What happens if i plead guilty to a speeding ticket

I cannot tell you the number of times that I have heard people say that rather than hiring an attorney, fighting a speeding ticket issued to them or seeking a plea deal “because it was not worth their time or money,” people have just plead guilty and then faced licensing sanctions. In New York State, the Department of Motor Vehicles keeps track of convictions to speeding tickets and other moving violations. The consequences are greater than just the Court fine. This article discusses some of those consequences.

When you are charged and plead guilty to speeding or virtually to any other moving violation, a guilty plea not only garners you a fine and likely a mandatory surcharge from the Court where the ticket is returnable, but also points on your license. These points can have significant impact on your licensing and any further civil penalties that you are required to pay the state for the privilege of continuing to drive in New York. For instance, a speeding ticket that is 1 mph over the speed limit is a 3-point offense with the Department of Motor Vehicles. A speeding ticket 11 mph over the speed limit is a 4-point offense. A speeding ticket that is 21 mph over the speed limit is a 6-point offense. We routinely speak to clients who are alleged to have been driving these speeds all the time, especially on the wide-open interstates and the Northway in Upstate New York.

Another common ticket is communicating on a mobile phone while operating a vehicle without a hands-free device, which is a 5-point violation.

These points are counted for purposes of driver licensing and ability to continue operating a vehicle in the State of New York. If you receive six points on your license in 18 months, you will receive, in addition to any Court fine and surcharge, the Driver Responsibility Assessment—a civil penalty through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Six points in 18 months will cost you $100.00 per year for 3 years as a civil penalty. Any point on top of 6 in that same 18 months will cost you an additional $25.00 per year for 3 years on top of the Court fines and surcharges and the $100.00 per year for three years to the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you obtain 11 points in 18 months, you will be suspended and off the road for 6 months. Similarly, 3 speeding tickets in 18 months is an automatic suspension of your driver’s license for 6 months. These penalties are simply for those regular Class D drivers; penalties can be even more substantial and significant for those who are junior drivers, new drivers or hold a commercial driver’s license commonly known as a “CDL.”

Additionally, as you might imagine, insurance companies also keep an eye on your points. Needless to say, your insurance rates will rise as the number of convictions to moving violations and speeding tickets you have increases, as well.

And, if a defendant were to have had multiple convictions for Driving While Intoxicated or Driving While Ability Impaired, points can play a role in your ability to ever obtain a license in the future. Lifetime points are counted in this aspect as a serious driving offense (SDO). If you garner enough lifetime points, this can also keep you off the road, potentially for good.

It is extremely important to seek legal counsel in the event that you obtain speeding tickets or other traffic tickets in the State of New York to determine what penalties you face with the Court, as well as your ability to operate in the future and any lasting effects. 

First you must determine if your ticket is a traffic violation and not a criminal matter.  As a general rule this can be determine by the way the ticket is written.

Locate the plea response date on the ticket.  This date is typically located at the bottom of the summons.  If an X or dot is placed in the box indicating “Respond by mail or in-person on, “then you may enter a guilty or not guilty plea by mail an APPEARANCE IS NOT REQUIRED on the date printed on the ticket (See below for instructions on how to proceed.)

If your ticket has an X or dot placed next to “Must appear in person on, “this is a criminal matter and you MUST APPEAR in the Carmel Justice Court on the date and time indicated unless you receive written correspondence from the court telling you otherwise.

If you were issued more than one ticket in one stop/road check, and any One of the matters  requires an appearance due to its criminal nature, ALL tickets that were issued require an appearance before a judge either on the date printed on the ticket or a date that the court sets and in which case you will be notified by mail.

ENTER YOUR PLEA ON OR BEFORE THE DATE INDICATED ON THE TICKET BY MAIL OR IN PERSON.  YOU NEED NOT APPEAR IN COURT ON THE DATE INDICATED ON THE TICKET.  THAT DATE IS FOR A PLEA ONLY

To Enter a Guilty Plea
If you wish to plead guilty to a traffic violation first locate the plea response date on the ticket.  This date is typically located at the bottom of the summons.  Your guilty plea must be received by the Court on or before the date indicated.

Complete Section A on the ticket (“Plea of Guilty”), place an X through section B, and mail the ticket to the Court.  Upon receipt of your guilty plea you will be sent a fine notice for the violation. 

Paying for the ticket
Payment can be made either in person between the hours of 9:00AM to 4:00PM, by mail or by fax transmission or online.  Acceptable forms of payment are cash; credit card (Visa, MasterCard) provided the cardholder is present at the time of payment, money order or check.   Payment can be made via mail by check or money order please enclose your fine notice; or by completing the credit card payment section of the fine notice and returning it back to the Court or faxing it to the Court Clerk’s office.  Our fax number is 845-628-4550.

On line payment – To pay for your traffic violation ticket online please go click here or call 1-888-912-1541.

To Enter a Not Guilty Plea
If you wish to plead Not Guilty to a traffic violation, you may do so by completing section B on the ticket (“Plea of Not Guilty”), placing an X through section A, and mail the ticket to the Court.  The Court will then process your not guilty plea and mail you a Pre-Trial conference date.  At that time you will have the opportunity to conference with the Town Attorney to see if a disposition can be reached.

Please note:  it may take weeks or months before you receive written correspondence from the court.  It is your responsibility to notify the court in writing of a change of address.

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