Congestion Pricing
Traffic congestion is a problem in most cities. The number of people who are moving though the city and the available road space for cars and other vehicles are often at odds. One solution is the addition “congestion pricing”. Gov. Andrew M Cuomo recently proposed a price of $11.52 for regular vehicles, $25.34 for... Read More
Gateway Project
Funding for the Gateway Project, a new rail tunnel connecting Manhattan and New Jersey may be in jeopardy after President Trump’s administration sent a letter claiming that there is no funding agreement for the first phase of the project. The Gateway Project is intended to reduce railway congestion and act as a replacement for the... Read More
Vision Zero Fourth Year
Traffic deaths declined for the fourth year in a row under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “Vision Zero” project. The project that is intended to reduce traffic deaths in the city to zero though a combination of public awareness campaigns, street redesign, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws has been successful. Reduced city wide speed limits,... Read More
Potholes
With last week’s subfreezing temperatures behind us, and a significant day time warm up this week the conditions are great for the formation of new potholes in our roads. Potholes form mainly due to water seeping into cracks in pavement during warm daylight hours then freezing and expanding at night when temperatures drop below the... Read More
Black Ice
With winter in full swing subfreezing temperatures are becoming normal. It is important to be aware of black ice. Black ice is a clear layer of ice that forms on sidewalks and streets. The way it forms makes it very difficult to see and as a result can cause serious problems for pedestrians and motorists... Read More
Pedestrians Get A Head Start
As a part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero campaign, he plans to eliminate traffic deaths by 2024. One of the tactics being used by city officials to fulfill this campaign is giving the pedestrians a head start while crossing. Pedestrians are now given a head start at 2,381 intersections in New York City. ... Read More
DRIVER ASSESSMENT
If you accumulate six or more points for your license in an eighteen month period, this will trigger a NY State Driver Assessment charge. This is a charge that is levied against drivers who receive six or more points on their license in an eighteen month period. The assessment fee can be paid two ways,... Read More
Solution to Gridlock
For decades New York City urban planners, economists, city official and business leaders have push for a toll system to control the amount of traffic in the city and provide more revenue. It appears the “Congestion pricing” idea is not dead in the water. Gov. Andrew Cuomo told The Times that it was an “idea whose time has... Read More
States to Drivers: Move Over
Recently many states have been implementing messages for drivers to stop clogging the left lanes. Left lanes are specifically for passing and turning left, not cruising. Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Nevada, and Oklahoma are among states with new laws increasing their fine and ratcheting up enforcement. Each state is taking its own approach, some have funny... Read More
Uber Hack
The recent hack of 57 million Uber customers have left many wondering how vulnerable are we? Unfortunately finding answers is never easy. As consumers we can only do out best to protect our information. Some ideas are changing all your passwords, keeping a close tab on your personal accounts for fraudulent activity and consider setting... Read More
Happy Thanksgiving
Special thanks to all our clients. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Drive Carefully. Photo on TrendHype
Holiday Season Is Here
Expect heavy enforcement of drunk driving laws as the Holiday Season is here. Do you realize that you license may be revoked if you refuse a Police Officer’s request to take a breathalyzer test. It is a no brained-Do not drink and drive this holiday. If you happen to be in Long Island for Thanksgiving... Read More
Too Much Technology
Too much technology in our cars can lead to distracted driving. We all want the latest bells and whistles in our cars. We love the convenience, but when is it too much? Remember to focus while driving. Don’t let your cars technology distract you while driving. If you receive a summons for a speed, disobey... Read More
More Rides , More Traffic
With increased usage of ride sharing companies, do you feel it is easier to get around the city? The question is up for debate. Ride sharing companies such as Uber or Lyft have attracted many new customers, especially with the constant transit problems in New York City. Service is either too slow or unreliable. On... Read More
