Red Light Tickets

If you have received a ticket for running a red light any where in New York, you are at the right place to find help.In most cases, you do not even have to show up in court.

A red light may be the most universal of traffic signals.  We all know what it means when we see it, stop.  Yet, from the busy intersections of New York City to the quiet suburbs of Long Island, everyday there are traffic citations being written for running a red light. Running a red light in New York is ranked as the most commonly ticketed offense in the state.  There are two ways to get caught running a red light, 1. Getting pulled over by a police officer or 2. Getting caught on a red light camera and receiving the ticket in the mail.  It is very important to know the difference between the two and the points and penalties associated with each.  Running a red light can lead to a ticket for either failing to obey a traffic control device (NY VTL §1110(a)) or passing a red light (NY VTL §1111(d)-1).  Do not admit guilt by mailing in your ticket and suffering the consequences of a conviction, call one of our traffic ticket attorneys today to preserve your rights.

If you plead guilty to a Red Light Ticket you received from a police officer, chances are your insurance premium will increase. Insurance companies use their own criteria to determine your premiums; meaning you maysee a rate hike that lasts as long as three years. Additionally, if you have a poor driving record they may raise your premiums even further.You may find yourself having to spend time shopping for a new auto insurance company. Your rates are still likely to go up considerably, but you may save money by switching insurers. Your valuable time may be better spent fighting the ticket and avoiding increased insurance costs altogether.

A first offense for a red light ticketcan lead up to 3 (Three) points on your driving record in addition to a $338 fine.  Keep in mind the negative impact a conviction can have on your driving record and future insurance premiums. Under NY VTL § 1111(d)-1, the fine you receive for passing a red light can vary greatly depending on whether you were driving within a city containing over one million people or not.  If you ran a red light in a city containing more than one million people, you could face a penalty of up to $535, points on your license and possible jail time.

Under NY VTL §1110(a),every person shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable to him placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this title.

Under NY VTL §1111(d)-1, Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady circular red signal, unless to make such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in paragraph two of this subdivision.

Red light ticket cameras take pictures of automobiles when they enter the intersection while the light is red.  The cameras are usually mounted on or near traffic signals in busy intersections and also photograph license plates in order to identify and then mail a citation to the offender. Currently in NY, if you receive a red light camera ticket, you will receive a fine of $50 but no points.  The reason why the fine is so much lower than being pulled over is because New York State knows these tickets are problematic and rely on the fact that most drivers will just pay it.  When you receive the ticket in the mail, you will also receive printouts of your vehicle which is the evidence used against you, also known as a testimonial.  This means that you as the accused, have the right to cross-examine your accuser.  However, that is impossible since the accuser is a machine, meaning you can make an oral motion to have the ticket dismissed.  This defense usually works but is not a guarantee.  Other defenses include medical emergency, unexpected malfunction, stolen vehicle.

Many drivers will try to contest their Red Light Ticket without a lawyer.  Although extremely rare, in some instances a person may even get jail time for running a red light. The rules and procedures that apply to traffic court are tricky; consequently, developing an appropriate strategy to pursue the best possible outcome for you is our goal. The consequences can quickly spiral beyond what you first imagined, getting legal representation to figure out a workable solution is important.