Traffic ticket and crash data for Tompkins County
This page shows traffic ticket and crash counts for Tompkins County, New York. The numbers come from Traffic Safety Statistical Repository (TSSR) data. Ticket and crash data cover 2009 to 2024.
Tompkins County had 12,643 traffic tickets in 2024. That is 40% fewer than in 2009. Speeding tickets went from 3,945 in 2009 to 3,112 in 2024. Cell phone and texting tickets went from 1,238 in 2009 to 378 in 2024. Impaired driving tickets went from 734 in 2009 to 357 in 2018.
Tompkins County had 2,578 reported crashes in 2024. A 2018 change in crash reporting makes earlier years hard to compare.
These are raw counts. They are not adjusted for population or miles driven.
| Measure | First year | Latest year | Change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All traffic tickets | 21,076 (2009) | 12,643 (2024) | −40% | |
| Speeding tickets | 3,945 (2009) | 3,112 (2024) | −21% | |
| Cell phone and texting tickets | 1,238 (2009) | 378 (2024) | −69% | |
| Impaired driving tickets | 734 (2009) | 357 (2018) | −51% | |
| Reported crashes | 2,411 (2009) | 2,578 (2024) | +7%† |
Traffic tickets
This count includes every type of traffic ticket in the data.
All traffic tickets by year
Tompkins County had 12,643 traffic tickets in 2024. That is 40% fewer than in 2009, when there were 21,076. The highest year was 2010, with 21,469.
Show the numbers
| Year | Traffic tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 21,076 |
| 2010 | 21,469 |
| 2011 | 18,091 |
| 2012 | 15,858 |
| 2013 | 15,658 |
| 2014 | 14,710 |
| 2015 | 15,581 |
| 2016 | 15,908 |
| 2017 | 15,782 |
| 2018 | 15,518 |
| 2019 | 13,318 |
| 2020 | 9,683 |
| 2021 | 9,499 |
| 2022 | 9,667 |
| 2023 | 11,445 |
| 2024 | 12,643 |
Read more: New York traffic tickets
Cell phone and texting tickets
These charts cover cell phone tickets (VTL 1225-c) and texting tickets (VTL 1225-d).
Cell phone and texting tickets by year
Tompkins County had 378 cell phone and texting tickets in 2024. That is 69% fewer than in 2009, when there were 1,238. The highest year was 2010, with 1,296.
Show the numbers
| Year | Cell phone and texting tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1,238 |
| 2010 | 1,296 |
| 2011 | 897 |
| 2012 | 886 |
| 2013 | 909 |
| 2014 | 697 |
| 2015 | 683 |
| 2016 | 647 |
| 2017 | 761 |
| 2018 | 886 |
| 2019 | 699 |
| 2020 | 287 |
| 2021 | 284 |
| 2022 | 241 |
| 2023 | 317 |
| 2024 | 378 |
Phone use and texting tickets by year
From 2009 to 2024, Tompkins County had 11,106 cell phone and texting tickets. “Cell Phone (V&T 1225-c)” made up 68% of them. “Texting (V&T 1225-d)” made up 32%.
- Cell Phone (V&T 1225-c)
- Texting (V&T 1225-d)
Show the numbers
| Year | Cell Phone (V&T 1225-c) | Texting (V&T 1225-d) |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1,238 | – |
| 2010 | 1,287 | 9 |
| 2011 | 844 | 53 |
| 2012 | 739 | 147 |
| 2013 | 657 | 252 |
| 2014 | 422 | 275 |
| 2015 | 443 | 240 |
| 2016 | 364 | 283 |
| 2017 | 343 | 418 |
| 2018 | 339 | 547 |
| 2019 | 284 | 415 |
| 2020 | 109 | 178 |
| 2021 | 92 | 192 |
| 2022 | 85 | 156 |
| 2023 | 133 | 184 |
| 2024 | 217 | 161 |
Cell phone ticket results
In 2024, the most common result for cell phone tickets in Tompkins County was “Convicted on a Non-Texting Violation.” That was 59% of 150 tickets. Next was “Convicted on Same Texting Violation,” at 26%.
