New York Speeding Ticket Lawyer

A speeding ticket in New York is not a minor inconvenience. It is a moving violation that puts points on your license, triggers fines and surcharges, can increase your insurance premiums by 20%–40% for three years, and — if you accumulate too many points — can result in the suspension of your driving privileges. The total cost of pleading guilty to a single speeding ticket can easily exceed $2,000.

We fight speeding tickets in all 62 New York counties. One flat fee. No court appearances required. We handle everything.

Don’t wait for your court date. Under New York law, there is a 30-day window to demand documents from the prosecution that can result in an outright dismissal of your ticket. The earlier you call, the more options we have.

How New York Speeding Tickets Work

New York’s speeding law is Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180. There are several subsections, and the one listed on your ticket determines exactly what you are charged with.

VTL § 1180(a) — Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent. This is the catch-all subsection. The officer does not have to specify your exact speed — only that you were driving faster than conditions allowed. It carries 3 points and a maximum fine of $150 plus a $93 surcharge. Because the officer is not required to prove a specific speed, this charge can sometimes be easier to challenge — but it can also be harder to get reduced because it is already the lowest-level speeding charge.

VTL § 1180(b) — Exceeding 55 MPH. This applies when you exceed the statewide default speed limit of 55 mph on roads where no higher limit is posted. Points depend on how far over 55 you were clocked.

VTL § 1180(c) — School Zone Speeding. Speeding in a school zone carries doubled fines. A first offense carries fines of $90–$300 for 1–10 mph over, $180–$600 for 11–30 mph over, and $360–$1,200 for 31+ mph over. School zone speed limits are in effect on school days from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM unless otherwise posted. Points follow the standard schedule based on how far over the limit you were traveling.

VTL § 1180(d) — Exceeding Posted Speed Limit. This is the most common speeding ticket in New York. It applies whenever you exceed a posted speed limit — whether 25, 30, 40, 45, 55, or 65 mph. The vast majority of speeding tickets are written under this subsection.

VTL § 1180(e) — Reduced Speed Required. This applies when conditions require you to slow down — at intersections, curves, railway crossings, on narrow or winding roads, or in areas with special hazards. It carries 3 points.

VTL § 1180(f) — Construction / Work Zone Speeding. As of February 16, 2026, speeding in a highway construction or maintenance work zone carries a flat 8 points regardless of how fast you were going over the posted work zone limit. Fines are doubled compared to standard speeding. A work zone does not have to be actively occupied — if the signs and barrels are up, the reduced speed limit is enforceable. Work zones are marked by orange diamond-shaped signs and orange barrels or cones. A single construction zone speeding conviction alone is now enough to trigger the mandatory Driver Improvement Clinic.

Points and Fines for Speeding in New York

The number of points on your license depends on how many miles per hour over the speed limit you were traveling:

These are the fines for a first offense under VTL § 1180(b) and (d). School zone fines under § 1180(c) are doubled. Second and third offenses within 18 months carry increased maximums — up to an additional $150 for a second offense and $375 for a third.

The True Cost of a Speeding Ticket

Most drivers look at the fine on the ticket and think that is what the ticket costs. It is not. Here is what a typical speeding ticket of 21 mph over the limit actually costs:

If you currently pay $2,000 per year in auto insurance and your rate increases by 25%, that is an additional $500 per year for three years — $1,500 in extra insurance premiums alone. Add the fine, surcharge, and Driver Responsibility Assessment, and the total cost of pleading guilty to one speeding ticket reaches $2,000 to $2,500 or more.

Our flat fee to fight the ticket is a fraction of that amount.

The Driver Responsibility Assessment

If you accumulate 6 or more points on your driving record within any 18-month period, the New York DMV will impose a Driver Responsibility Assessment of $100 per year for three years ($300 total). For every point over 6, you pay an additional $25 per year for three years. This is a separate fee from the court fine and surcharge — it comes directly from the DMV by mail, and many drivers do not realize it exists until the bill arrives.

A single speeding ticket of 21 mph over the limit puts you at 6 points and triggers the assessment. Two speeding tickets within 18 months can easily put you over 10 points, which can result in license suspension.

Important 2026 update: The DRA is still triggered by 6+ points in 18 months — that window has not changed. However, the separate DMV administrative action look-back for suspension hearings, warning letters, and the mandatory Driver Improvement Clinic now uses a 24-month window. These are two different calculations. The DRA looks at 18 months. Administrative license action looks at 24 months.

The 2026 Tiered Consequences — What Happens at Each Point Level

Under the new system effective February 16, 2026, the DMV takes a graduated approach to enforcement. The consequences escalate as your point total rises:

4–6 points within 24 months: The DMV issues an early warning letter. No immediate action is taken, but you are now on the DMV’s radar.

6+ points within 18 months: The Driver Responsibility Assessment kicks in — $100 per year for three years ($300 total), plus $25 per year for each point over 6. This is a separate bill from the DMV, not a court fine.

7–10 points within 24 months: You must attend a mandatory Driver Improvement Clinic. This is a separate requirement from the optional defensive driving course (PIRP). A single 8-point conviction — such as speeding 31–40 mph over the limit or speeding in a construction zone — puts you squarely in this range.

11+ points within 24 months: The DMV initiates a formal suspension hearing. At the hearing, the DMV will determine whether to suspend your license. This threshold can be reached with a single violation (speeding 41+ mph over the limit, DWI, or aggravated unlicensed operation) or through a combination of lower-point violations.

