Defending a Red Light Traffic Violation In New York

Did you just receive a ticket in the mail, generated by one of those mounted traffic cameras? Does it say that you made an illegal turn at a red light, or that you ran the red light all together? If your vehicle has been photographed running a red light in New York, you most likely received a fine for $50. If you would like to defend yourself against a red light traffic violation ticket, your can hire a New York attorney to help you navigate through the process.

Defenses to a Red Light Traffic Violation in New York

Some common ways that people have defended themselves against such violations include:

Examine the photograph closely: Does the photograph clearly capture your face? In some instances, defenses have been made the photograph is not clearly you, and therefore you cannot fairly be assessed fines or points. The same is true for the license plate in the photography. It is not clear in the photo, you may have grounds to have your ticket dismissed.

Examine the light at the intersection in question: If the yellow light at the intersection does not remain yellow for a fair amount of time, to give you the opportunity to come to a complete stop before it turns red, then you may be able to have your violation dismissed. You will need to determine what the minimum amount of time is that a yellow light must remain yellow, and then go to that intersection to see if it stays yellow long enough. If it does not, you may have a feasible defense.

Examine nearby signs: If the township in which you received the ticket requires that signs be posted indicating that your photo is being taken, make sure that such signs have been posted, and that they are visible according to your township’s regulations. If not, you again may have a reason to contest your ticket.

Examine your ticket closely: Was it mailed to the right address, and did it have the right name on it? If not, you may be able to question the ticket’s validity.

Getting Help

Of course, the best defense against a traffic violation is to be sure that you obey all NY traffic laws and you drive safely everywhere. One of the most important ways to not face a red traffic light violation is to slow down By not speeding, you are not likely to have difficulty stopping at a red light, and you are less likely to face other traffic violations as well. Once you have received your red light traffic violation, consulting with an experienced New York attorney becomes important if you want to have your best chance at successfully defending against the ticket.

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