Traffic tickets issued in NYC are particularly difficult to fight. All traffic ticket in NYC boroughs (Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island) are heard by the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB). The TVB, an arm of the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, operates differently than other traffic courts. At the TVB there are no plea bargains—drivers are guilty or not guilty, period—and the burden of proof needed to convict drivers is very low. As such, the TVB has an uncommonly high conviction rate; more than 91% of all texting and cell phone tickets result in a conviction, along with 87% of speeding tickets (attorney success rates are significantly higher, see below).
Despite this, drivers should refrain from just giving up and paying the ticket. Doing so can subject one to hidden fees and other risks. For example, two tickets for texting or talking on the cell phone (worth 5 points each) in 18 months can bring a driver within one point of a suspended license. It also means paying a DRA and taking a serious hit to one’s auto insurance (see below).
Beating a NYC traffic ticket is challenging but not impossible. The best bet is to hire a skilled New York City traffic ticket attorney to fight the underlying charges. At the Rosenblum Law, our attorneys have spent many years fighting traffic tickets in the TVB offices in Manhattan and the rest of NYC. Our attorneys know how to pick out flaws in the charges and ensure that the officer’s testimony does not meet the burden of proof. This is the most effective way to get a ticket dismissed at the TVB.
Moreover, our extensive experience in the TVB Manhattan office means our attorneys are well acquainted with the judges. We have worked hard to cultivate a positive reputation among both judges and the officers (who act as prosecutors at the TVB). This means that when our attorneys challenge a ticket, it is taken seriously and our arguments are given the full consideration they are due. This in turn helps ensure the best possible outcome.
The best part is that when drivers hire our law firm to represent them in their NYC traffic ticket case, it almost always saves them a trip to the courthouse. For most cases, an attorney can appear in place of the driver and present arguments on his/her behalf.
NYC traffic tickets costs vary depending on the violation. The most common tickets and their respective fines and points include:
| Violation | Fine | Points |
| Speeding | $45 to $600 | 3 to 11 |
| Cell phone and texting | $50 to $200 | 5 |
| Seat belt violation | up to $100 | 0 or 3 |
| Improper Passing | $150 to $450 | 3 |
| Red light violations | up to $450 | 2 or 3 |
| Tailgating | up to $150 | 4 |
In addition to paying the fines, anyone convicted of a traffic violation in Manhattan must also pay a mandatory state surcharge of $88. Drivers must also pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee when they accrue six or more points on their license. A DRA costs $300 plus $75 for each point over six. The DRA for the two cell phone tickets mentioned above would be $600 ($300 for the first six points and $300 for the additional four points). Most moving violations in Manhattan are also likely to increase auto insurance premiums by hundreds of dollars for each year the violation is on one’s driving record.
Drivers who plead not guilty to New York City traffic tickets may receive a letter in the mail indicating that they can skip going to court by submitting an affidavit by mail. The letter implies that the affidavit is the same as appearing in court. Many drivers are tempted by this “too good to be true” scenario and are surprised when, after submitting the affidavit, they are found guilty and required to pay the ticket. The truth is that the affidavit requires drivers to forfeit key rights and offers little chance of successfully persuading a judge to rule in their favor. Read more about the affidavits, why the DMV does this, and what drivers should do instead.
Rosenblum Law is the highest customer-rated traffic ticket law firm in New York. Our NYC office is located at 40 Wall Street Suite 3602 (by appointment only). We specialize in helping drivers fight speeding, cell phone, reckless driving, CDL truck route tickets, and all other traffic violations issued by NYPD and State Troopers operating in the five boroughs. Rosenblum Law NYC attorneys have many years of experience navigating the NYC Traffic Violations Bureau and other courts statewide.
Address: 40 Wall Street Suite 3602 NY
New York,NY 10005
Phone: 917-779-8411
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