The Most Frequently Issued Tickets You Should Watch Out For in NYC

In 2022 there were approximately 606,000 moving violation summonses issued in NYC. That was a 15% increase from the previous year which only had a total of 510,000 moving violation summonses issued. We say “only” as if 510,000 moving violations weren’t already enough. Get ready for 2023 to increase even more. Based on data before the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of moving violation summonses issued in NYC will just keep on rising.

Speeding, Disobey a Traffic Control Device, Red Light, Failing to Yield, and Improper Turn tickets were the most frequently issued tickets containing points. These 5 tickets accounted for 53% of the tickets written in 2022 (320,000). Each of these violations carries a different number of points ranging from 2-11 points.

Data Source: NYPD Moving Violations Summonses Data 2022

Speeding Tickets

Approximately 114,000 speeding tickets were issued in 2022. Speeding tickets can range from 3 to 11-point violations. Speeding tickets are broken down by the following criteria:

• 1-10 miles over the speed limit = 3 point ticket
• 11-20 miles over the speed limit = 4 point ticket
• 21-30 miles over the speed limit = 6 point ticket
• 31-40 miles over the speed limit = 8 point ticket
• 41+ miles over the speed limit = 11 point ticket

In addition to points if you are convicted of 3 speeding violations within an 18-month period your license will be revoked for 6 months.

Disobey Traffic Control Device Tickets

Approximately 98,000 disobey traffic control device tickets were issued in 2022. Disobey traffic control device tickets carry 2 points. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 153 defines a traffic control device as all signs, signals, markings, and devices placed or erected by an authority or public figure to regulate, warn, or guide traffic.

Red Light Tickets

Approximately 40,000 NYC red light tickets were issued in 2022. Red light tickets issued by a police officer carry 3 points. The minimum fines for red light tickets convicted within an 18-month period of each other are as follows 1^st offense is a fine of $278, 2^nd offense is a fine of $463, and 3rd offense would be a fine of $1028.

Failure to Yield Tickets

Approximately 38,000 failure-to-yield tickets were issued in 2022. Failure to yield to pedestrian/vehicle tickets carry 3 points. Two examples of why drivers could receive a failure to yield summons are for driving into a crosswalk without yielding to pedestrians or if you do not yield to cars coming from the opposite way. Failure to yield tickets are also issued for failing to yield for emergency vehicles ex. ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles, etc.

Improper Turn Tickets

Approximately 30,000 improper turn tickets were issued in 2022. Improper turn tickets carry 2 points. These summonses are issued when drivers don’t make right or left turns from the lane closest to the curb.

Protecting Your License

Accumulating points on your license is problematic for many reasons, including fines, possible suspensions, and increases in insurance premiums. Every time you are convicted of a moving violation you accumulate points on your driver’s record. Your license may be suspended if you accumulate too many points on your license.

An additional consequence of accumulating points on your driver’s record is driver assessments. The driver responsibility assessment is a fee that drivers must pay to the DMV over 3 years if a driver accumulates 6 or more points on their record within 18 months. The purpose of the assessment fee is to prevent repeated behavior and improve traffic safety.

The assessment fee for receiving 6 points on your license within an 18-month period is $100 a year for 3 years, totaling $300. Drivers that receive any additional points on their license are also subject to a $25 fee per additional point per year, totaling $75 in the three-year period.

If you have already accumulated points on your license we advise taking a defensive drivers course. Drivers can take a Defensive Driving Course or an Accident Prevention Course which deducts 4 license points and offer a 10% reduction on insurance premiums. These courses are 6 hours long and can be taken both in person and online.

Attorney Michael Block has more than 25 years of experience fighting traffic tickets and achieving positive outcomes for his clients. When you receive a traffic ticket and would like to keep your insurance premiums as low as possible, as well as maintain your driving privileges, please contact our office at 212-227-9008 for a free consultation.