Nassau County Stats
On Fridays from noon – 6pm the most crashes occur in Nassau county according to the NYS DMV statistics on motor vehicles. Over 28,000 speeding tickets were issued in the county. Be aware of how speed can contribute to crashes. If you receive a summons for a speed, disobey traffic device, or any other... Read More
Texting and Driving
We all know that texting and driving is a no-no. According to a recent study conducted by the AAA foundation, “Texting while stopped at a traffic light can negatively affect full driving engagement once the light turns green for an average of 27 seconds after you’ve stopped texting.” Texting and driving will also cost you... Read More
Speeding Tickets
According to the NYS DMV, there were 1.38 million speeding tickets issued by the police during the last 4 years. Friday was the day where the most tickets were written. Males 23 years old received the most tickets. That is a lot of speeding tickets folks. Always fight if you were issued a speeding ticket. Fight those... Read More
The Truck Can’t Stop Here
Mayor de Blasio revealed his new plan to reduced congestion in the city. The congestion–reduction pilot program will determine when and where commercial vehicles can stop and unload goods. The rush hour from 7am -10am and 4pm-7pm ban will include 11 Midtown cross streets. Some business owners are saying the new change will hurt them,... Read More
5th Avenue Bike Lane
New York City’s Department of Transportation is planning on redesigning Fifth Avenue without adding any infrastructure for cyclists. On October 10, Tuesday night, a crowd of demonstrators formed a “human protective bike lane” on Fifth Avenue protesting the new changes. The redesign would add a second bus lane to accommodate bus congestion. Hopefully the Department... Read More
Toll Booths at MTA Bridges
The start of cashless toll booth has begun at Throgs Neck Bridge. MTA is replacing all the toll booths with cash-less tolling. Even with the removal of the booths there has still been significant congestion at the bridge. MTA cited two main reasons for the congestion, one was the work required for removal of the... Read More
Fewer Safety Guidelines
Recently the Trump administration revealed it’s new updated safety guidelines for self-driving cars. Before under Obama, automakers had to follow a 15 point safety assessment, now it is only a 12 point assessment. Automakers no longer have to think about ethics privacy issues beyond crash data. They also make it clear that only the federal... Read More
Ride Hailing Apps Vs Taxi Drivers
Almost three years ago taxi medallions sold for almost 1 million dollars in New York. Nowadays the price of a medallions has decreased dramatically; the main reason being ride sharing apps (Uber, Lyft, Via, Gett, and Juno.) Taxi drivers are currently in a crisis trying to balance paying off medallions and maintaining a steady income. ... Read More
Tesla Model S Autopilot Limited
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the first known fatal crash of Tesla Model S Autopilot was due to design limitations. The crash was the result of the driver’s over-reliance on Tesla autopilot technology.The driver at the time took his vehicle on the highway where the crash occurred. Tesla has warned its drivers that... Read More
Congestion Pricing
Governor Cuomo is considering a “congestion pricing” for all cars in New York City. This plan was proposed to cut back on traffic congestion and reduced pollution in the city. This plan was first introduced a decade ago by former Mayor Bloomberg, but was blocked by Albany. If this “congestion pricing” passes for NYC, it... Read More
Bike Lane Rush Hour
Biking has become part of New Yorkers day to day routine. The bike culture is growing at a rapid pace in New York City, for example the daily bike trip on the Brooklyn Bridge has increased from 170,000 in 2005 to 450,000 riders currently. Under Vision Zero, the city is trying to accommodate the bikers... Read More
Self Driving Cars Are The Future
Lawmakers are playing the catch up game when it comes to autonomous vehicles. With more and more companies releasing and testing their driverless cars; lawmakers are slowly and cautiously taking steps towards regulating the industry. Senators on both sides agree driverless cars can prevent deaths and also could spurt job creation growth. What regulations should... Read More
Zap To The Future
LIPA, Long Island Power Authority is preparing to expand its electric car charging stations in Long Island. Currently there are 112 stations in Nassau and Suffolk. The plans are to install 32 more and offer special rates for overnight charging. LIPA wants to offer support to their customer choices in using electricity over gas, especially... Read More
Parallel Issues in London: Uber vs. Taxi Cab
