On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a new law requiring all passengers in motor vehicles to wear seat belts, regardless of age. The new law will take effect on Nov. 1. The governor’s late father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo signed New York State’s first seat belt law in...
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New Bill in NY Would End Driver’s License Suspensions for Unpaid Fines and Fees
Driving is critical to most people’s daily lives. Whether it’s getting to work or buying groceries, most people need a driver’s license to run their errands. This makes the suspension of one’s driver’s license a serious problem. Currently, New Yorkers can lose their driver’s licenses for offenses as trivial as...
Continue readingNYS Speed Enforcement Initiative Begins Thursday 6/11/20
Speeders and aggressive drivers must watch out! State and local law enforcement will be cracking down on unsafe driving during a weeklong traffic enforcement initiative. This year’s “Speed Week” begins Thursday, June 11, 2020 and runs through Wednesday, June 17, 2020. Troopers and other police will also be carefully watching...
Continue readingWhy Do Cops Ask Why You Are Speeding? (And How to Respond)
When a driver is pulled over for speeding, police officers often ask the driver why he/she was speeding. This is an odd thing to do in New York and other states that have strict liability for speeding and other traffic violations. Strict liability means it doesn’t matter if the driver...
Continue readingNJ Woman Faces Prison For Texting-While-Driving Death
An instance of texting while driving resulted in a conviction for vehicular homicide in New Jersey on Friday, Nov. 22. Alexandra Mansonet, 50, could go to prison for up to 10 years for her role in a two-car accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. Mansonet was driving...
Continue readingNew Child Seat Belt Law in Effect in NY
New York State has updated its child seat belt laws. As of November 1, parents are required to keep children under the age of 2 in a rear-facing infant or convertible seat. Previously, rear-facing was only required for children under 22 inches in length or less than 25 lbs. The...
Continue readingBad Breathalyzers: NYT Expose Shows Machines Can’t Be Trusted
In New York and New Jersey—as well as many other states—a person who refuses a roadside breath test to determine intoxication levels can have his/her license suspended and be arrested. However, a new report from the New York Times shows that states all over the country are tossing breath test...
Continue readingWest Side Highway Speed Limit Reduced to 30mph
City officials are reducing the speed limit on the West Side Highway between 59th Street and Battery Place. The new speed limit will go down from 35mph to 30mph. The new limit will go into effect on Saturday, Oct. 12. The change comes amidst reports of several serious accidents in...
Continue readingNYC Boosts Traffic Enforcement as School Year Starts
With New York City public schools now open, the NYPD is aggressively expanding traffic enforcement around school zones. “With schools reopening, we’re doubling down on our effort to protect the most vulnerable among us: our kids,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in an announcement earlier this week. “With more officers...
Continue readingU.S. States with the Most Expensive Texting Tickets
About 14% of traffic accidents involve a driver distracted by a cell phone. More than half (8% total) involve the driver texting or using other smartphone functions other than making calls. As such, all states except Montana have put in place some form of texting while driving ban. Often called...
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