Unnecessary Noise - Broken Exhaust NYC

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NY, NY

What a day. I was taking the lady out for a nice dinner with friends on valentines evening. While making a turn I hit a pot hole and all of a sudden my exhaust became very loud. As I was two blocks from my destination, and with no reasonable (safe) place to pull over, i pressed on for the short remainder. I was pulled over 50 feet from my destination. The officer issued me a summons for Unnecessary Noise. I explained the situation to the officer, who's reply to my was "Yeah, I don't know that.". I parked the car 10 feet from the where I was pulled over, crawled under my car, and with the light of my cell phone noticed that my exhaust pipe broke in between the muffler and resonator. We took a taxi home and had the car sent for repairs the next morning. 400 bucks!!!!

Now i have to appear in court. Can I plead not guilty? I am not sure what to do. It seems reasonable to me that I was acting in the spirit of the law by trying to get to a safe location to leave the car.


Please help!!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

I'd take the repair / towing info to court and hope for a sympathetic judge.

Thanks flyingron. Only in NY right? I am expecting to have to plead guilty or not guilty when facing the judge. I am not counting on being able to have any actual dialog. If I plead not guilty, do I have a case? I was driving the car albeit, and 8th of a mile. However, as its NYC my choice is to leave my car in a lane and call a tow, or to park it (when I find a space) and tow it. I opted for the latter.

Is this something that I could see a clerk about beforehand to have taken care of before a court date?

Thanks again.

With the dated repair bill and ideally, a photo of the crater you hit, I'd say you have a 50-50 shot at beating the ticket. Just hope you find the one sympathetic judge working that day. (At worst, I think they'll over you a plea deal, i.e. X% off the fine for pleading guilty.)

Thanks again Flyingron.