Speeding is a violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180 in New York State. The points assessed for speeding vary, depending on the speed alleged. DMV lists the points for traffic violations on its website. In the event you are caught speeding in New York State, you should not "just plead guilty to get it over with.” There are various negative consequences for a speeding conviction. Points can result in a license suspension and/or a costly DMV assessment. In addition, speeding convictions can cause insurance rates to go up substantially, and in certain circumstances, points can combine with alcohol related convictions to subject a driver to possible permanent revocation.
If you are unlucky enough to get a speeding ticket in New York State, your lawyer will often be able to negotiate a plea bargain on your behalf, without your ever having to appear in court. Plea bargaining can result in substantial reductions in the points assessed for a speeding ticket. Depending on the court and how high a speed the officer has alleged, it is sometimes possible to eliminate all of the points associated with a speeding summons.
In the five boroughs of New York City, plea bargaining is not available. Instead, if you plead Not Guilty to a speeding summons in New York City, you will receive a date to return to one of the Traffic Violations Bureaus where a contested hearing will be held. It is possible to win one of these hearings, especially if the speeding ticket was not issued by a Highway Patrol Officer. Nevertheless, the Traffic Violations Bureau does place downstate drivers at a serious disadvantage since they are often unable to plea bargain their summonses.
I have been fighting traffic summonses for almost 30 years. If you have any questions or would like to contest a summons you have received, please call me at (917) 450-7078 for a free consultation.