Long Island’s Jump in Traffic Tickets

Like any metropolitan area, Long Island sees its fair share of traffic violations. Getting a traffic ticket in Long Island can have various consequences depending on the infraction. You may have points added to your license, suspension/revocation of your license, high fines, and increased insurance premiums.

Some of the most frequently issued tickets are Speeding, Stop Sign, and Improper Use of Cell Phone. Any traffic ticket received in the Long Island area must be taken seriously.

Ticket writing increased in both Suffolk and Nassau counties from 2022 to 2023. In Suffolk County approximately 269,000 traffic tickets were issued, a 27% rise from 2022. Approximately 339,000 traffic tickets were issued for Nassau County, a 19% rise from 2022.

You can also receive summonses in Nassau or Suffolk County for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and Suspended Registration. Both these summonses are classified as misdemeanors. Being convicted for these violations can lead to fines, jail time, a criminal record, and increased insurance premiums.

In Suffolk County, 11,817 Aggravated Unlicensed Operation summonses were issued for 2023 and in Nassau County, there were 7,473 issued. Both counties saw an increase in Aggravated Unlicensed Operation tickets issued from 2022 to 2023.

In Suffolk County, 9,429 Registration Suspended/Revoked summonses were issued in 2023 and 8,252 were issued in Nassau County. Both counties saw an increase in the number of Registration Suspended/Revoked summonses from 2022 to 2023.

Speeding Tickets

Speeding tickets have the potential to carry the most points out of any traffic ticket issued in the State of New York, they can range from 3-11 points. The following is a breakdown of the point system and parameters for speeding tickets in the state of New York:

Speed Not Reasonable & Prudent = 3 points

Driving 1-10 MPH over the speed limit = 3 points

Driving 11-20 MPH over the speed limit = 4 points

Driving 21-30 MPH over the speed limit = 6 points

Driving 31-40 MPH over the speed limit = 8 points

Driving over 40 MPH the speed limit = 11 points

In Suffolk County, there were 20,778 speeding tickets written for 2023 while 32,612 were written in Nassau County. Both counties saw a rise in the number of Speeding tickets issued in 2023 compared to 2022.

Stop Sign Tickets

VTL 117s states that every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection.

If convicted Stop Sign tickets carry 3 points, fines, and potential insurance premium hikes.

In Suffolk County, there were 14,388 Stop Sign tickets written for 2023 while 9,384 were written in Nassau County. Both counties saw a rise in the number of Stop Sign tickets issued in 2023 compared to 2022.

In Suffolk County, there were 11,817 Aggravated Unlicensed Operation summonses written for 2023 while 7,473 were written in Nassau County. Both counties saw a rise in the number of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation summonses issued in 2023 compared to 2022.

Improper Use of Cell Phone/Portable Electronic Device

Under New York State law you cannot use a mobile telephone or portable electronic device while you drive. You will receive a ticket if you are driving and holding a Cell Phone or a Portable Electronic Device while:

• Talking on a handheld mobile phone
• Composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or webpages
• Viewing, taking, or transmitting images
• Playing games

If convicted Cell Phone tickets carry 5 points, fines, and could impact insurance premiums.

In Suffolk County, there were 11,557 Cell Phone tickets written for 2023 while 6,121 were written in Nassau County. Both counties saw a rise in the number of Cell Phone tickets written in 2023 compared to 2022.

Many traffic violations in Nassau County are heard at the Nassau County TVA which is located at 801 Axinn Ave in Garden City, New York.

Many of the traffic violations in Suffolk County are heard at the Suffolk County Traffic & Parking Violations Agency which is located at 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge, New York.

There are also numerous local village and town courts in both counties. We have appeared in the vast majority of these venues and have gotten clients great results over the years.

Fighting Tickets in Long Island

Experience matters when fighting traffic tickets in the state of New York. It is important to seek legal representation from an experienced attorney who knows how to win your ticket.

Attorney Michael Block has more than 35 years of experience fighting traffic tickets and achieving positive outcomes for his clients. When you receive a ticket in the State of New York and want to keep your insurance premiums as low as possible, as well as maintain your driving privileges, please contact Michael Block, New York Traffic Ticket Attorney at 212-227-9008 for a free consultation.