Traffic Violations In Westchester County, New York

Michael Kramer Law

Driving is a necessity for most people in Westchester County, New York. Violating traffic laws can quickly become a very serious matter. It can lead to restrictions on your license and an inability to commute quickly and efficiently to and from your place of business and other important appointments. The first step to preventing these traffic violations is to know the laws that can impact your everyday life.

What Are The Different Types Of Traffic Violations I Can Receive In Westchester County, New York?

The most common type of traffic violation received in Westchester is speeding. How fast you are going over the speed limit will determine the severity of your penalty. You could get up to 11 points on your drivers’ license for speeding. Getting 11 points on your license can mean a suspended license in the state of New York.

Some other violations commonly seen in Westchester County, New York are…

Reckless driving
Inadequate brakes
Following too closely
Improper passing or changing lanes unsafely
Passenger safety - failure to wear safety belts or use proper child safety seats

The traffic laws in place are in an effort to ensure driver safety on the road. Following the law is essential to prevent violations, but also to ensure that you are being safe for yourself, your passengers, and others on the road.

How Long Do Points Stay On My License?

Traffic Violations In Westchester County, New York

In Westchester County, New York, the Driver Violation Point System (DVP) allows the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to identify high-risk drivers and take action against them when needed to ensure road safety.

Every time you receive a traffic violation, you will potentially receive points on your license. You can request a court date to fight your violation, at which point you will have the ability to ask the court to waive the points on your license. A traffic violation attorney can help you receive this waiver so that the violation is not reflected on your license.

When you get points on your driving record, these points remain on your license for 18 months. After 18 months, the points will still be visible on your driving record for up to four years but will not be included in any current points accrued in the last 18 months. Accruing 11 points in an 18-month period can mean that your drivers’ license will be suspended.

How Do They Know I Was Speeding? Can They Prove It If I Fight It?

There are several ways that the police can use to determine if a driver is speeding or not. These can include:

Speed cameras - A speed radar camera is triggered to capture a picture of a speeding vehicle and collect the time, location, and speed.
Radar guns - A radar gun uses an electromagnetic signal to determine speed. An officer would point this at the vehicle, but also must ensure he is not picking up other moving objects or interference.
Lasers - More exact than a radar gun, a laser can pinpoint an exact vehicle in congested traffic to measure time and distance and determine speed.
Clock and pace - This is a method used by officers which involves driving at the same pace as the vehicle in question and using their own speedometer to determine speed.
Aerial speed devices - In Westchester County, New York, they also have aircraft measuring the time it takes a vehicle to travel between two points. The aircraft communicates to ground officers when they determine the vehicle’s speed.

In short, you should assume that there is always a way to be caught speeding. Even when you do not see a traffic officer in the vicinity, there could be traffic cameras positioned out of view or even aircraft high up above you. These are all legal methods to determine if a driver is speeding.

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