Should You Hire an Attorney for a Speeding Ticket in New York?

Absolutely. Even though most of us think of a speeding ticket as an annoyance that should simply be paid and forgotten, the reality of the situation is that a speeding ticket has the potential of costing you thousands of dollars – years after the ticket has been paid. It’s in these types of traffic violations that a New York Criminal Defense lawyer can help most.

New York traffic violations

Elliot Schlissel, a 30 year New York criminal defense attorney who represents clients in Long Island’s Suffolk and Nassau Counties as well as all five boroughs of Manhattan and surrounding counties, says that while his firm represents people with regard to all types of traffic violations, speeding is by far the most common and can have unexpected results. He explained:

New York speeding tickets can result in the loss of your license if you have between 9 and 11 points within an 18 month period or you have 3 speeding convictions within 18 months. Insurance companies monitor speeding ticket convictions and if you get one, you can also end up in the assigned risk program and expose yourself from anywhere from $7,000 to $15,000 in additional insurance expenses over a period of three to four years.

What can a New York Speeding Ticket lawyer do to help?

Attorneys can very often reduce the charges, Schlissel told us. “They can plea bargain them. They can reduce the impact of the ticket. They can prevent the individual from losing his or her license and prevent him from having his insurance rates go up.”

He says that prosecutors are more reasonable in dealing with attorneys in plea bargaining these tickets because they don’t wish to tie up the courts and their police officers on trials. In fact, he told us that attorneys tend to have a much greater level of success than individuals have on their own with regards to these types of matters.

If you’ve gotten a speeding ticket or other traffic violation, contact an experienced New York criminal defense lawyer to discuss your situation. You may have more options than you realize.

Case Studies: Should You Hire an Attorney for a Speeding Ticket in New York?

Case Study 1: Reducing Charges and Protecting Your License

John Smith was issued a speeding ticket in New York, which put him at risk of losing his driving license due to accumulated points. Fearing the financial burden and inconvenience that could result from a suspended license, John decided to seek legal help. His attorney negotiated with the prosecutor and successfully reduced the charges against John. As a result, he avoided the loss of his license and the subsequent increase in insurance rates.

Case Study 2: Plea Bargaining and Lowering Insurance Expenses

Sara Davis received multiple speeding tickets within a short period, putting her at risk of high insurance expenses. Concerned about the financial impact, Sara consulted an experienced New York criminal defense lawyer. The attorney negotiated a plea bargain on her behalf, resulting in reduced charges and avoiding excessive insurance costs. By engaging an attorney, Sara was able to minimize the long-term financial consequences of her traffic violations.

Case Study 3: Maximizing Success With Legal Representation

Michael Johnson decided to handle his speeding ticket independently, assuming he could navigate the legal process effectively. However, he soon realized the complexities involved and the limited success he could achieve on his own.

Frustrated by his lack of progress, Michael eventually sought the assistance of a New York criminal defense lawyer. With professional representation, Michael’s attorney was able to secure a more favorable outcome than he could have achieved on his own, highlighting the advantages of having legal expertise on your side.