In London, or across the pond, Uber vs. taxi cabs has centered as the narrative. The taxi cab in London has a long history, whereas Uber arrived in 2012. In London, the Uber is normally the cheaper ride. Some have claimed Uber is killing the business model and culture of the traditional black cab (London’s... Read More
Safety Study of Southern State Parkway
On June 15th, State Senate passed a bill directing State Department of Transportation to conduct a safety study on the Southern State Parkway. The parkway design hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1927. In a recent study, DOT found within a 5 year span the Southern State Parkway had over 10,000 accidents, 3,000... Read More
Nassau County May Opt Out of Ride Sharing Services
Nassau County is seeking to opt out of a current NY State Law that legalizes ride-sharing services. Meaning, if they County opts out, Uber and Lyft would be temporarily banned in Nassau County. Nassau County wishes to charge more registration fees for Uber and Lyft. These fees could generate up to a whooping $1 million... Read More
Car Pooling Cabs
Pretty soon, yellow cabs in New York City will be joining the carpooling scene. Two ride sharing apps Curb and Via are teaming up to provide this service to passengers. This carpooling service will give customers a 40 percent discount from regular prices. This program will offer service from 32nd and 110th street only but... Read More
More Speeding Cameras
Mayor Bill De Blasio is urging State Legislature to install more speeding cameras around 750 school zones. He cited a Department of Transportation study stating speeding has decreased by 63 percent around camera zones and crashes with injuries have decreased by 15 percent. If State Legislature approves more cameras, they might also approve the time... Read More
Hampton Bay’s Response To Texting and Driving
The town of Hampton Bay recently unveiled a new “Please Don’t Text and Drive” sign near route 24. The sign was placed in memory of a woman killed by a motorist using his cellphone while driving. Texting and driving not only endangers yourself, but it endangers other motorists and pedestrians on the road. If you... Read More
Uber Miscalculation
Every since 2014, Uber has miscalculated its driver’s commissions. Uber admitted the error last week and has promised to pay their drivers their payments plus interest (each driver is set to make almost $900). This mistake will cost Uber around $45 million. What do you think of Uber’s recent mistake? If you receive a summons... Read More
High Amount of Summons Issued in 2017
Amazingly, over the first four months of 2017, New York State Troopers issued 14,452 Traffic Summons! This means that everyone must drive carefully, as the state is cracking down on any offenses. If you receive a summons for an improper turn, or an illegal U-turn, or any other moving violation, an experienced traffic ticket attorney... Read More
Lyft and Waymo Collaboration
Two of Silicon Valley’s biggest players are teaming up; Lyft ( the ride sharing app) and Waymo (the self-driving company). Lyft is trying to become a key player in the for-hire autonomous realm. This new collaboration may help Lyft surpass Uber. What might this deal do for Uber? If you receive a summons for an... Read More
New City Council Bills Aimed At Catching Hit-And-Run Drivers
Two recently introduced City Council Bills are aimed at aiding law enforcement authorities better catch hit-and-run drivers. One of the bills would create an “Amber Alert” style message sent to the phones of NYC residents. Another bill would create greater rewards for those who turn in suspected hit-and-run criminals. These bills could greatly aid in... Read More
New AAA Report
A new AAA report states that many injuries and deaths from car crashes on Long Island can be avoided through the introduction of new roundabouts, guardrails, and better crosswalks. AAA seeks to spend $146 billion on safety over the next 20 years all across the U.S.A. When traffic deaths were measured per 100,000 people, the... Read More
New Face Reading Technology
One day, One’s car may have the ability to read one’s face. Automakers are looking to use bio-metrics and facial recognition software in an effort to anticipate the drivers wants and desire, like playing your favorite music based on your mood. This facial recognition software can also reduce the impact of an airbag based off... Read More
Uber Drivers Will Receive Tips?
New York City is debating whether or not to force For-Hire Vehicle services like Uber to offer tipping. The Taxi and Limo Commission is pushing forth the idea of enabling a tipping feature on the Uber app. The tipping proposal will be formally introduced to the City Council in July. Uber drivers seek to have... Read More
For-Hire-Vehicles Out On Long Island?
