New York State Traffic Ticket Points

The holiday speed traps are starting.  If you are caught in the City of Rochester limits, you have almost no chance at a plea bargain.  The suburban courts are different.  You may get a reduction if you have a good record, but rarely can it be done without showing up in court.  The inconvenience yields lots of guilty pleas and fine revenues for the local court.  Ever received a ticket and wonder how many points you might get if you simply plead guilty and pay the fine?  Here is a list of the point values for common traffic infractions:

Points

Offense

 

11

Any violation involving speeding more than 40 miles per hour over the speed limit.

 

8

Any violation speeding more than 30 but not more than 40 miles per hour over the speed limit.

 

6

Any violation involving speeding more than 20 but not more than 30 miles per hour over the speed limit.

 

5

Reckless driving; any violation involving overtaking or passing a stopped school bus; and any violation involving the use of a mobile telephone or portable electronic device.

 

4

Any violation involving speeding more than 10 but not more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit; following too closely; and inadequate service brakes, except for such a violation committed by an employed driver during the course of his employment, which shall be 11 Points.

 

3

Any violation involving speed under 20 miles per hour over the speed limit; any violation constituting a failure to yield the right-of-way; any violation involving a railroad crossing, disobeying a traffic control signal or a stop or yield sign; any violation involving improper passing, changing lanes unsafely, driving to left of center of roadway; driving in the wrong direction; leaving the scene of a property damage incident or injury to an animal without reporting; and any violation involving use of safety belts or seats by a child under the age of 16.

 

0

Any violation relating to vehicle registration, licensing or insurance; any violation relating to motor vehicle inspection, vehicle weighs or dimensions or vehicle equipment other than inadequate service brakes; any violation, other than a violation for which suspension or revocation action is mandated upon conviction; any parking violation; any pedestrian or bicycle violation; any violation relating to a business or the sale of goods established in the Vehicle and Traffic Law or any local law; any violation not resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle; and any violation of Section 1110(a) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law relative to the improper use of high occupancy vehicle(HOV) lanes in Suffolk County between Exits 49 and 57 of the Long Island Expressway.