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Do You Need an Attorney to Fight a New York Traffic Ticket?

If you get a traffic ticket in New York, you can plead guilty and pay the fine or challenge the citation and seek to avoid penalties. When challenging, you must attend a hearing or trial, where the officer or prosecutor presents their case, and you can cross-examine and deliver your arguments. Paying the fine or obtaining an unfavorable outcome in court can result in several different consequences.

Whether you are considering pleading guilty or fighting a citation for a traffic violation, it’s a good idea to have an attorney represent you. They can build your defense, may appear in court on your behalf, and deliver the sound counsel and guidance you need. Applying their knowledge of the legal system and the law, your lawyer can pursue a favorable result for you.

Do you need help fighting a ticket in New York? Call Martin A. Kron & Associates, P.C. at (212) 235-1525 or submit an online contact form.

What Happens When You Get a Traffic Ticket?

After getting a traffic ticket, you can resolve it by paying the fine, which is an admission of guilt. You may also plead not guilty by going to a trial or hearing with the court or Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB).

At the proceedings, the prosecutor or police officer presents evidence in an attempt to prove that you violated a traffic law. You have the right to cross-examine and submit your own evidence to justify that a conviction is not warranted.

If you pay the ticket or are unsuccessful at the trial or hearing, you may be subject to various penalties.

These include:

  • A fine: The cost of your traffic ticket depends on the facts of your case.
  • Driver’s license points: Certain traffic offenses have a specific number of points attached to them. For instance, speeding at 1 to 10 mph over the speed limit is 3 points. The DMV assesses these points to your driving record.
  • Driver Responsibility Assessment: If you accumulate 6 or more points in 18 months, you must pay a DRA fee of $100 a year for 3 years for a total of $300.
  • Driver’s license suspension: Getting 11 points in 18 months will result in the DMV suspending your driving privileges
  • Increased insurance premiums: Your insurance company may have its own point system allowing for your rates to rise if you’re convicted of certain traffic offenses.

How Can an Attorney Help?

In some cases, drivers might be quick to pay the fine for a traffic ticket to put the matter behind them as soon as possible. Others might decide to represent themselves but are overwhelmed because of inexperience and unfamiliarity with the process. Some of these individuals may be subject to penalties that could have been avoided had they had a lawyer.

A traffic ticket attorney can help your case by:

  • Discussing your options: Sometimes, the best course of action is pleading guilty to a violation; other times, fighting the ticket is the way to go. A lawyer can assess your situation and help you understand your path forward.
  • Representing you at hearings: Taking time out of your busy day to attend a hearing or trial to resolve your ticket can be inconvenient. Depending on your situation, an attorney can go to court on your behalf, meaning you wouldn’t have to appear yourself.
  • Negotiating with prosecutors: If you received your traffic ticket anywhere other than one of the 5 boroughs of NYC, your lawyer could talk to the prosecutor to seek a favorable outcome without going to court. Negotiations aren’t possible in matters the TVB handles.
  • Developing a defense: Your attorney will understand the law and know how to present arguments in court. By looking at the facts of your case, they can develop a unique legal strategy for you.
  • Providing legal advice and guidance: Traffic tickets might be minor compared to criminal offenses, but that doesn’t mean the process for resolving them is any less complicated. An attorney can tell you what to expect at every stage and pursue legal avenues to seek a just result.

Schedule a Consultation Today

A traffic ticket can negatively impact your finances, driving privileges, and future. You can seek to reduce or avoid these outcomes by fighting your citation. However, because of the nuances of the law and the complexities of the legal process, handling your case alone might not be the most effective path. Retaining the services of a lawyer may be a better way to go.

At Martin A. Kron & Associates, P.C., we provide skilled legal representation for those charged with traffic violations in New York. Please contact us at (212) 235-1525.