A new deal would allow for-hire-vehicle companies Uber and Lyf to operate on Long Island. Governor Cuomo did not release the specifics of the deal, but informed the public last week that “we basically have an agreement [on the deal].” The proposals that were under discussion included requiring Uber and Lyft drivers to obtain specific... Read More
The Debate Over The Speed Limit on The Ocean Parkway
Should Ocean Parkway’s speed limit be raised? Currently, the speed limit for the Brooklyn boulevard is currently at 25 miles per hour. According to cameras, from March 5th to 11th, 91,000 motorists drove over 25 miles per hour on the Ocean Parkway. State Senator Simcha Felder, has introduced a bill that would increase the speed... Read More
Southern State Safety Check
Two key players in Nassau County have called upon the state to improve the Southern State Parkway due to safety concerns. Over a 5-year period, there has been over 10,000 traffic accidents on the Southern State Parkway. This number is way too high! What do you think? If you receive a summons for a speeding... Read More
How Self-Driving Cars Can Aid The Elderly
Nearly 16 million adults over the age of 65 live in areas with poor access to public transportation. This has prompted many of our senior citizens to ask how will I go to my doctor’s appointments or even the grocery store? The elderly face the question of whether or not they can safely operate a... Read More
Illegal License Plate Crackdown
New York State is cracking down on any illegal license plates. So, NY State is looking for any motorist who has blocked or covered his or her license plate. Suffolk County and State Police have been cracking down on motorists who have attempted to impede cameras from detecting the motorist’s license plate. Suffolk County and... Read More
Self-Driving Uber Crash
Although Uber, and many have demonstrated the capabilities of self-driving cars, a crash earlier this month has demonstrated the negatives of fully autonomous cars. The car accident took place in Tempe, Arizona, and the Tempe Police Department later proved that the Uber car was not at fault for the accident. However, Uber temporarily shut down... Read More
Uber’s NYC HQ
With the increase in Uber, Lyft, and for-hire vehicles, city officials all across the United States are forced to look further into their transportation policies. Uber has invested in a luxurious center for Uber drivers to relax, use the restroom, and eat complimentary pretzels and soft drinks all in an effort to entice more drivers... Read More
Uber Drivers Galore
Over 50,000 drivers have a license to drive for Uber in New York City. Lyft and Uber Drivers have swarmed NYC roads, and have competed with yellow cabs, and other for-hire-vehicle services to pick up the most customers. Uber’s largest arsenal of drivers lies in New York City. Interestingly, the price of an Uber Pool... Read More
Traffic Related Deaths Down In NYC
Road deaths in New York City are down by over 25%. From November 1 to March 7th, there were 66 fatalities from traffic incidents in New York City. Last year, during the same time period, there were 89 fatalities. City officials have pointed to the “Dusk and Darkness Campaign” as a contributing factor to the... Read More
Suffolk County Expected To Raise Fees for Traffic Tickets
Suffolk County’s legislature is slated to vote on raising the amount of fees a violator will pay for traffic and parking tickets. The vote will take place in late March of this year. The increase in fees will double the fines for both traffic and parking tickets. Newsday expects this fee increase to pass, and... Read More
Legislation On What To Do At A Traffic Stop
Should New York follow North Carolina and enact legislation on educating drivers on what to do once a driver is pulled over? Driver Education Courses in states like North Carolina and Illinois must include instruction on the proper behaviors a driver should partake in after being puled over by a police officer. Always remember to... Read More
Important Drivers Ed Legislation
Should New York follow North Carolina and enact legislation on educating drivers on what to do once a driver is pulled over? Driver Education Courses in states like North Carolina and Illinois must include instruction on the proper behaviors a driver should partake in after being puled over by a police officer. Always remember to... Read More
Lyft Seeking Greater Investments
Lyft is seeking new ways to become the top for-hire-vehicle company following the headlines surrounding Uber. So, Lyft has engaged in meetings with private investors to increase the overall value of Lyft. Last year, Lyft was valued at $5.5 billion following a $1 billion investment by General Motors. Let us know what makes a good... Read More
Troopers Issuing Tickets in NYC
Interestingly, New York State Troopers have been issuing out traffic tickets in New York City. MTA Police and State Troopers have issued over 5,000 tickets since the start of the New Year. Police are cracking down on toll bridges and issuing out tickets for toll evasion. What do you think of the increased traffic ticket... Read More
The Race to Road Map Making
Various automakers and technology companies are competing with one another to road map the precise location of every street marking (stop sign, double yellow line, etc.) on every road across the United States. Creating a correct digital map is a vital part of creating self-driving cars. One company called Waymo, has mapped out Austin Texas,... Read More
Subway Ridership Down: First Time Since 2009
Amazingly, subway ridership has dropped for the first time since 2009. Weekend ridership has declined, while weekday ridership has steadily increased since 1948. Two of the culprits for the decline in ridership are Uber and the constant maintenance of the subways. Critics point to Governor Cuomo who cut $65 million worth of state funding from... Read More
Vision Zero Aids in Decline in Traffic Fatalities?
