A new proposal making its way through the city council would add a $2000 annual fee for drivers who work for companies like Uber, as well as preventing them from driving for more than one app.  The bill is being pushed by Councilman Ruben Dias Sr., the chair of the new for-hire-vehicle committee.  According to... Read More

Improper taxi pick up tickets are zero point tickets that police officers give out for several reasons.  Picking a passenger up in a cross walk, accepting a hail while driving a car not permitted to do so, and picking up riders who have not used the correct method of calling for a driver all fall... Read More

It is very important to yield to emergency vehicles while driving in New York.  Ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, and some emergency tow trucks must be yielded to.  There are several obvious reasons for this, such as allowing police to pursue suspects, give ambulances access to the injured, and letting fire personnel gain access to... Read More

The Cortlandt Street subway station is scheduled to reopen in October.  This subway station has been closed since the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.  The subway station was literally crushed by the collapsing buildings.  According to Dan Rivoli of the Daily News the station is going to be reopened a few months after... Read More

According to an article published in the NY Daily News on 4/20/18 by Dan Rivoli and Jillian Jorgensen cars will no longer be allowed in Central Park.  The plan is to ban cars from the few roads below 72nd street that currently accommodate them.   The ban is set to be imposed starting in June, and... Read More

Recently there was a traffic collision between a coach bus and a Long Island over pass located on the Southern State Parkway.  You may not know that the over passes on many New York Parkways are intentionally lower than those on other Highways.  This is because commercial vehicles, buses, and other large transportation vehicles are... Read More

According to New York State law, all children under the age of 4 must ride in child safety seats, and all children should ride in a child restraint system until their 8th birthday.  Easy right?  Not so fast. New York State law also requires all front seat passengers to wear seat belts.  Children under the age of 16... Read More

Uber, Lyft, and other ride share services will become a new revenue source for the MTA.   With changes to how the app-based for-hire vehicles are taxed the MTA may be getting a significant boost to its revenue.  Over 600,000 riders use these services every day, and the money generated from new fees may flow into... Read More

New York City has recently published the annual report for year four of the Vision Zero project.  Vision Zero is a series of regulations, infrastructure improvements, and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing the number of pedestrian fatalities in the city.  This project was enacted in 2014, and has resulted in a 28 percent reduction in... Read More

New York City is taking steps to clarify what is and what is not street legal for e-bikes.  The De Blasio administration has ordered the city Department of Transportation to explain which e-bikes are eligible to ride on city streets according to Dan Rivoli as stated in his article published by the Daily News on... Read More

We have been defending a lot of speeding tickets in Harrison Town Court this year.  Don’t pay your ticket on-line.  On-line payments are easy, but you are pleading guilty when you pay on line. You do not want to plead guilty to a speeding ticket in Harrison.  You will be left with fines and points.  Those fines and points... Read More

On the front page of Newsday County Executive Curran plans to raise revenue by increasing fees. Drivers beware. The first three items on County Executive Laura Curran’s list target drivers: Increase Traffic and Parking Violations Agency fees by 2%. Search for Vehicles with outstanding moving violations to boot and tow the cars. This one is... Read More

Last week tragedy struck the taxi community again with another suicide due to financial issues. The NYC cabby community has been feeling a huge hit from the increase of ride sharing drivers.  With no regulations on the number for hire cars it has been harder and harder for Taxi drivers to make a living.  “According... Read More

Seat belt tickets are a common ticket for police officers to give to motorists in New York.  Seat belt tickets for adults are zero point tickets but do have a fine attached to them.  All drivers in New York are required by law to wear a seat belt.  Be aware that the penalty for driving... Read More

Cycling deaths have increased in 2017 even though the total number of traffic deaths has decreased by 28% since the city launched it’s Vision Zero program.  This marks the fourth year in a row that traffic fatalities have declined in New York City.  According to Patch.com overall deaths are down while the number of cycling... Read More

Recently an ad company called Vugo has struck a contract with about 3,500 New York City black car drivers to install screens in their vehicles.  The screens will promote different paid advertisements.   Only downfall is the screen cannot be muted or turned off; passengers “can only near dark and near mute them.”  The contracts with... Read More

Failure to turn as required is a two point ticket similar to an improper turn ticket. Police issue this ticket when drivers fail to follow turning directions. This could be driving strait though an intersection from the designated turning lane, driving through a green arrow light without turning, or even just making a turn while... Read More

New findings released by City Comptroller show that many drivers can accumulate fines without amassing points on their license. The issue at hand for this report is the nature of red light tickets given by police officers verses red light tickets given by cameras.  In New York State red light and moving violations given by... Read More

Car sales on Long Island and the rest of New York have increased this year after a slow 2017. According to USA Breaking News the registrations of new cars in Suffolk County are up 18% from this time last year at 9,702 cars.  Nassau has seen a 13.5% increase of new registrations this year compared... Read More

Car insurance rates in the United States are on the rise.  Increased numbers of cars on American roads are leading to increased numbers of collisions.  Low oil prices and steady job growth in the United States has lead to more people taking to the roads for pleasure and to get to and from work.  Greater numbers of cars... Read More

No U-turn violations are two point tickets in New York.  These are very simple tickets.  In several areas of New York, it is against the law to make a U-turn.  The reason you can not make U-turns in several areas varies depending on the road conditions present.  U-turns can cause you to illegally cross pavement markings, or cause you... Read More

Obstructing an Intersection is a two point ticket in New York.  This type of ticket is also known as “blocking the box” and is given to drivers that block traffic for intersections.  This moving violation is both the cause of and result of traffic congestion and gridlock.  “Blocking the box” is inconvenient for motorists and pedestrians since it... Read More

Pedestrian deaths across the United States remain at the six thousand per year in 2017.  Pedestrian deaths rose by 9% in 2016 and by 9.5% in 2015 but appear to have remained static in 2017.  Experts and government officials have several ideas and explanations for the rise in fatalities in the United States.  Some experts allege that increased... Read More

Fatalities on Long Island road ways are in decline. Using a combination of law enforcement, education, and infrastructure changes the number of deaths due to traffic related incidents has dropped two years in a row. In 2017 there were just 71 traffic fatalities in Nassau County down from 79 in 2016, a 10% reduction. In... Read More

New York City is going to install 1,500 obstacles to protect residents from vehicles.  The city announced that it will be installing 1,500 metal bollards at some of the city’s most popular locations.  Bollards are metal posts that are intended to stop a vehicle while minimally obstructing foot traffic.  The bollards will be installed to... Read More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special thanks to all our clients. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Drive Carefully. Photo on TrendHype 

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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