Show the numbers
| Result | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted on a Non-Texting Violation | 88 | 59% |
| Convicted on Same Texting Violation | 39 | 26% |
| Dismissed/Acquitted | 23 | 15% |
| Total | 150 | 100% |
Texting ticket results
In 2024, the most common result for texting tickets in Tompkins County was “Convicted on a Non-Cell Phone Violation.” That was 69% of 203 tickets. Next was “Convicted on Same Cell Phone Violation,” at 19%.
Show the numbers
| Result | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted on a Non-Cell Phone Violation | 141 | 69% |
| Convicted on Same Cell Phone Violation | 38 | 19% |
| Dismissed/Acquitted | 24 | 12% |
| Total | 203 | 100% |
Read more: New York cell phone tickets
Speeding tickets
These charts cover speeding tickets under VTL 1180.
Speeding tickets by year
Tompkins County had 3,112 speeding tickets in 2024. That is 21% fewer than in 2009, when there were 3,945. The highest year was 2010, with 4,375.
Show the numbers
| Year | Speeding tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3,945 |
| 2010 | 4,375 |
| 2011 | 3,298 |
| 2012 | 2,470 |
| 2013 | 2,649 |
| 2014 | 2,832 |
| 2015 | 3,107 |
| 2016 | 3,462 |
| 2017 | 3,159 |
| 2018 | 3,084 |
| 2019 | 2,586 |
| 2020 | 2,515 |
| 2021 | 2,437 |
| 2022 | 2,050 |
| 2023 | 2,697 |
| 2024 | 3,112 |
School zone speeding tickets by year (VTL 1180-c)
Tompkins County had 236 school zone speeding tickets in 2024. That is 54% fewer than in 2009, when there were 517. The highest year was 2010, with 657.
Show the numbers
| Year | School zone speeding tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 517 |
| 2010 | 657 |
| 2011 | 366 |
| 2012 | 208 |
| 2013 | 174 |
| 2014 | 195 |
| 2015 | 194 |
| 2016 | 269 |
| 2017 | 217 |
| 2018 | 147 |
| 2019 | 161 |
| 2020 | 53 |
| 2021 | 51 |
| 2022 | 81 |
| 2023 | 159 |
| 2024 | 236 |
Work zone speeding tickets by year (VTL 1180-f)
Tompkins County had 2 work zone speeding tickets in 2019. That is about the same as in 2009, when there were 2. The highest year was 2017, with 9.
Show the numbers
| Year | Work zone speeding tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2019 | 2 |
Speeding ticket results
In 2024, the most common result for speeding tickets in Tompkins County was “Convicted on a Non-Speeding Violation.” That was 60% of 2,898 tickets. Next was “Convicted on Same Speeding Violation,” at 32%.
Show the numbers
| Result | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted on a Non-Speeding Violation | 1,741 | 60% |
| Convicted on Same Speeding Violation | 936 | 32% |
| Dismissed/Acquitted | 217 | 7% |
| Convicted on Different Speeding Violation | 4 | less than 1% |
| Total | 2,898 | 100% |
Speeding tickets by where the driver is licensed
In 2024, 78% of speeding tickets in Tompkins County went to drivers licensed in New York State. Next was Northeast Region, at 11%.
Show the numbers
| Driver license | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New York State | 2,399 | 78% |
| Northeast Region | 340 | 11% |
| Other US States | 287 | 9% |
| Other/Unknown | 43 | 1% |
| Canada | 16 | less than 1% |
| Total | 3,085 | 100% |
Read more: New York speeding tickets
Impaired driving tickets
These charts cover impaired driving tickets under VTL 1192 (subsections 1 to 4). They include alcohol and drug cases.