New York City has cut traffic deaths over the past three years. Since the beginning of the Mayor’s Vision Zero program, there has been a 23% decline in traffic fatalities. There has been a 14% increase in traffic deaths across the rest of the United States. Additionally, since the inception of Vision Zero, New York... Read More
Rise In Traffic Related Deaths
There has been a sudden, and sharp rise in the amount of traffic related deaths in the United States. According to the National Highway Safety Council, 40,200 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2016. This number of traffic deaths in 2016 is significant because it is 6% higher than the year before. Also,... Read More
Bus Driver Appreciation
The Law Office of Michael Block appreciates all of the bus drivers out there. Thanks to a recent article in Newsday, people will understand the importance of why bus drivers drive the way they do. The article shows how some Long Island motorists become annoyed at the fact that bus drivers fully stop at stop... Read More
Vision Zero’s Cut of the NYC Budget
$400 million has been allocated to Vision Zero in the 2018 NYC budget. Most of that money will go towards street reconstruction projects, traffic signal improvements, and improved street markings. Vision Zero aims to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2024. The total budget for the City of New York is at $84.6 billion dollars.... Read More
Increase in Nassau County Traffic Tickets?
As part of a push to keep crime low in Nassau County, Nassau police officials will add new gunshot detection services and add new license plate detection readers. Each additional device will lead to an increase in the amount of tickets given out in Nassau County, with the aim to greatly decrease crime there as... Read More
Drowsy Driving On Par With Drunk Driving?
Incredibly, drowsy driving is on par with drunk driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, people who get less than four hours of sleep a night drive as impaired as someone with a .12 blood alcohol level! Drivers will try many different methods to avoid the feeling of drowsiness, however most of these... Read More
The Safest EV Car?
The Tesla S is not as safe as many have thought to have believed. Although a 2013 National Highway and Safety Administration gave the Model S a good review, a recent safety review states otherwise. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety did not grant the Tesla S either of its safety awards. The Tesla S... Read More
A Presidential Visit = Massive Delays
Every time President Donald J. Trump visits his home in New York City, massive traffic jams will ensue. President Trump has expressed his desire to come back to NYC and visit his wife Melania, and son Baron. When Mr. Trump arrives to his home in Trump Tower, there will be a massive security increases, including... Read More
“Labeling” Pre-Owned Cars
The Federal Trade Commission has lowered its rules on labeling used cars as “certified pre-owned.” Used cars formerly under recall, and without the proper repairs from that recall, can be sold as certified pre-owned. There are a few dealers who have refused to sell any recalled vehicles to their customers. However, some dealers, like Ford,... Read More
TLC Ticket: Unlicensed Vehicle
All Uber, Lyft, and for-hire vehicle drivers should pay attention to this message. There are specific TLC tickets directly related to for-hire services. For example, there is a summons issued for an “unlicensed vehicle”. One can receive this ticket if one picks up a passenger without proper consent by one’s car service/dispatch. For example, if... Read More
The Hidden Costs of a Cellphone ticket
Many of you may know that a conviction for improper cellphone or portable contact electronic device ticket carries a minimum fine of $138 on New York City. However most people do not realize the hidden costs that also are involved. Convictions for these offenses will add five (5) points to your New York State Driver’s... Read More
Previous Tesla Crash Investigation Results
Remember the Tesla accident that involved a fatal crash a few months ago? Auto-safety regulators said their investigation of the car found no defects in the system. The regulators did let other semi-autonomous car manufacturers know that they need to be more clear about the operation of autonomous car systems, to avoid fatal crashes like the one... Read More
More traffic deaths in 2017
Bicycle and pedestrian deaths rose last year, in spite of the small decline in traffic deaths. Pedestrian deaths increased from 139 to 144 and cyclist deaths rose from 14 to 18. Additionally, 10 New Yorkers have been killed in traffic related incidents in the first 10 days of the year, so Vision Zero has not... Read More
Failure to Yield Summons Not Enough to Deter Violators
A new York Times Article points out the limited success of NYC Mayor DeBlasio’s Vision Zero. The number of people killed in car crashes only slightly decreased last year, by 5 deaths. Failure to yield summonses contain three points and a minimum fine of $138 in NYC. NYC and NY State share in collection of... Read More
One Driver Finds the Most Lucrative times to Ride
Many cab, Uber, Lyft, and other ride hailing service motorists find that earning money for their job means missing dinner. One rider, utilizes all three apps in order to find out which makes him the best deal. He finds that rides are most popular in the early mornings, and the evenings around dinner time. The... Read More
New Voice Recognition Systems in Automobiles
The automaker Ford, and the e-commerce site Amazon have teamed up to put better voice recognition systems in Ford’s cars. Auto and tech companies have been continuously thinking of ways for motorists to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel and be able to use your cars audio system. BMW and... Read More
Congresswoman Kathleen Rice Takes Aim at Drunk Drivers
Congresswoman Rice pushed for new national penalties for people driving impaired with a child in the car titled: The Prevent Impaired Driving Child Endangerment Act. This piece of legislation would make it a felony to drive under the influence while a child is present in the car. Included in Kathleen Rice’s piece of legislation is... Read More
Uber and the DMV
Uber ended its autonomous car service in San Francisco after it had defied state officials orders telling uber the autonomous service was illegal. In Uber’s hometown of San Francisco, uber was forced to shut down its autonomous car service system. State regulators in California made sure that uber would adhere to state regulations. Uber still... Read More
Uber Surcharge Fee?
