended to help people, it also means there’s a higher likelihood of getting a traffic violation ticket. Thus, you must be aware of what NYC officials look for and how they enforce their policies.
Vision Zero Enforcement
The NYPD utilizes a “precision policing” approach to target “Vision Zero violations” which are infractions most likely to pose a threat to road users’ safety. These infractions include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
- Speeding
- Failure to yield to pedestrians
- Using a cellphone or texting while driving
- Violating red lights
- Making improper turns
- Disobeying signs
If you received a traffic ticket, please contact our lawyers at (212) 235-1525 right away.
TLC Enforcement
The Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) incorporates over 200,000 yellow and green taxis, black cars, luxury limousines, ambulettes and commuter vans. TLC strives to adhere to Vision Zero’s goal by using education and technological innovation to policies and enforcement.
The Enforcement Division of TLC’s Uniformed Services Bureau, a specialized law enforcement division, ensures TLC drivers comply with the Vision Zero initiative by issuing summonses and arresting those who make dangerous driving choices. They also target TLX drivers who operate vehicles without proper licenses and background checks, as well as vehicles who illegally pose as TLC vehicles.
Automated Enforcement
There is a vast network of speed and red-light cameras across NYC that take a picture of a vehicle’s license plate if a driver is caught violating a traffic rule. After, a Notice of Liability is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, who must then submit to the penalties associated with their alleged offense.
In summer 2019, the NY State Department of Transportation expanded and enhanced its school-based camera program to include 750 locations, while about 40 new cameras are installed every month. The city’s mission is to have the largest automated enforcement program in the US.
Key Takeaways
In order to accomplish their goal, NYC officials are cracking down harder on traffic violators. There are essentially more “eyes” on you, whether it be through police officers or speeding and red-light cameras, but the result is one: Increased traffic tickets. As such, you must be very cautious on the road to best avoid suffering fines, added points to your driving record and license suspension/revocation.
If you received a traffic ticket, reach out to Martin A. Kron & Associates, P.C. to put 30+ years of experience on your side.