Who, What, and When: Common Traffic Violations in New York

Who, What, and When: Common Traffic Violations in New York

Quick Facts and Statistics About NY Traffic Tickets

New York has a reputation for hectic urban streets and shocking levels of road rage. In a recent 4-year period, the number of ticketed traffic violations totaled 14.4 million. The NYC Police Department alone issued nearly a third of these.

Who typically receives these tickets? In that 4-year period, New York law enforcement issued more than twice as many to men as they did women. The New York State dataset demonstrated a clear pattern regarding age, as well—most recipients were in their twenties.

The top 10 ages that received the most tickets were as follows:

1. 24-year-olds: 501,000
2. 25-year-olds: 494,000
3. 23-year-olds: 494,000
4. 22-year-olds: 485,000
5. 26-year-olds: 479,000
6. 21-year-olds: 463,000
7. 27-year-olds: 459,000
8. 28-year-olds: 440,000
9. 29-year-olds: 420,000
10. 20-year-olds: 415,000

As many would guess, more NY drivers tend to receive tickets on Friday than any other day. Interestingly, the number of tickets New Yorkers receive tends to diminish through the course of each year. In other words, January is often the worst month for drivers, and December is the best.

These are the 5 most common traffic tickets New York drivers received in the 4-year period:

1. Speeding: 2 million tickets issued. This is the most common traffic violation in New York, as well as in many other states. Penalties include fines or points, depending on how many mph over the limit the driver traveled, as well as where the driver was speeding.
2. Disobeying a traffic device: 1.05 million tickets issued. Traffic devices include signals, stop signs, yield signs, and other markings designed to regulate traffic. Penalties include fines or points, depending on the type of device the driver disobeyed.
3. Uninspected motor vehicle: 665,000 tickets issued. A conviction results in a fine, but no points.
4. Driving without a license (suspended or revoked): 627,000 tickets issued. As with a ticket for an uninspected motor vehicle, driving without a license results in a fine, but no points.
5. Improper use of cell phone: 515,000 tickets issued. A common example is texting while driving. Penalties for improper use of cell phones or portable electronic devices include both fines and points.

Other common citations in New York include:

• Tinted windows
• Inadequate headlights
• Driving without insurance
• Driving without a seatbelt
• Unregistered vehicle
• Improper signal
• Failing to yield to a pedestrian

Did You Receive a Traffic Ticket? Call Us—We’ll Fight It for You.

Traffic tickets can be expensive, and cumulative violations may threaten your driving privileges. If you received a ticket, you have options—and acting quickly is essential. At Martin A. Kron & Associates, P.C., our attorney understands the importance of keeping your driving record clean. We have years of experience helping New York drivers get their charges reduced or dismissed, and we will work to do the same for you.