When people get pulled over by the police, they often give excuses or reasons why they were speeding. For instance, someone may honestly claim that they didn’t know what the speed limit was at the time, so they didn’t mean to break the limit. Or they may claim that...
Hudson Valley Criminal Defense Law Blog
Can a breath test be wrong?
For most drivers, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08%. It is possible for someone who has a lower BAC to be cited for impaired driving if they exhibit signs of being under the influence of alcohol or other substances. But the legal limit is...
Are there defenses to a failure to yield to a pedestrian charge?
New York State's traffic laws are designed to protect both motorists and pedestrians. One law that commonly results in traffic tickets is the requirement for drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections. However, those tickets are not always...
How the New York IID program works after a DWI charge
Licensing consequences are arguably the most frustrating penalties that the New York courts routinely impose for driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges. Motorists can lose their driver's licenses for extended lengths of time, which can affect their careers and/or...
How do traffic violations in New York impact commercial drivers?
Commercial drivers in New York operate under a distinct set of rules and regulations. Understanding how traffic violations can affect commercial drivers in this state is essential for anyone in the industry. Like many states, New York uses a point system to track...
2 defense strategies for New York reckless driving charges
Reckless driving is one of the more serious traffic offenses that the state of New York can accuse someone of committing. It is not a simple citation like speeding or failing to use a blinker. It is a criminal offense that can result in a criminal record in addition...
2 reasons that prescription medication use pre-crash can lead to arrest
Prescription medication is legal for people to possess under certain circumstances, and many people benefit from the supervised administration of a prescription drug regimen. Despite these benefits, there are risks. Many medications carry some risk of abuse,...
It costs more to pay a traffic ticket than people realize
To many people in New York, the flashing lights of a police vehicle behind them are synonymous with the loss of several hundred dollars. They assume that an officer will write them a ticket and that they will have to pay a fine. Especially for speeding infractions,...
Can the police arrest someone for drugs found in their vehicle?
Some drug arrests are the result of a defendant's direct encounter with the police. Someone talks to an officer on the sidewalk and then gets caught with prescription drugs or banned substances in their pockets. These people will likely face accusations of tangible...
Can the police pull someone over just for texting while driving?
There are certain driving behaviors that people know are unsafe. These actions often feature prominently in driver's education programs and may also be a focal point for public awareness campaigns. Drunk driving is a perfect example. The dangers of drunk driving are...