A finding of guilty to a traffic ticket, or traffic violation, will end with a driver having to pay a fine. This is true whether you hire an attorney to fight the ticket, fight the ticket yourself or just plead guilty.
The answer to the question, “How much is a fine for my ticket and what are the penalties?” is both complicated and uncomplicated. The simple and truthful answer is “Well, it depends.” The reason for this answer is because the fine and penalties of a ticket depend on the traffic ticket or violation charge itself. Other factors that determine fines and penalties include how many points a driver has on his or her driving record, the court handling the ticket and the county in which the ticket was issued. Though, a good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that a fine amount will depend on the severity of a traffic ticket violation/offense and the type of ticket issued (e.g. speeding ticket, red light ticket).
For example, a 3-point speeding ticket (NYS VTL § 1180b) that is a first time offense can pay a fine that ranges from $45 to $150, plus a mandatory surcharge of either $88 or $93.
However, lets change the facts slightly. The 3-point violation results in a driver accruing 8 points in an 18-month period. Now, in addition to the above fines and penalties, the driver is facing an additional $450 in a DMV Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee.
Consider another common traffic ticket – a cell phone ticket (VTL § 1225-c2: Use of Mobile Phones or VTL § 1225-d: Use of Portable Electronic Devices). A cell phone ticket carries 5 points and fines for this traffic ticket violation range from $50 to $200 plus a mandatory surcharge of either $88 or $93 for a first time offender. Things change, however, if the driver has 6 or more points on his or her driving record. This is because 11 points (that have accrued in an 18 month period) triggers a driver license suspension for at least 60 days. So now in addition to facing fines, a possible Driver Assessment Fee and license suspension, a driver’s car insurance can sky rocket.
Usually, though, a fine amount is printed on traffic ticket; but, if a NY State Police officer issued the ticket, you may need to call the court handling the ticket for the total fine amount. But, as you can see from the few above examples there are nearly endless combinations of horrible fines and penalties that can befall a driver who is issued a traffic ticket. So, it is best to consult with an experienced traffic ticket attorney. In fact, set yourself up for success by consulting with the best traffic ticket attorney. Hire the best defense possibly by contacting traffic attorney Elisa Claro, Esq. at 917 300-3334 or online for a free traffic consultation. New York traffic lawyer Elisa Claro, Esq. has handled thousands of traffic tickets throughout New York, including Westchester County – Yorktown Heights, Mount Kisco and Yonkers. Hire the best defense by calling today and let Elisa work for you.