Legal Advice

[jmoses]

Last night I was hit with the NYPD's total contempt for motorcyclists.

I was riding on 14th street on my way home obeying all speed limits and staying in my lane when I took a left(uptown) on Union Sqr East which is basically Park Ave. Shortly after I took the left a cop jumped out and waved me to the side. My initial reaction was it was a routine NYPD moto check point. I had all my paperwork in order and a flawless license so I was not concerned. However he mentioned something about an improper left hand turn? and gave me a ticket. The guy was a complete asshole and wouldn't explain anything on the ticket to me, he said "its all right there on the back just read it!" I asked if there were any points involved and he said it was 3 points then shoed me away. I have read the ticket and it explains NOTHING, says nothing about points and just has a bunch of categories(violations) with various charges for each violations. I have to send in the ticket and they will let me know what I am being charged with. Seems so backwards to me.

Is this worth fighting? I am concerned about the points and don;t even know what I am looking at for points or charges. I am going to go down to the intersection sometime this week and take a look around, see what kind of signage they have there etc etc. But if anyone has any experience with something like this Id like to hear about it. Should I just take the ticket, send it in, pay the charge and receive my points. Or should I try to fight it? Is it worth the time and/or lawyer charges.

Any insight or past experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

JM

[goldenchild]

If I knew then what I know now...

FIGHT IT.

[Pakhan]

Fight all tickets.  I believe "improper turn" is 2 points.

You will most likely lose your fight, but can get a reduction or possibly avoid points altogether by postponing.  Do not go to court until you have to.  Plead not guilty, postpone your case to as far away a date as possible, keep postponing the max amount allowable (3 times I think). 

The advantages of this are by the time you get to court the LEO won't remember and/ or might not show up.  Points stay on your license for 18 months FROM THE DATE THE TICKET WAS WRITTEN.  So if you postpone and lose 16 months from now, which is a typical time table, you will have the points for only 2 months.  If you postpone past the 18 month mark, you pay the fine but never get the points.  Argue your case and you may also get a reduction in the fine from the judge, but you will most likely have to pay something.  City wants their vig.

If you want to avoid doing any of that and pay $150 to a lady I know that handles tickets basically the same way as above I can give you her number.

 

[tommys67]

You can fight it, but that's my neighborhood, and I know that turn well.  If you turned before 8pm or so, they probably nailed you for it - it's no left during most of the daylight hours...

Talk to someone who knows how to fight tickets, because you're going to end up with some kind of fine, but they did nail you.  Sorry to say.

[Beattie_Yoo]

i know exactly where your talking about and im 95% positive that its the NO LEFT TURN, assuming you were heading eastbound on 14th

[Howie]

Unfortunately you did make an illegal turn.  IMO, unless you are about to loose your license this not worth a lawyer since, if the officer shows you will probably loose and it is only 2 points.  On the other hand, pleading innocent and postponing is a good tactic as long as you have the time and it costs you no money.  Unless things have changed you can postpone once by phone, second time you must postpone in person and may have to post a bond, third time in person and you will have to post a bond.  No fourth.

[He Man]

Someone once told me, if you have a ticket, and are given the chance to plead not guilty, it is a sin to not do so. (if points are involved)
Maybe you'll get lucky if youve always had a clean record and they will let you go this one time. Say anything, there was a mad rush of crazy drivers and you were heading in that general direction, and you were forced to mkae the turn by a crazy driver behind you, and if you think it is reasonable to let oyu go with a $500 fine or something (still better than jacked rates over the course of 3 years). I htink you can take defensive driver courses to get the points removed though.