The New York State legislature is moving on a special session this January to discuss the idea of adding a surcharge on Uber rides. The surcharge would raise revenue for the Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE). The state already charges a 50 cent surcharge fee on taxi rides, and would do the same on Uber rides.... Read More
Important Info Regarding Guilty Hearings and Guilty Pleas
All drivers should take note of this news. As of December 22, 2016, motorists will be given 28 days to pay fines for guilty hearings and guilty pleas. Remember to drive safely!
Have A Safe and Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays from the attorneys and staff here at the Law Office of Michael Block. For over 29 years, Michael has helped taxi cab drivers, and New Yorkers win their traffic ticket cases! Drive safe over the holiday break, and be responsible after the Christmas party. If you think you might not be able to... Read More
Former NFL stars: Road Rage Deaths
Two incidents of road rage highlight the need to drive safely. Two former NFL stars, Will Smith and Joe McKnight were murdered as a result of road rage incidents. The Will Smith case ended two with the man who shot and killed the former New Orleans Saint facing up to 60 years in prison. The... Read More
License Plate Cover Up
NYC will begin to crack down on license plates that are partially, or fully covered. Motorists have been placing plastic, or other materials over their license plates in order to disguise their cars from red light cameras. The motorist’s efforts have been successful as over 144,000 covered license plates have allowed motorists to avoid tickets... Read More
Move Over Campaign Update
From November 14th to November 18th, highway patrolmen were out with the aim to protect law enforcement and emergency services personnel. The patrolmen pulled over any vehicle who failed to switch to another lane, or move over, when approaching a law enforcement or emergency services personnel. The statistics on how many move over tickets were... Read More
Election effects on Transportation Infrastructure
It has now been one month since the turbulent presidential election. The Trump administration may have a larger impact on the LIRR and Long Island’s economy in general. Both Trump and Clinton agreed that fixing the aging infrastructure of the nation’s transportation systems is a crucial issue. Trump expressed his displeasure of the speediness of... Read More
Mobile Services can be blocked by Smartphone manufacturers
This Associated Press Article once again demonstrates that Mobil Services can be blocked by Smartphone manufacturers. These guidelines would be used to reduce the amount of crashes caused by distracted drivers on their cellphones. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration would have the ability to block out motorists from texting and driving. Should all cell Phone Service be... Read More
Traffic Intentionally Congested?
Traffic in New York City is intentionally horrible. Can you believe it? Well some of us actually can. New York City officials purposefully make traffic congested in an effort to make people ride their bikes or use mass transit to commute. This policy started under mayor Bloomberg and has continued with mayor De Blasio How... Read More
Right of Way Controversy
Last year, a cab driver attempted to challenge the constitutionality of the Right of Way Law and failed. He pled guilty to violating the Right of Way Law just a few days ago. The Right of Way Law made striking a pedestrian who has the right of way an unclassified misdemeanor. On a separate occasion,... Read More
Signs In New York State?
Will the DOT and state take down the I Love NY signs located throughout NY state?