Impaired driving tickets by year
Tompkins County had 357 impaired driving tickets in 2018. That is 51% fewer than in 2009, when there were 734. The highest year was 2012, with 851.
Show the numbers
| Year | Impaired driving tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 734 |
| 2010 | 694 |
| 2011 | 593 |
| 2012 | 851 |
| 2013 | 585 |
| 2014 | 639 |
| 2015 | 635 |
| 2016 | 638 |
| 2017 | 411 |
| 2018 | 357 |
Impaired driving tickets by age and gender
In 2018, male drivers got 71% of impaired driving tickets in Tompkins County. The 21 - 29 age group had the most, with 80.
- Male
- Female
Show the numbers
| Age group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 - 20 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 21 - 29 | 57 | 23 | 80 |
| 30 - 39 | 37 | 20 | 57 |
| 40 - 49 | 16 | 9 | 25 |
| 50 - 59 | 19 | 6 | 25 |
| 60 and Over | 13 | 2 | 15 |
Impaired driving tickets by time of day
In 2018, the Mid - 3 am time block had the most impaired driving tickets in Tompkins County, with 63. The 6am - 9am time block had the fewest, with 6.
Show the numbers
| Time of day | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mid - 3 am | 63 | 32% |
| 3am - 6am | 15 | 8% |
| 6am - 9am | 6 | 3% |
| 9am - Noon | 6 | 3% |
| Noon - 3pm | 9 | 5% |
| 3pm - 6pm | 20 | 10% |
| 6pm - 9pm | 32 | 16% |
| 9pm - Mid | 46 | 23% |
| Total | 197 | 100% |
Impaired driving tickets by day of the week
In 2018, Sunday had the most impaired driving tickets in Tompkins County, with 42. Monday had the fewest, with 17.
Show the numbers
| Day | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 42 | 20% |
| Monday | 17 | 8% |
| Tuesday | 23 | 11% |
| Wednesday | 17 | 8% |
| Thursday | 27 | 13% |
| Friday | 42 | 20% |
| Saturday | 42 | 20% |
| Total | 210 | 100% |
Impaired driving tickets by month
In 2020, October had the most impaired driving tickets in Tompkins County, with 14. April had the fewest, with 4.
Show the numbers
| Month | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6 | 5% |
| February | 9 | 8% |
| March | 13 | 11% |
| April | 4 | 3% |
| May | 13 | 11% |
| June | 8 | 7% |
| July | 13 | 11% |
| August | 10 | 8% |
| September | 12 | 10% |
| October | 14 | 12% |
| November | 7 | 6% |
| December | 11 | 9% |
| Total | 120 | 100% |
Impaired driving ticket results, alcohol and drugs combined
In 2018, the most common result for impaired driving tickets in Tompkins County was “Convicted on Same Impairment Violation.” That was 50% of 185 tickets. Next was “Convicted on Different Impairment Violation,” at 40%.
Show the numbers
| Result | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted on Same Impairment Violation | 92 | 50% |
| Convicted on Different Impairment Violation | 74 | 40% |
| Dismissed/Acquitted | 19 | 10% |
| Total | 185 | 100% |
Alcohol-related impaired driving ticket results
In 2018, the most common result for alcohol-related tickets in Tompkins County was “Convicted on Same Impairment Violation.” That was 52% of 147 tickets. Next was “Convicted on Different Impairment Violation,” at 42%.
Show the numbers
| Result | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted on Same Impairment Violation | 76 | 52% |
| Convicted on Different Impairment Violation | 62 | 42% |
| Dismissed/Acquitted | 9 | 6% |
| Total | 147 | 100% |
Drug-related impaired driving ticket results
In 2018, the most common result for drug-related tickets in Tompkins County was “Convicted on Same Impairment Violation.” That was 41% of 32 tickets. Next was “Convicted on Different Impairment Violation,” at 34%.
