Traffic Tickets Are Big Business

No surprise here. New York municipalities rely heavily on revenue from traffic tickets to supplement receipts from its taxpayers. The size of the New York traffic ticket revenue, however, might surprise you. There are over 1,262 justice courts in New York State, and 37 of them generate more than $1 million in revenue.  The top 6 had over $2 million.

The number one traffic court is Port Chester traffic court in Westchester County with $2.3 million in revenue.  The revenue is derived from traffic ticket fines, fees and bail forfeitures, and the locality shares it with the state.

In order of revenue, the top three grossing New York traffic courts are:

• Port Chester traffic court in Westchester County
• Hempstead traffic court in Nassau County
• Colonie traffic court in Albany County

Other top grossing traffic courts include:  East Hampton traffic court, Clarkstown traffic court, Bedford traffic court, Harrison traffic court and Walkill traffic court.  When it comes to generating money, however, none of these courts compare to the Traffic Violations Bureau in New York City and Suffolk County.  The TVB, by far, generates the most money for New York State than any other traffic court.

Even small of the less active traffic courts generate relatively big monies.  Rotterdam traffic court is one of the top grossing court’s in the Capital Region with over $425,000 in revenue for the town and representing 3.2% of its $13 million budget.

Interestingly, the allocation between the locality and state is subject to manipulation.  When a traffic court enters into a plea bargain, it can agree to certain types of reductions which result in the locality keeping 100% of the fine.  An example of such a plea is a local parking ticket.  This is why it pays to fight any New York traffic ticket or speeding ticket returnable at traffic court which allows for plea-bargaining.

Related articles by Zemanta

• You Can Get Away With Anything in Traffic Court, With a Little Patience (streetsblog.org)
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Santa Claus Issued A New York City Traffic Ticket

In New York City, it was widely publicized when a man dressed as Santa Claus was issued a NYC traffic ticket for being double parked in November 2008.  The 60-year old retired school teacher dressed as Kriss Kringle was ticketed while handing out Christmas gifts nearby.  Less commonly known is the outcome of Santa’s case.  He contested the $115 but Scrooge-like parking officials unfortunately were not in the Christmas spirit finding him guilty as charged.

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Cell Phone Ticket Blitz

The Daily News reports that starting at midnight on March 11, 2009, New York City Police Officers will be on the prowl for motorists failing to use a hands-free device for their cell phones.  The blitz will last 24 hours and extra officers will be assigned cell phone enforcement duty.

In 2008, almost 200,000 cell phone tickets were issued in New York City.  These New York traffic tickets carry no points but cost around $120 and a conviction to such an offense may result in your auto insurance premiums being raised.

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Funny Traffic Anecdote, Part I

I was pulled over on the shoulder of the Eastbound side of the Long Island Expressway. The discussion went as follows:

Officer: Do you know that you were going 85 mph?

Me: Yeah, but a really good song was playing?

Officer: But you were also weaving in and out of traffic. Why were you driving this way?

Me: I always drive this way.

Officer: License and registration.

Me: (After observing officer disregarding his own safety by ignoring fast, nearby traffic in right lane) You should be more careful.

Officer: Why (defensively)?!?

Me: There are cars and trucks passing so close to you.  You could get hurt.

Officer: Wait here.

(5 minutes later).

Officer; I am only giving you a warning. Please be more careful in the future.

Lesson:  Watching out for an officer’s well being can get you out of a ticket (even if you are a wise-cracking, reckless driver).

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How New York Traffic Tickets Can Effect A Commercial Driver License (CDL)

I am often asked about what effect convictions to a New York traffic ticket or truck ticket will have on a person’s Commercial Driver License (CDL).

A CDL is needed in New York to operate a vehicle with a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds, a vehicle designed to transport 15 or more passengers, a bus and vehicles used to transport hazardous materials (except when personal vehicles when operated strictly and exclusively to transport personal or family member possessions for non-commercial purposes).

You will lose your CDL for 60 days if you are convicted of two “serious traffic violations” within a 3-year period involving a commercial motor vehicle.  The two charges, however must not arise out of the same incident.  You will lose your CDL for 120 days if you are convicted of 3 serious traffic violations within a 3-year period involving a commercial motor vehicle.  For a CDL holder, these sanctions apply for serious traffic violations occurring within or without the state (unlike a regular New York license which can only be assessed points for New York, Quebec and Ontario offenses but not for offenses occurring in any of the other 49 states).  Further, if you are convicted of a traffic violation outside of New York (except parking), you are required to report it to the New York DMV within 30 days of being convicted.

A “serious traffic violation” is any of the following offenses:
•    Speeding 15 or more above the posted limit
•    Reckless driving
•    Improper or unsafe lane changes
•    Tailgating
•    Traffic offenses committed in connection with a fatal traffic accident
•    Operating a commercial motor vehicle without a CDL

It is important to note that the loss of a CDL is only for convictions to moving violations while operating a commercial motor vehicle (as opposed to a private or personal vehicle).  The only exceptions to this rule are for convictions to the following offenses involving a private car:  leaving the scene of an accident, alcohol and drug violations involving your personal vehicle (1 year loss of CDL for first offense and lifetime loss for second offense) and felonies involving a motor vehicle.  Of course, other offenses involving a private vehicle do impact upon your regular New York driver license.

Even more serious offenses will result in the loss of your CDL for one year.  These offenses are:
•    Driving a commercial motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .04% or higher.
•    Driving any vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance
•    Refusal to undergo blood alcohol testing
•    Leaving the scene of an accident without reporting it
•    Committing a felony involving the use of a vehicle
•    Operating a commercial motor vehicle while your CDL is revoked, suspended or canceled.

You will lose your CDL for 3 years if any of the above occur while your transporting hazardous materials (and for life if convicted a second time for any of the offenses above or if you use a commercial motor vehicle to commit a felony involving a controlled substance).

To read this complete article, go to Your Commercial Driver License (CDL) and New York Speeding Tickets And Other Traffic Tickets

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