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Click For Your Free ConsulationPosted in New York Law on September 26, 2022
Many New York City drivers believe the urban myth that you can drive up to nine miles over the speed limit without getting a ticket. Some may also believe that as long as they are traveling with the flow of traffic, they cannot be singled out for speeding.
Neither of these is true in the Empire State. New York drivers, whether residents or visitors, may not travel above the posted speed limits.
In addition, maximum speed limits are meant for perfect visibility and ideal weather conditions — that is, during the daytime and without precipitation. At night or when it’s raining or snowing, drivers should travel extra carefully.
Speeding is one of the leading causes of car accidents in New York. It can land you in legal hot water, and if you hit another car, it can cause catastrophic or even fatal injuries. A New York car accident attorney can protect your rights if a speeding driver has hit you.
If caught speeding in New York, you can face several penalties, even if you don’t hit another car.
A citation for speeding will earn you points on your license. If you accumulate more than 11 points on your license within 18 months, your license could be suspended. The number of points from a ticket depends on how far over the posted speed limit you were going:
Driving more than 40 miles per hour over the posted speed limit earns 11 points on your license, which results in an automatic suspension.
Many speeding tickets are punished with a fine and not jail time unless there were other charges involved. The amount of your fine, like points on your license, depends on how far over the speed limit you were going.
However, the judge for your case has the discretion to set fines and may increase fines above the recommended amounts. For example, if you were speeding through a school zone or had small children in the car, you may pay a higher fine.
Fines typically range from $40 to $150 for going less than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, all the way to $600 for 31 miles per hour or more over the limit. Many fines will add a surcharge for the court, which can be as much as $150.
While it’s rare, excessive speeding may also lead to jail time. Speeds of more than 100 miles per hour could earn the driver time in jail. You could also face jail time if you were driving recklessly in addition to speeding, like weaving or drifting into other lanes of traffic.
Insurance companies don’t want customers who are likely to cause car accidents. After a speeding ticket, your company will probably raise your monthly premium rates because it considers you a high collision risk. If you have multiple speeding tickets or were driving recklessly, the insurance company may cancel your policy altogether.
Beyond triple-digit fines, points on your license could lead to suspension and jail time. But speeding in New York has other, far worse consequences.
Speed limits are posted to keep drivers safe, and if you’re going too fast, you may not be able to navigate twists and turns in the road without wrecking. Vehicles colliding at high rates of speed cause serious injuries or even death.
Car accidents can be devastating, but you may be able to obtain compensation if the crash was caused by someone else. An experienced New York City car accident lawyer can help.
If you need legal assistance, contact the New York City car accident lawyers at Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation.
We have two convenient locations in New York:
Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers – New York City Office
450 7th Ave #1605
New York, NY 10123
(212) 564-2800
Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers – Brooklyn Office
26 Court St Suite 2511
Brooklyn, NY 11242
(718) 802-1600