Show the numbers
| Result | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Convicted on Same Impairment Violation | 13 | 41% |
| Convicted on Different Impairment Violation | 11 | 34% |
| Dismissed/Acquitted | 8 | 25% |
| Total | 32 | 100% |
Read more: DWI in New York
Crashes
In 2018, the police crash report form changed how property damage crashes are recorded. Because of this, crash counts from 2018 on are much higher than in earlier years. Compare years before and after 2018 with care.
Reported crashes by year
Tompkins County had 2,578 reported crashes in 2024. That is 5% fewer than in 2018, the first year under the new crash report form. The highest year was 2019, with 3,015.
Show the numbers
| Year | Reported crashes |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2,411 |
| 2010 | 2,488 |
| 2011 | 2,344 |
| 2012 | 2,256 |
| 2013 | 2,345 |
| 2014 | 2,167 |
| 2015 | 2,105 |
| 2016 | 2,142 |
| 2017 | 2,155 |
| 2018 | 2,704 |
| 2019 | 3,015 |
| 2020 | 2,217 |
| 2021 | 2,387 |
| 2022 | 2,575 |
| 2023 | 2,491 |
| 2024 | 2,578 |
Pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle crashes by year
In 2024, Tompkins County had 32 crashes involving a pedestrian, 24 crashes involving a bicycle and 19 motorcycle crashes.
- Pedestrian
- Bicycle
- Motorcycle
Show the numbers
| Year | Pedestrian | Bicycle | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 26 | 22 | 38 |
| 2010 | 33 | 21 | 44 |
| 2011 | 32 | 12 | 33 |
| 2012 | 40 | 16 | 35 |
| 2013 | 37 | 20 | 26 |
| 2014 | 33 | 21 | 35 |
| 2015 | 26 | 17 | 24 |
| 2016 | 37 | 12 | 28 |
| 2017 | 17 | 18 | 29 |
| 2018 | 46 | 17 | 20 |
| 2019 | 34 | 22 | 24 |
| 2020 | 27 | 16 | 24 |
| 2021 | 20 | 6 | 17 |
| 2022 | 23 | 17 | 30 |
| 2023 | 34 | 18 | 25 |
| 2024 | 32 | 24 | 19 |
Crashes by month
In 2020, February had the most crashes in Tompkins County, with 277. April had the fewest, with 73.
Show the numbers
| Month | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 276 | 12% |
| February | 277 | 12% |
| March | 145 | 7% |
| April | 73 | 3% |
| May | 103 | 5% |
| June | 140 | 6% |
| July | 171 | 8% |
| August | 177 | 8% |
| September | 180 | 8% |
| October | 238 | 11% |
| November | 240 | 11% |
| December | 197 | 9% |
| Total | 2,217 | 100% |
Crashes by day of the week
In 2017, Friday had the most crashes in Tompkins County, with 382. Sunday had the fewest, with 235.
Show the numbers
| Day | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 235 | 11% |
| Monday | 296 | 14% |
| Tuesday | 310 | 14% |
| Wednesday | 316 | 15% |
| Thursday | 335 | 16% |
| Friday | 382 | 18% |
| Saturday | 281 | 13% |
| Total | 2,155 | 100% |
Drivers in crashes by age group
In 2020, the largest age group among drivers in Tompkins County crashes was Male. That group made up 56% of drivers.
Show the numbers
| Age group | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,722 | 56% |
| Female | 1,263 | 41% |
| Unknown Gender | 87 | 3% |
| Total | 3,072 | 100% |
Drivers in crashes by gender
In 2017, male drivers made up 53% of drivers in Tompkins County crashes. Next were female drivers, at 44%.
Show the numbers
| Gender | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,721 | 53% |
| Female | 1,425 | 44% |
| Unknown Gender | 105 | 3% |
| Total | 3,251 | 100% |
Human factors reported in crashes
In 2017, the most often reported human factor in Tompkins County crashes was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” It was reported 343 times.
