Tailgating Tickets

If you have received a ticket for tailgating or following too closelyanywhere 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.

When operating a vehicle, it is important to ensure that there is adequate space between you and the vehicle in front of you.  If the vehicle in front of you suddenly slams on the brakes, you could rear-end them if you were tailgating.  Each vehicles speed, weight, and driver can determine how quickly it will come to a stop but if your car takes longer to stop than the vehicle in front of you, you may be liable for an accident. Tailgating or following too closely is judged by a police officer.  Essentially, this law prohibits drivers from following too closely, or tailgating other motorists.  Drivers are recommended to allow a space of two seconds between them and the vehicle in front of them.  This means that you should observe when the other vehicle passes a stationary object then count at least two seconds before you pass the same object.The subjective standard of this law makes it challenging for motorists to conform to the law’s requirements.

If you plead guilty to a Tailgating Ticket, 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 tailgating ticketwill lead to 4 (four) points on your driving record in addition to a $288 fine.  Keep in mind the negative impact a conviction can have on your driving record and future insurance premiums.

Under NY VTL §1129(a),the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.

Under NY VTL §1129(b), the driver of any motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle when traveling upon a roadway outside of a business or residence district and which is following another motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle shall, whenever conditions permit, leave sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger, except that this shall not prevent a motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle from overtaking and passing any like vehicle or other vehicle.

Under NY VTL §1129(c), motor vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade whether or not towing other vehicles shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between each such vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger. This provision shall not apply to funeral processions.

Many drivers will try to contest their Tailgating Ticket without a lawyer. 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.