Is It Worth Fighting A Cell Phone Ticket In NY?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Between fines, surcharges, and insurance increases, a conviction for a cell phone or texting ticket in New York can

cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars

. That’s why hiring a lawyer to get the ticket reduced or dismissed will undoubtedly save you money.

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Can you fight a cell phone ticket in NYC?

Drivers who wish to fight their NYC cell phone/texting tickets

must go to court and get it dismissed or acquitted

—not an easy task. Clear and convincing evidence. Most other traffic courts require proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the driver committed the violation.

Is it worth fighting a cell phone ticket?

While you may not consider this “fighting” the ticket (since you still have to pay a fine), you’ll save

money

and stress in the long run. You won’t have to worry about your insurance rates going up, or having points on your license.

How many points is a cell phone ticket in NY?

VTL Section Traffic and moving violations POINTS 1212 Reckless Driving (misdemeanor)

5 POINTS
1225-c Improper Cell Phone Use 5 POINTS 1225-d Use of Portable Electronic Devices (“texting) 5 POINTS 1229-c-1 1229-c-2 Safety Restraint Violation Person Under 16 3 POINTS

Does a cell phone ticket affect insurance in New York?

Insurance – Can a Cell Phone Ticket Affect my Insurance? In most cases,

insurance companies will raise rates of customers who violate cell phone laws

while driving. In New York, car insurance rates have increased by an average of 28% since 2011.

How much is a cell phone ticket in NY 2020?

Violation Fees

A conviction for cell phone use of any kind while driving in New York State will cost you

$50 to $150 for the first offense

; between $50 and $200 for the second offense if within 18 months; and between $50 and $400 for a third offense within 18 months.

How long does cell phone ticket stay on record?

Talking or Texting on a cell phone – VC 23123 & VC 23123.5 – starting July 1, 2021, if you get a cell phone ticket (VC 23123) or a texting ticket (VC 23123.5) for the second time in

36 months (3 years)

you will now get a DMV point on your record.

Do you get points on your license for cell phone ticket in NY?

Conviction of cell phone use, portable electronic device use, or a texting

violation will result in points being added to your DMV driving record

. If you receive 11 points in an 18-month period, your driver’s license may be suspended.

How do I beat a cell phone ticket?

  1. Pay the fine. …
  2. Go to court and fight the ticket yourself. …
  3. Hire a traffic attorney to fight the ticket on your behalf. …
  4. Use a ticket dismissal service like TicketBust to get your ticket dismissed.

Does a cell phone ticket affect your insurance?


A cell phone ticket would most likely not impact the insurance rate

. We have helped thousands of people beat traffic citations in the State of California for the past ten years with a method called Trial by Written Declaration.

Is cell phone ticket points?

For all adult drivers, California law prohibits motorists from using a cellphone while driving, except when used in hands-free mode. Minors cannot use a cellphone, even if hands-free. …

Cell phone tickets are non-moving violations

and do not carry a point count, so traffic school is not required.

How long do violations stay on driving record NY?

A traffic violation remains on a New York driver’s record for

three years after the conviction

. This is same answer when asking, “How long do points stay on your license?” However, the point system only counts the many points on your record for DMV purposes for an 18 month period from the date of the offense.

How long do points stay on your license in NY?

How Long Do Points Stay on Your NY Driving Record? The points from a moving violation will remain on your driving record for

18 months

, however the violations themselves will continue to show up on your record for up to 4 years. For example, if you had a moving violation conviction on October 15, 2019.

How many points is a speeding ticket in NY?

Article Description Points Speeding

1 to 10 mph over limit


3 points
Speeding 11 to 20 mph over limit 4 points Speeding 21 to 30 mph over limit 6 points Speeding 31 to 40 mph over limit 8 points

Can you text at a red light in New York?

Despite a statewide ban on texting and driving, authorities say it’s perfectly legal to send text messages while stopped at a red light. But according to the DMV, the laws only apply when a car is in motion. …

How many points do you get for holding a phone?

