Karen A. Friedman defends individuals accused of traffic violations throughout New York State, including speeding, failing to yield to pedestrians or bicyclists, and passing a stopped school bus or red light. She also handles DMV hearings and license and insurance violations. She has more than 30 years of experience fighting for her clients.
Many people wonder whether they should hire a Traffic court lawyer NYC. While it is possible to fight a ticket without a lawyer, a seasoned attorney brings expertise, strategy, and a higher likelihood of a favorable outcome. Additionally, a traffic violation can cause significant penalties such as fines, points on your record, and increased insurance rates.
Non-Criminal Traffic Violation
Generally, the majority of traffic violations are non-criminal and called traffic infractions. These violations are handled in traffic court by an administrative law judge who determines guilt, issues a fine and/or penalty, or revokes or suspends a driver’s license and registration. Individuals are notified of the ticket by mail and must either plead guilty request a hearing by a specific deadline or face a default conviction.
A skilled traffic lawyer can use their negotiation skills to reduce the charge, which may help lower the fine and avoid the dreaded points on your record. They can also work to have the violation reduced to a non-moving violation, which won’t affect your driving privileges or increase your insurance rates. Lastly, they can argue that the violation was justified because of particular circumstances. For example, if you had to swerve to avoid an accident or drive through a red light to get to a hospital due to a medical emergency, these reasons could justify your actions and result in a dismissal of the violation.