Catskill Traffic Violations Law Blog

Motorists in New York State have plenty of incentive to avoid traffic fines for speeding, using a handheld cell phone or a host of criminal traffic violations. Whether they have to fight a ticket in town court or simply want to reduce the chances that they will ever be pulled over, knowledge current New York traffic laws is a valuable asset.

The New York Senate has passed a bill that substantially increases the penalties for some driving offenses, reclassifying reckless driving as a Class A misdemeanor and adding a new category of felony offense, aggravated reckless driving. If the Assembly and the governor approve the bill it will become a law due to take effect in November 2012.

Reckless driving is already a traffic violation, defined as driving in a manner that unreasonably interferes with the proper use of a public road or endangers those using the road, without listing specific examples of behavior that fits this definition. Changing this offense from an unclassified misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor would allow prosecutors to ask for a maximum one-year sentence, rather than the current 30-day maximum.

This November, New York officials proved just how serious they are about making sure drivers do not text while on the roads by handing out over 800 tickets for texting while driving during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provided a "Distracted Driving Enforcement Grant" to the state, which funded "Operation Hang-Up." The New York State Police were able to then focus their patrol officers on stopping and ticketing drivers who were texting, while supplementing the state's regular traffic enforcement. The state plans to enhance "enforcement periods" in the future as well.

Let's face it. In this economy, the last thing anyone needs is something else to pay for.

Police in Onondaga and Suffolk counties are cracking down on traffic violations in school zones where a 140 percent increase in tickets were given this past year. And trying to get out of a ticket with children walking around is no easy task. Officers are strict. Children need to be safe.

A school zone usually only applies for certain hours during the day - especially times when children are getting on school buses or crossing the street. School zones are almost always posted on signs near a school and marked with flashing yellow lights.