Speeding ticket in New York State?

Question

Hi,

I'm from Canada and recently got a speeding ticket. I think the limit was 65 and I was going 80.

Well the cop that pulled me over saw that my dashboard wasn't written in miles, ony in kilometers, and told me that he would write it down as a missed traffic signal to spare me a little.

So I got my ticket. 250$$$! Would it have been better for me to have had a speeding ticket rather than this? In other words, how much would the ticket have cost me (15miles over?)

Thanks!

Answer 1

New York is one of the worst when it comes to fines, not because they are trying to protect safety, but because their legislature can't balance the budget. Depending on the jurisdiction, this may sound about right. A speeding ticket can get you the same amount in fines in some jurisdictions. Many other states give some leeway for speeding, while New York can be a bear on your wallet and on your license. They waste tons of money on speed-trap-cops while people get murdered weekly in some of their cities. When you get over a certain number of points on your license, the state fines you additionally to the township fines, just to cover their budget blunders.

My advice: don't spend your money in New York. Maybe they will take the hint to lay off out-of-towners, or stop wasting their time and resources on speeding and stop some murders instead.

Answer 2

He gave you a break, but shouldn't have.