Cab Appreciation
I wanted to extend my thanks this past holiday of giving thanks to all of the cabdrivers in New York. I am proud to have served these fine gentleman and ladies for the past 30 years, fighting for their traffic tickets. Thank you to all of the NYC cabdrivers, who have been able to make... Read More
Gridlock
A gridlock alert is in effect for NYC and will probably remain in effect until New Year’s Day. What does this mean to drivers who must travel in New York during this time? Traffic will be heavily congested during the next few weeks. The annual Christmas tree lighting festivities, as well as Holliday Tourists will... Read More
Buying a Used Car? Not so Fast
Buying a used car is typically a fast and cheap way to purchase a car at an affordable price that has all of the proper functions of a brand new car. However, Buying a used car is not as convenient as we may think. At many used car lots, safety flaws in the used cars... Read More
Thanksgiving Roads Will Be Stuffed
According to the AAA, Thanksgiving roads will be stuffed. AAA predicts that travel over the holiday break could be massive due to the improving economy. AAA forecasts that 48.7 million Americans will travel, which would be the largest number of people traveling during the Thanksgiving break since 2007. Additionally, AAA expects over 1 million more... Read More
Report
Newsday reports Gov. Cuomo signed a law that would allow the Villages of East Hampton and Sag Harbor to reduce the speed limits on certain congested streets. The issue to think about is whether the Village is motivated to make the streets easier to navigate or to raise revenue. In any event, drivers should obey... Read More
Big Spike in Traffic Deaths
The biggest spike in traffic deaths in over 50 years has been linked to apps on motorist’s mobile devices. Although distracted driving is not a new phenomenon, modern applications on mobile phones make distracted driving more common. Snapchat, Waze, Pokemon Go, you name it, mobile apps impede a motorists ability to safely navigate the roads. For... Read More
Governor Cuomo Releases Massive Campaign to Reinforce Move Over Law
Governor Cuomo Releases Massive Campaign to Reinforce Move Over Law Do you remember Governor Cuomo’s Move Over Law? The Move Over law requires drivers to slow down and move over when approaching any emergency or law enforcement vehicle. The initial law was originally established in 2011 in order to protect emergency service personnel and law... Read More
Driverless Cabs: A Reality Soon
Believe it or not, driverless cabs may soon be cheaper than Public transit. New tesla and google vehicles with autonomous features are on track to drastically lower the cost of taxi cabs. Without having to pay a driver, taxi prices could drop 67 cents per mile by 2025. This price drop is less than a... Read More
Why to Hire a Traffic Attorney: Insurance premium hikes $$$
Although you may have a clean driving record since you were in high school, a conviction for a moving violation may lead to an increased insurance premium. If you receive a summons for a Cell Phone or Speeding, hikes in premiums are likely to follow. Convictions will also lead to fines, and possible Driver Assessment... Read More
Texting Stops
I drove many miles of beautiful and scenic NY State roads this weekend en route to visit my son at the University of Binghamton. From Long Island to New York City to the Hudson Valley, I shared the beautiful scenery with tens of thousands of other New York drivers. One thing I noticed was a... Read More
Driving Stats Post-Halloween
The statistics just came out for all of the tickets troopers gave last Halloween weekend from October 28-November 1. State troopers wrote out 11,497 traffic tickets during Halloween weekend. The most common tickets received by motorists were cellphone, speeding, seat belt, and distracted driving violations. On Long Island, troopers issued 823 traffic tickets. In central... Read More
Second Avenue Subway Info
The Second Avenue subway plans to open up the initial stages of the line on December 31st of 2016. Although construction crews did not finish all of its installations so far, the MTA believes the Second Avenue Subway will be up and running by the end of this year. The first phase of the Second... Read More
Public Safety Fee Proposal Denied
This Tuesday, the Nassau legislature approved the county’s $2.9 billion budget for 2017. However, the county legislature did not announce a decision on the $105 surcharge on traffic and parking tickets. The proposed increase would go towards funding new police hires. The ticket surcharge more than doubles the current cost of many traffic violations would... Read More
L Train Shutdown Intro
L Train Shutdown Info We all remember the destruction that Hurricane Sandy did. From the uprooting of trees to the destruction of homes and cars, we can still feel the affects of the massive Superstorm. One major aspect of Sandy was the flooding. The storm surge from Hurricane Sandy allowed for the Canarsie Tunnel under... Read More