Show the numbers
| Factor | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Inattention/Distraction | 343 | 18% |
| Following Too Closely | 340 | 18% |
| Failure to Yield Right-of-Way | 266 | 14% |
| Unsafe Speed | 242 | 12% |
| Passing/Lane Changing/Improper Use | 201 | 10% |
| Backing Unsafely | 105 | 5% |
| Turning Improperly | 82 | 4% |
| Traffic Control Device Disregarded | 75 | 4% |
| Driver Inexperience | 54 | 3% |
| Failure to Keep Right | 48 | 2% |
| All others | 183 | 9% |
| Total | 1,939 | 100% |
Vehicle factors reported in crashes
In 2017, the most often reported vehicle factor in Tompkins County crashes was “Other Vehicular.” It was reported 47 times.
Show the numbers
| Factor | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other Vehicular | 47 | 51% |
| Brakes Defective | 19 | 20% |
| Tire Failure/Inadequate | 11 | 12% |
| Oversized Vehicle | 6 | 6% |
| Steering Failure | 4 | 4% |
| Driverless/Runaway Vehicle | 3 | 3% |
| Accelerator Defective | 2 | 2% |
| Headlights Defective | 1 | 1% |
| Total | 93 | 100% |
Environmental factors reported in crashes
In 2017, the most often reported environmental factor in Tompkins County crashes was “Animal's Action.” It was reported 399 times.
Show the numbers
| Factor | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Animal's Action | 399 | 60% |
| Pavement Slippery | 185 | 28% |
| View Obstructed/Limited | 46 | 7% |
| Glare | 19 | 3% |
| Obstruction/Debris | 11 | 2% |
| Lane Marking Improper/Inadequate | 2 | less than 1% |
| Traffic Control Device Improper/Non-Working | 2 | less than 1% |
| Total | 664 | 100% |
Human factors reported in crashes by year
From 2009 to 2024, the most often reported factor in Tompkins County crashes was “Alcohol Involvement.” It was reported 864 times. Next was “Drugs (Illegal),” with 95.
- Alcohol Involvement
- Drugs (Illegal)
Show the numbers
| Year | Alcohol Involvement | Drugs (Illegal) |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 75 | 1 |
| 2010 | 86 | 5 |
| 2011 | 62 | 1 |
| 2012 | 79 | 4 |
| 2013 | 78 | 8 |
| 2014 | 64 | 2 |
| 2015 | 58 | 11 |
| 2016 | 57 | 12 |
| 2017 | 45 | 4 |
| 2018 | 57 | 17 |
| 2021 | 47 | 8 |
| 2022 | 67 | 8 |
| 2023 | 47 | 8 |
| 2024 | 42 | 6 |
Human factors reported in crashes by year, continued
From 2009 to 2024, the most often reported factor in Tompkins County crashes was “Driver Inattention/Distraction.” It was reported 5,499 times. Next was “Unsafe Speed,” with 3,330.
- Driver Inattention/Distraction
- Unsafe Speed
Show the numbers
| Year | Driver Inattention/Distraction | Unsafe Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 414 | 201 |
| 2010 | 393 | 196 |
| 2011 | 360 | 192 |
| 2012 | 360 | 152 |
| 2013 | 348 | 231 |
| 2014 | 382 | 193 |
| 2015 | 322 | 200 |
| 2016 | 308 | 243 |
| 2017 | 343 | 242 |
| 2018 | 392 | 264 |
| 2019 | 407 | 270 |
| 2020 | 286 | 200 |
| 2021 | 321 | 204 |
| 2022 | 308 | 202 |
| 2023 | 308 | 164 |
| 2024 | 247 | 176 |
Got a ticket in Tompkins County?
These numbers show patterns. They can’t tell you what will happen with your ticket. Start with the guide for your ticket type:
About this data
Source: Traffic Safety Statistical Repository (TSSR). TrafficTickets.com grouped and charted the numbers.
These are counts, not rates. They are not adjusted for population or miles driven.
Numbers last pulled from the source sheets on November 3, 2026.
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