Traffic Tickets

Traffic Ticket Lawyer Saratoga County

Getting a ticket for a traffic violation can be a very frustrating situation. Even if you were going ten miles per hour over the speed limit, New York will want you to face stiff consequences and expensive fines for the violation. You will also receive points on your license. Additionally, if you have a driver’s license issued by another state but were pulled over in New York, then you will want to speak to an attorney about your ticket.

At the Law Office of Gregory P. Garofalo, we are committed to helping our clients by providing them with facts and information so they can make informed choices. We also clearly explain the legal process to you. We fight aggressively in court so you can get your driving privileges reinstated. If you need a traffic ticket lawyer in the Capital District then give us a call at 518-584-1557 so we can listen to your situation and the circumstances around your traffic stop.

FAQs in Traffic Ticket Cases

You might have a lot of questions for your traffic ticket attorney and the legal help that they provide in Saratoga Springs. Some of them may include the following:

How can I get my traffic ticket dismissed in Saratoga County, NY?

There are several ways to get a traffic ticket dismissed in Saratoga Springs, New York, although the specific options available to you will depend on the circumstances of your case. This includes fighting the ticket in court, attending a defensive driving course, requesting a dismissal through a plea bargain, challenging the accuracy of the ticket, and consulting with an attorney to reduce your charge.

Is it worth fighting a speeding ticket in Saratoga County, NY?

Whether it’s worth fighting a speeding ticket in Saratoga Springs depends on the specific circumstances of your case. If you have a strong defense against your speeding ticket and the consequences of a conviction are severe, you may want a Saratoga Springs attorney to fight for you. For example, if you have significant fines or infractions that cause high license points, it may be worth fighting your speeding ticket.

Additionally, if you have a clean driving record, fighting the ticket may be worthwhile to avoid the negative impact on your driving record and insurance rates. However, if the evidence of your traffic violations is strong and the penalties are relatively minor, it may not be worth the time and expense of contesting the ticket.

It’s advisable to consult with an experienced traffic ticket attorney to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case and determine the best course of action.

What Are Common Traffic Violations to Fight In Court In Saratoga County?

Whether your specific traffic violation is worth fighting in court will depend on the circumstances of your case. Common traffic violations that you might want to fight in court include speeding, running red lights and stop signs, reckless driving, driving without a license, driving under the influence, and driving with a revoked or suspended license.

Do I Have to Go to Court for Traffic Tickets in Saratoga County?

Whether or not you have to go to court for traffic tickets depends on your unique case. In many cases, you may be able to handle the ticket through other means, such as paying the fine or pleading guilty and accepting the penalties.

However, if you want to contest the ticket or negotiate a plea bargain, you may need to appear in court. Additionally, if the ticket carries the possibility of jail time or a license suspension, you will likely be required to appear in court. Read your traffic ticket carefully and follow any instructions provided.

If you’re unsure whether you need to appear in court, it’s best to consult with an experienced traffic ticket attorney who can advise you on the appropriate course of action for your traffic violation.

How Long Does a Traffic Violation Stay on Your Record In New York?

In New York, traffic violations remain on your driving record for 18 months from the date of the conviction. However, a more serious traffic violation such as DUI/DWI, reckless driving, or leaving the scene of an accident may remain on your record for up to ten years.

Can a Traffic Ticket Lawyer Fight the Violation?

Traffic tickets can be reduced and in some cases dismissed with the help of your traffic ticket lawyer. However, this is dependent on the severity of traffic tickets in Saratoga County. For example, a speeding ticket that is only 5 miles over the speed limit may not be treated as seriously as a traffic violation for driving 50 miles over the speed limit.

What to Expect from an Initial Consultation in Saratoga County?

NY lawyers will review traffic tickets to decide the best course of action. They will also analyze your driving records and any criminal history to discover whether your charge can possibly be reduced.

How will an attorney charge me in Saratoga County For Legal Issues?

Our traffic tickets law firm works on an hourly or by-fee basis. You can discuss with our Saratoga County law office to find out how we can set up your payment structure to address your traffic violation.

The Consequences of Speeding in Saratoga Springs New York

There are a number of consequences to expect if you have been pulled over for speeding in the state of New York. They include:

• Fines
• Points added to your driver’s license
• A Driver Responsibility Assessment fee
• An increase in your auto insurance premiums

There are many reasons why you want to hire an attorney to represent you in court. First, accruing points can lead to a suspended license, so you will want to hire an attorney who can keep you behind the wheel. If you appear in front of the Judge and plead guilty, then your auto insurance premiums are going to increase drastically. Sometimes it can be a 5%, 10%, or even a 20% hike. You don’t have to go in front of a Judge and plead guilty. In fact, you should really speak to an attorney before doing that. Some people think that it’s okay to represent themselves or that their case is very clear-cut, but it’s prudent to hire a legal professional who has decades of experience. You may be required to show up for multiple court dates as well as for a hearing at the DMV. Instead of facing all of these potential hardships, let the traffic attorneys at the Law Office of Gregory P. Garofalo represent you in court. In most situations, your case can be handled without you having to make an appearance.

It is crucial that you do not say too much on the side of the road. Saying something incriminating to the police officers may be used against you at a later time. In fact, don’t say anything about the circumstances surrounding your ticket at all, even if it resulted from an accident. Your lawyer will do the talking for you in front of the Judge.

Out-of-State Drivers

Our office can also help clients in surrounding states who have received speeding tickets while in the Empire State. New York has a point system that determines who is legally able to drive in the state. If you have 11 or more points and are an out-of-state driver, then you do not have the privilege of driving in New York. It doesn’t matter if your licensing home state’s point system is different. As long as you have 11 or more points, you cannot drive in the State of New York for a mandated period of time and will face serious consequences if you’re caught violating traffic laws.

