Articles Posted in TRAFFIC

In New York State, prior to 1969, all traffic tickets were handled in the criminal court for the particular jurisdiction where the traffic infraction (speeding, stop sign, red light, etc) allegedly occurred. In 1969, the New York State Legislature enacted Article 2-A of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, which authorized the administrative adjudication of traffic infractions in cities with populations in excess of one million people. In 1972, the population requirement was lowered to 275,000. The population requirement is currently 200,000. In other words, cities in the State of New York with a population of more than 200,000 can “opt” into the Department of Motor Vehicle’s Traffic Violation Bureau (TVB) system thus adjudicating traffic infractions administratively instead of in their respective criminal courts.

Currently New York City, Rochester, Buffalo and certain parts of Suffolk County utilize the TVB administrative system. Therefore, if you are issued a ticket in those jurisdictions, your case will be handled by the TVB and determined by an administrative law judge.

Just like in criminal court, the burden of proof in a TVB hearing is upon the People (the prosecution). However, the burden proof is lower in a TVB proceeding than in criminal court. Indeed, the burden of proof for one to be convicted at a TVB hearing is “clear and convincing evidence.” VTL 227(1). However, the burden of proof for one to be convicted of the very same traffic infraction in a criminal court is “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

If you are issued a speeding ticket in New York City, your case is not handled in a criminal court (as it would be if were issued a speeding ticket in Westchester County). Instead, your case will be heard by the Traffic Violations Bureau of the Department of Motor Vehicles (TVB). Cases heard by TVB are not criminal but instead are considered administrative proceedings. An experienced traffic court attorney can explain the difference between a speeding ticket issued in New York City and one issued in a city such as Yonkers or White Plains in Westchester County.

Often, people we represent who are charged with speeding in New York City ask if we can obtain information about the particular radar or laser unit the police used to measure their speed. For examples, the operating procedures and testing history.

The answer is generally no. The CPLR, including its discovery provisions, is not applicable in cases heard by the Traffic Violations Bureau. 15 NYCRR § 123.1. In Miller v. Schwartz, 72 N.Y.2d 869 (1988) the New York Court of Appeals upheld the constitutional validity of this rule and held that there is no constitutional right to discovery in administrative proceedings. (Note: The TVB is not a criminal court; it is an administrative tribunal).

At Tilem & Campbell we handle traffic tickets throughout New York State. Knowing the rules helps us obtain the best results for our clients. In New York, when a defendant is charged in a criminal court with a traffic infraction such as speeding, he is entitled to a supporting deposition upon a timely demand. CPL 100.25(2). (Of course these rules do not apply to New York City Traffic Tickets which are not handled in a “criminal court”.) However, when can a defendant request a supporting deposition? Can the defendant request the supporting deposition prior to the return date on the ticket? Can the defendant request the supporting deposition prior to actually being arraigned on the traffic ticket? In other words, can the defendant request the supporting deposition before he even enters his not guilty plea? As explained below, the answer is yes; a defendant may request the supporting deposition prior to the return date on his ticket and prior to his arraignment on the ticket.

Criminal Procedure Law sec. 100.25(2) formerly “expressly provided that a defendant is only entitled to a supporting deposition after he has been arraigned upon a simplified information (a traffic ticket). see People v Perry, 87 N.Y.2d 353, 355 (1996)

In Perry, the defendant was charged Failing to Yield The Right of Way to an Emergency Vehicle in violation of VTL 1144 – a traffic infraction. Thereafter, defendant’s attorney sent an “appearance letter” to the local court indicating that defendant was pleading not guilty and requesting a supporting deposition. The supporting was not served on defendant and his subsequent motion to dismiss was granted.

New York speeding tickets are a dime a dozen but the speed trap on the Henry Hudson parkway north between the George Washington Bridge and about 1/2 mile before the Henry Hudson Bridge is just inexplicable. The speed limit is 35 miles per hour in the vicinity of Fort Tryon Park while it is 50 mph on the identical stretch of highway heading south bound and 50 mph before and after this stretch between the George Washington Bridge and the Henry Hudson Bridge.

Without any explanation several months ago the speed limit signs were changed to 50 mph on this stretch of highway and then just as mysteriously went back to 35 mph within the last several days. Of course, the New York City Police are aggressively enforcing the new speed limit.

To add to the absurdity, the speed limit goes up to 50 mph about 1/2 mile before the speed limit suddenly drops to only 10 mph just before the Henry Hudson Toll Plaza.