Based on a new law passed in 2019, California drivers could even face having

one point

on their record as a result of distracted driving with cell phones.

How long does a cell phone ticket stay on your record in NY?

A cell phone or texting violation will stay on one’s driving record

until January 1 of the fourth year following the date of conviction

. The five points associated with the ticket will count towards one’s point total for 18 months from the date of the violation.

What is trial by declaration mean?

Choosing to have your trial by written declaration means that

instead of going to court to contest your case, you and the officer file statements and any evidence in writing

. Evidence may include: … A sworn declaration of the citing officer; A written statement or letter signed by the defendant; and/or.

Is it illegal to look at your phone while driving?

Laws by

state

.

No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers

. … Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C. ban all cell phone use by newer drivers, while 19 states and Washington, D.C., prohibit any cell phone use by school bus drivers if children are present.

What is violation VC 23123.5 A?

VC 23123.5 (a)

A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while holding and operating a handheld wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device

unless the wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice-operated and hands-free …

How much is a cell phone ticket in New Jersey?

NJ Law provides for the following penalties for a cell phone violation:

1st Offense: fine of between $200 and $400

.

2nd Offense: fine of between $400 and $600

.

3rd Offense: fine of between $600 and $800

, driver’s license suspension of up to 90 days, 3 points on your license.

How much does insurance go up after a cell phone ticket?

Effects of Distracted Driving on Insurance

It can be anywhere from minor increases in insurance (less common) to major hikes (more likely). These hikes can be

as high as 25% if treated as a major conviction

, or 15% if it’s treated as a minor one. All in all, it’s a hike in your insurance you want to avoid.

Does Geico raise rates for cell phone ticket?

This data shows you that not all car insurance rates will be affected the same. While Geico only increases rates around seven percent if you get a cell phone ticket in Florida, that

increase jumps an incredible 75 percent in California

. And those increases are for just one ticket.

Do points affect insurance?

However, bearing all that in mind, research suggests

three points could raise a driver’s car insurance premium by an average of 5%

, while six penalty points could push the cost of insurance up by an average of 25%.

How much does 2 points affect insurance in NY?

Two points will increase a driver’s insurance costs by roughly

20% to 100%

, depending on the state, insurance company and type of violation.

How many points can you get on your license in NY for it to be suspended?

The Driver Violation Point System gives the New York State DMV a way to identify and take action against high risk drivers. The DMV assigns points for certain traffic violations. If you get

11 points in an 18-month period

, your driver license may be suspended.

What does 6 points on your license mean in NY?

The DMV assigns points

for certain traffic violations

. If you receive 6 or more points on your New York State driving record in 18 months, you must pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee. If you get 11 points in an 18-month period, your driver license may be suspended.

How can I get my speeding ticket reduced in NY?

How to avoid points on a speeding ticket in NY? The only way to avoid points on a speeding ticket is

to negotiate (plea bargain) with prosecutors

to reduce the charge to a no-point offense. This requires excellent negotiation skills and substantial knowledge of the law.

How do I beat a speeding ticket in NY?

  1. Respond right away. Drivers have only 15 days to respond to a NYC speeding ticket. …
  2. Attend the hearing. Once a person enters a plea, a hearing notice will be sent stating the date and location of the TVB hearing. …
  3. Offer evidence.

Can you pay to remove points from driving Licence?


There is no way to remove the

points from your licence once they’re marked – you’ll just have to wait until the points expire (after 4 years), when the DVLA will automatically remove them at the appropriate time.

Do points on your license go away ny?


Points stay on your license after a conviction in NY until 18 months have passed

. Those points then become inactive points, which can stay visible on your driving record abstract for up to four years. Even when the points are no longer visible on your abstract, they will remain on your permanent record.

How can a speeding ticket be dismissed?

  1. The officer fails to appear in court. The officer must prove to the court that you did what he or she said you did. …
  2. An error on the ticket. Missing or incorrect information on the ticket may be grounds for dismissal. …
  3. Faulty equipment.
Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.