Most states share driver information with each other about prior offenses, such as DWIs, or whether or not your out-of-state license is valid. Many states also have their own laws with regard to the consequences you will face for speeding in another state. So, even if the state of New York cannot suspend your driver’s license, your home state can with the information it has received from New York traffic violations committed in the Capital District, for example. Let’s look more closely at some of the closest states to New York.

New Jersey Drivers Ticketed in New York

New Jersey, for example, adds two points to your license, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and New Jersey Statutes Title 39. Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation 39 § 5D-4 Moving Violation Committed Out-Of-State. The states of New Jersey and New York have a Driver’s License Compact, which means that they share information with each other about drivers. So, if you are convicted of a traffic ticket in one of these states, then the other state will be notified of this ticket.

Connecticut Drivers Ticketed in New York

Connecticut also has a traffic interstate compact with the state of New York, but most of the time they assess points against licenses for drivers who received a ticket in NY. But that doesn’t mean that the offenses will not show up on your record. And if you do not take care of the ticket then the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles can suspend your driver’s license.

Connecticut defendants have the option of pleading no contest or nolo contendere. This essentially means that you aren’t admitting guilt but are not going to fight the charges. In Connecticut, pleading no contest cannot be used against you in a civil suit, because you weren’t actually found guilty of a crime nor did you admit to it. However, New York does not allow drivers to plead nolo contendere. You should call an attorney and have them fight for your ticket for you.

Fines

Generally, if you have been fined by New York, then your home state will not also file charges against you.

What To Do When Pulled Over

It’s important that you conduct yourself properly during the interaction with the police officer at the stop. You want this to be the shortest interaction possible. At the Law Office of Gregory P. Garofalo, rather than argue with the police officer on the side of the road, we advise all of our clients to leave it up to the judge to make a decision about your ticket. Talking back or disagreeing with the officer is a bad idea for several reasons. First of all, everything that you say and do can and will be used against you in court and you may inadvertently admit guilt. A better choice is to be polite and straightforward when the officer asks you questions without acknowledging that you committed a violation.

When You See Flashing Lights, Think Safety

A lot of things are going through an officer’s mind as they approach your car. They don’t know if you pose a threat to them, whether or not you’re under the influence of drugs, or whether you’re maybe just a very scared individual. To help make this interaction go more smoothly, it’s important to put your car in park, turn it off, roll down your window, and then either place your hands outside of the window or on top of the steering wheel where they can be seen. If you have been pulled over at night, then you want to turn on an interior light. These steps are designed to make the interaction safer and possibly to put the officer in a better frame of mind.

On the contrary, moving around inside your car is liable to raise the officer’s suspicions that you are either trying to conceal evidence or intend harm. This could extend the time of your stop or cause the officer to try to develop probable cause for a search. It’s better to keep your hands visible. If you haven’t already gotten your driver’s license and registration ready, wait until the officer instructs you to do so. This will prevent the officer from incorrectly assuming that you are pulling out a weapon.

“Do You Know How Fast You Were Going?”

This is a very popular question among police officers and a lot of people don’t know the answer. When a police officer asks you if you know how fast you were going, it’s never a good idea to give them speed. Chances are excellent that the officer knows what your speed was, but is attempting you to establish that you knew you were speeding. Knowledge of your speed is not an element of the offense, but it adds weight during courtroom presentations. So, if they ask you if you know why they stopped you, your best answer is “no.” When speaking with the officer, you want to give only your basic contact information such as your name, DOB, address, et cetera. You do not have to discuss your job, where you’re coming from, where you’re going, etc.

Do not become antagonistic. Remember that you have the right to remain silent. If the police provoke you, then be sure to remember everything they said. You have rights.

Remember that the Law Office of Gregory P. Garofalo is here to help you get your ticket reduced. You stand a far better chance of having your charges reduced or dismissed for a traffic matter if you keep what you say to a minimum on the side of the road. In fact, if you have nothing on your driving record, no insurance increases, and no prior criminal record, you might find yourself getting off with a warning instead of a ticket with the right lawyer in Saratoga County. This is a much more favorable outcome, so stay calm and be polite during the entire encounter.

Saratoga Springs, New York Statistics and Data

The New York State DMV manages the public, internet-based Traffic Safety Statistical Repository. In the year 2018, there were 169,240 people who were involved in fatal or serious accidents. These accidents included passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other victims. While 133,802 were considered minor accidents, 936 people were killed, 512 of them being drivers, and the next largest group affected, with 272 deaths, were pedestrians. Over 10,000 individuals were involved in serious accidents.

How a Saratoga Springs Traffic Ticket Lawyer Can Help You

A great attorney, such as the ones you will work with at the Law Office of Gregory P. Garofalo, can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on fines and fees. In fact, your attorney may be able to get your ticket charge reduced or dismissed completely. Your attorney can also discuss with you the various pleas that you can consider and recommend the best for your situation.

Hiring an attorney also can mean that you avoid having points assessed to your license. If you still want the freedom to drive to school, work, essential businesses, or for any other reason, you need a valid license. An attorney can also argue in court for you, and in many cases, you do not need to appear if you have hired an attorney to represent you. Lastly, when your charges are reduced, you have a greater likelihood of avoiding auto insurance premium increases.

The traffic ticket attorneys at the Law Office of Gregory P. Garofalo are also members of the NY Bar Association, the NY Trial Lawyers Institute, the NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the Saratoga County Bar Association. Give us a call and let us know more about your specific situation.