Navigating the unique and bustling streets of Brooklyn requires utmost care, yet even the most cautious drivers can occasionally be presented with a traffic ticket. While the fine itself is one aspect of this inconvenience, it’s important to understand that there are deeper repercussions that can affect your budget in the long run — most notably a rise in insurance costs. Fortunately, an experienced Brooklyn traffic attorney like James Medows can play a crucial role in safeguarding your driving record.
Brooklyn is located just south of Queens and across the river from Manhattan, and it’s the most populous of New York City’s five boroughs (also called “boros”). Its many diverse neighborhoods include Park Slope, Red Hook, and the Boerum Hill area where millennials and “hipsters” are often found incubating cutting-edge businesses. Despite its relatively low rate of traffic collisions, Brooklyn has the fourth-highest number of traffic tickets given out every day in New York State.
Unlike some other states, which have local traffic Experienced Traffic Lawyers Brooklyn courts, New York City traffic cases are handled in the city’s Traffic Violations Bureau. This system can be difficult to navigate and has one of the highest conviction rates in the country. This is especially true of speeding tickets, since NYC law enforcement officers have a reputation for being aggressive in stopping drivers who are going over the speed limit.
With an experienced Brooklyn traffic ticket lawyer on your side, there are a number of ways to fight the charges you face. First and foremost, you can dispute the accuracy of the evidence presented by the prosecution. This can include challenging the reliability of a radar or laser device, or questioning calibration records.
Another popular strategy is to challenge the legitimacy of the alleged violation itself. It is not uncommon for police officers to make mistakes while writing traffic tickets, or for other reasons for a ticket to be invalid. In these cases, a skilled Brooklyn traffic lawyer may be able to have the charges against you dismissed completely.
As a final strategy, it’s also possible to have your ticket reduced to a non-moving violation or dismissed entirely in the case of certain violations. If the ticket is for a serious offense, however, your only option is to appear in court and plead guilty or not-guilty. An experienced Brooklyn traffic violation lawyer can help you decide which option is best for your individual situation.