Uniform Traffic Ticket - NY State Police

[bryan0]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York (Got ticket in NY, I live in CT)

Yesterday I was on the Taconic, it is a 55mph zone, I was honestly doing 60-65 in the slow lane. A couple cars passed me then we went around a turn and there were 2 state cops parked. The cop walked out in the middle of the road, stopped the traffic, and told me and 4 other cars (including the ones who passed me) to pull over. He gave us all 75mph tickets.

On the ticket, there is no dollar amout to pay. I can either plead guilty, or plead not guilty. I talked to some friends from new york, they said they never did anything about them and nothing happened.

The ticket is computer generated and says "Uniform Traffic Ticket."

Since I'm not genuinely guilty, I really don't want to pay anything, but what is my best route? Plead not guilty or just ignore it? I live in CT so I figure they can't get me here?

Thank you.

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by bryan0

I talked to some friends from new york, they said they never did anything about them and nothing happened.

Your "friends" lied!

Originally Posted by bryan0

I live in CT so I figure they can't get me here?

Wrong!

Look up Driver's License Compact and read what it says. In essence, NY will report the unpaid violation to CT as well as suspend your driving privilege in NY, and accordingly, CT will suspend your driving privilege as well.

Feel free to search the CT and NY motor vehicle statutes for the same term. You will find the exact details of how you can dig yourself in a hole by "ignoring" it!!!

[bryan0]

Yea, that makes sense. Would you reccommend I fill out the plead of not guilty and mail it in? I'll have to go to a trial when I do that.

It says I was charged based on "direct observation" and verified by radar - stalker dual. There is no way he saw me then went back to radar me. Even if he did, I'm sure he got the cars in front of me that probably were going 75.

This seemed like a mass-ticketing operation, what do you think my chances are of getting the ticket thrown out? When I go to the trial, should I be honest and say I was going 60-65, not 75 or should I say I was doing the speed limit (55)? What would you do?

Thank you very much for your help!

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by bryan0

Yea, that makes sense. Would you reccommend I fill out the plead of not guilty and mail it in? I'll have to go to a trial when I do that.

yes you would have to appear at trial -and you would be under oath to tell the truth- if you were to do that.

Originally Posted by bryan0

It says I was charged based on "direct observation" and verified by radar - stalker dual. There is no way he saw me then went back to radar me.

He could have had his Radar "ON" and when he went back to his cruiser to write the citations, he got the reading off of the Radar Unit. however, that puts into question his ability to determine which vehicle was traveling at 75. Unless he visually estimated that the 4 vehicle were in a pack traveling at the same speed.

Still questionable, to say the least.

Originally Posted by bryan0

This seemed like a mass-ticketing operation, what do you think my chances are of getting the ticket thrown out?

Thrown out? That's a slight possibility... You might have a better chance of getting it "reduced".

There are a few members on here who are far more familiar and knowledgeable of NY State laws and court procedures and I'd be doing you a dis-service by suggesting a course of action. I am trying to limit my response to the sensical aspect of fighting a citation rather than a legal one.

Originally Posted by bryan0

When I go to the trial, should I be honest and say I was going 60-65, not 75 or should I say I was doing the speed limit (55)?

Admitting that you were driving at 10 miles over the limit in open court might not place you in a better situation than you are in now, but that too can depend upon the terminology of the statute which he cited you for (whether it says you exceeded the speed limit or whether it charges you with driving at a certain speed above the limit). So you might want to post the specific statute number with which you were cited for those responses that may come along next.

A better course of action might be trying to plead the charge down to something like a lower speed or a fine and no points... etc.

Originally Posted by bryan0

What would you do?

I wouldn't have stopped! I'M JOKING... I WOULD HAVE STOPPED.

Originally Posted by bryan0

Thank you very much for your help!

Not a problem; I wished I could have helped more!

Good luck.

[You Are Guilty]

Depending on what town* you were in when the ticket was written up, you might just have fallen victim to one of the little ones who barely abut the highway who like to use it to fund most of the town's budget. Which, believe it or not, is good for you, because all they want is your money, and probably don't give a lick about points on your license or making you slow down (after all, if you slow down, that's fewer tickets they can write in the future).

I'd plead not guilty, and see if you can't work out a "money for no points" plea bargain on your trial date.


* I wouldn't want to defame any particular town, but some of the last few on the north end of the Taconic are notorious for this.

[bryan0]

Originally Posted by You Are Guilty

Depending on what town* you were in when the ticket was written up, you might just have fallen victim to one of the little ones who barely abut the highway who like to use it to fund most of the town's budget. Which, believe it or not, is good for you, because all they want is your money, and probably don't give a lick about points on your license or making you slow down (after all, if you slow down, that's fewer tickets they can write in the future).

I'd plead not guilty, and see if you can't work out a "money for no points" plea bargain on your trial date.


* I wouldn't want to defame any particular town, but some of the last few on the north end of the Taconic are notorious for this.

The ticket says I was in violation of NYS V and T Law - Speed over 55 zone. It also says VTL Section 1180B

Yes, it was a small town on the north end of the Taconic called Chatham. Based on the help from you and I_Got_Banned, I think I'll make my goal to get out of this with no points. This means that my insurance will not increase correct?

I'll avoid mentioning how fast I was going but if forced to answer I think I should say 55? Paying a one-time fine isn't a huge killer for me, I just don't want my insurance premium to go up.

Thanks again

[jchipka]

You cannot ignore any traffic citation. If you do not appear in court they will issue a bench warrant. If you get stopped ANYWHERE, that warrant will appear on the computer when they punch in your license. Pay the ticket ! Radar does not lie. If you only got this one ticket, your insurance should not go up. Also, you should be able to call and find out how much the ticket will cost. I would not go to court, it would be your word against a police officer. You will not win. The only way you can win is that the officer will not show in court, that will not happen. Pay the ticket.

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by bryan0

The ticket says I was in violation of NYS V and T Law - Speed over 55 zone. It also says VTL Section 1180B

Yes, it was a small town on the north end of the Taconic called Chatham. Based on the help from you and I_Got_Banned, I think I'll make my goal to get out of this with no points. This means that my insurance will not increase correct?

I'll avoid mentioning how fast I was going but if forced to answer I think I should say 55? Paying a one-time fine isn't a huge killer for me, I just don't want my insurance premium to go up.

Thanks again

Chatham, what a surprise

I might have gotten a ticket there myself many, many moons ago. If what's left of my memory serves, they just wanted their pound of flesh and could not care less about the points assessed. I also recall there being a very long line of people with tickets who appeared the same day. IMO, quite a disproportionate number of people in relation to the short stretch of highway that passes through their town...

Good luck.

[bryan0]

Originally Posted by You Are Guilty

Chatham, what a surprise

I might have gotten a ticket there myself many, many moons ago. If what's left of my memory serves, they just wanted their pound of flesh and could not care less about the points assessed. I also recall there being a very long line of people with tickets who appeared the same day. IMO, quite a disproportionate number of people in relation to the short stretch of highway that passes through their town...

Good luck.

Haha, thank you. I hope I can get away with no points.
Thank you to everyone who helped me out, it's great that there's a free alternative to getting mild legal advice like this. I've never used this site before and hopefully won't have to but I appreciate you guys helping me and wish you well!