Speeding Ticket Lawyer
Serving Westchester County, NY

The statute that regulates the speed limit is NY VTL § 1180. Under the statute, a NY motorist is under a duty to always drive at a speed reasonable and prudent for the conditions. Further, under NY VTL § 1180 (b), the default speed limit in New York state is 55 MPH. In other words, unless a roadway is otherwise posted, the maximum speed one can travel is 55 MPH.

A New York speeding conviction is a moving violation, a conviction that will result in an accrual of points as well as a large insurance increase for 3 years. Moreover, 3 speeding convictions in any 18-month period will result in a license revocation for a minimum of 6 months.

Depending on how fast the speed limit depends on the number of points accrued. Traveling 10 MPH or less over the speed limit is 3 points; traveling 11–20 MPH over the speed limit is 4 points; traveling 21–30 MPH over the speed limit is 6 points; traveling 31–40 MPH over the speed limit is 8 points; traveling 41 MPH or more over the speed limit is 11 points and a mandatory license suspension.

Moreover, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles tacks in an additional fine, called an “assessment,” when a motorist accrues 6 or more points to their NY State driving record in any given 18-month period. This assessment is $300.00 for 6 points, $450.00 for 8 points, and $675.00 for 11 points. This means that traveling a mere 21 MPH over the speed limit can cost you $693.00 or more in total court fines, surcharges, and NYS DMV surcharges.

Insurance companies are chomping at the bit to raise your auto insurance rate because of a speeding ticket conviction. Don’t give them satisfaction. Being accused of speeding is meaningless, and an insurance company cannot raise your auto insurance premiums because you were issued a speeding ticket in New York State. If, however, you mail the speeding ticket to the court with a plea of “guilty,” that is when the insurance company will raise your automobile insurance rates for 3 years. By negotiating a plea bargain for a non-moving violation, our law firm will protect your insurance rates and keep you out of the assigned risk pool or even cancel your policy.

New York speeding convictions can cause a license suspension in 2 ways. One is by having the conviction contribute to an accumulation of 11 or more points in any given 18-month period. The second is by racking up 3 speeding convictions in an 18-month period. Three speeding convictions in an 18-month period are worse because that causes a license revocation. A license revocation extinguishes your right to drive. A point accrual merely suspends your right to drive in NY for a finite amount of time. Both can occur even if you have an out-of-state driver’s license.

Our lawyers will protect your NY driving record so you maintain your NY driving privileges in good standing. And even if you have a very poor recent driving history, our office can oftentimes negotiate a situation whereby we agree to a suspension for a brief period of time with limited, conditional privileges to drive to work and school.