Avoid Increases To Insurance Premiums

Under NY Insurance Law Section 2335, an insurance company may raise your automobile insurance rates for even a single speeding ticket conviction in New York – so do not plead Guilty!

A common mistake is for a motorist getting a speeding ticket is immediately pay the fine so they don’t have to think about it. However, before a fine may be imposed, they are pleading guilty to the offense and points are added to their license. If this situation repeats itself within a short span of time, they may accumulate a significant number of points on their driving record which has far-reaching traffic ticket consequences.

​Any motorist driving in the State of New York, whether licensed out of state or not, accumulating 11 or more points within an 18 month period, their driving privileges will be suspended by the NYS Department of Motor. Penalties for traffic violations can often be harsh, particularly considering the effect they may have on insurance premiums. In fact, depending on the type of offense and one’s prior motor vehicle history, automobile insurance companies may raise premiums even after a first traffic offense – even with a clean driving record!

Insurance agencies typically conduct annual reviews of driving records in order to renew policies. Insurance companies calculate the rates according to the number of points on an insured’s driving record. If they have more points, then their insurance premium are likely to increase. Unfortunately, insurance providers characterize a driver insured with numerous NY speeding tickets as a potential hazard for automobile accidents.

It is also a common misperception that taking a driver safety course will remove 4 points from an attendee’s driving record. This is not the case – it only removes them from an 18 month suspension calculation. As NYS DMV advises: “[C]ompletion of a course under the “Point & Insurance Reduction Program” does not remove, delete, subtract, or erase any violation, conviction, or notice of original number of points from your driving record.”

So, while the course will give a participant an additional 4 point buffer before their license is suspended, it will not remove them and they will be used in calculating insurance premiums for the ensuing period(s).

Therefore, it is important to have an attorney represent you from the earliest stages of the case (in fact, some clients call me immediately after being issued a summons.) My firm can help those charged with traffic violations avoid the expensive, time consuming and frustrating ordeal involving court appearances and fines that could have a devastating effect on your finances and driving privileges. In virtually all cases, with non-criminal traffic offenses, we can handle you matter without you even having to be present.

Contact us immediately for a free consultation today. We will review your case and explain the possible consequences of the various traffic offenses. We can then proceed to represent you through the final resolution of your case, reducing the financial and emotional pain from the process and helping you to avoid convictions as alleged, for NY traffic tickets. You won’t be disappointed!