The critical change is the 24-month look-back. Under the old system, you had 18 months before points aged out for administrative purposes. Now you have 24 months — meaning two violations that previously would not have overlapped can now combine to push you into a higher consequences tier.

The Three Speeds Rule — Mandatory License Revocation

Under VTL § 510.2(iv), if you are convicted of three speeding violations under any subsection of VTL § 1180 within an 18-month period, the court must revoke your license. This revocation is mandatory — the judge has no discretion to waive it. This rule applies regardless of the speed involved. Three convictions for going 5 mph over the limit within 18 months will trigger the same mandatory revocation as three convictions for going 30 mph over.

Note: The Three Speeds Rule still uses an 18-month window — it has not been extended to 24 months. However, the separate DMV administrative action look-back has been extended to 24 months. This means you can face administrative consequences (warning letters, mandatory clinic, suspension hearings) over a 24-month window even if the Three Speeds mandatory revocation only looks at 18 months. Do not confuse the two.

How We Fight Speeding Tickets

There are multiple ways to challenge a speeding ticket in New York, and the right strategy depends on the court, the facts, and your driving record.

Supporting Deposition Demand. Under CPL § 100.25(2), you have the right to demand a supporting deposition — a sworn statement from the officer describing the details of the alleged violation. If the officer fails to provide it within 30 days of your demand, the ticket can be dismissed. This is why calling us early matters. The sooner we file the demand, the sooner the clock starts running.

Radar and Lidar Challenges. Speeding tickets based on radar or lidar readings can be challenged on multiple grounds: the device was not properly calibrated, the officer was not certified to operate it, the calibration records are missing or expired, or the reading was affected by interference from other vehicles. We know the technical requirements and what records to request.

Plea Negotiations. In most New York town and village courts (outside the NYC TVB), your attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor to reduce the charge. A common outcome is a reduction from a speeding violation to a non-moving violation such as a parking ticket — which carries no points and no insurance impact. The availability and terms of plea bargaining vary by court and by your driving record.

Trial. If the prosecution cannot meet its burden of proof, or if the circumstances warrant it, we can take the case to trial. The People must prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. We identify weaknesses in the officer’s case — errors in the ticket, gaps in the evidence, procedural failures — and present the strongest possible defense.

TVB vs. Town Court — Why It Matters

If your speeding ticket is returnable to a New York City Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) location — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, or Staten Island — the rules are different. The TVB does not allow plea bargaining. Your only options are to plead guilty or go to trial before an administrative law judge. There is no prosecutor to negotiate with. This makes TVB cases harder to resolve favorably, and it makes experienced representation even more important.

If your ticket is returnable to any town, village, or city court outside the TVB (which covers the vast majority of courts in the state), plea bargaining is available and is the primary way most speeding tickets are resolved.

Learn more about TVB tickets.

CDL Holders — Speeding Is a Serious Traffic Violation

If you hold a Commercial Driver’s License, a speeding conviction of 15 mph or more over the posted limit is classified as a “Serious Traffic Violation” under federal law (49 CFR § 383.51). Two serious traffic violations within a three-year period will result in a 60-day CDL disqualification. Three within three years means a 120-day disqualification. Your CDL — and your livelihood — is at stake.

Any speeding conviction, regardless of speed, goes on your driving record and can affect your CSA score, your carrier’s safety rating, and your employability. Do not plead guilty to a speeding ticket if you hold a CDL.

The February 2026 changes make the situation even more dangerous for CDL holders. Construction zone speeding now carries a flat 8 points, and a single DWI conviction carries 11 points. Combined with the 24-month look-back, a CDL holder with any prior violations on their record faces suspension risk far sooner than under the old system.

Learn more about CDL consequences.

Out-of-State Drivers

If you received a speeding ticket in New York but hold a license from another state, you do not need to return for the court date. We handle the entire matter on your behalf. New York participates in the Driver License Compact, which means your conviction will be reported to your home state. Most states will add points or take other action against your license based on the New York conviction. Fighting the ticket in New York is the best way to protect your driving record at home.

Canadian Drivers

New York has reciprocal agreements with Ontario and Quebec. A speeding conviction in New York will be reported to your home province and can result in demerit points on your Ontario or Quebec license and insurance increases. We represent Canadian drivers in all 62 New York counties. You do not need to return to New York for the court date.

Why Drivers Choose This Firm

You hire a real attorney — not an app. When you hire us, you hire Attorney Ronald Cook, a named attorney with over 25 years of experience handling traffic tickets across New York. You know exactly who is handling your case. We are not a referral service, and we do not hand your case off to a random attorney.

We handle speeding tickets in all 62 New York counties. Whether you were ticketed on the Thruway, on I-87, on the Southern Tier Expressway, on a state highway in the Adirondacks, or in a village speed trap, we cover every court in the state. See all the counties we cover.

Flat fees. No surprises. You know what it costs before you commit. No hourly billing. No hidden charges. Text us a photo of your ticket and we will give you a quote immediately.

No court appearances required. In the vast majority of cases, we appear on your behalf and you never set foot in a courtroom.

Attorney Cook literally wrote the book. Ronald S. Cook is the author of Beating Traffic Tickets, available on Amazon.

Our law firm has over 3,000 client testimonials across Google, BBB, Trustpilot, and other platforms. We handle traffic tickets in all 62 New York counties from our offices on Long Island — and our clients across the state speak for themselves. Our Google reviews — from just one of our office locations — include over 850 five-star ratings. Click here to view verified client reviews. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Last reviewed by Attorney Ronald S. Cook — April 2026

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.