| Justice court is the main place where speeding | | | | A good attorney will be able to appear for you in |
| tickets are handled in most of New York State. | | | | most courts so you don't have to go yourself.The |
| The justice court system includes town courts | | | | attorney will negotiate whatever result he can get |
| and village courts. City courts often serve the | | | | for you and let you know how much to pay and |
| same function, but are technically not justice | | | | the deadline for payment.There is tremendous |
| courts. These courts handle traffic tickets, a | | | | variety in how cases are handled in the various |
| variety of criminal cases (including DWI) and other | | | | traffic courts. In many courts, the police officers |
| violations, and some minor civil matters.In a few | | | | run the calendar. In some, the judges go by which |
| places in the state, including New York City, parts | | | | attorney is ready first. And in a few, no one |
| of Suffolk County, and the cities of Buffalo and | | | | seems to have any idea what the process |
| Rochester (but not the surrounding towns), | | | | is.Some judges will dismiss a ticket if the officer |
| tickets are handled by a different system called | | | | does not appear for trial. Many judges will simply |
| the Traffic Violations Bureau (perhaps the subject | | | | grant an adjournment to give the officer another |
| of a future article). Traffic Violations Bureau is a | | | | chance. While that might appear unfair, in reality |
| world of its own, and is considered by attorneys | | | | the process gives the defendant many |
| to be much more difficult than the justice court | | | | opportunities to recover if they miss a date. A |
| system.Typically a driver will get a speeding ticket | | | | common mistake many people make is that they |
| somewhere in the state, and won't know what to | | | | assume the date on the ticket is a trial date. It is |
| do with it. Traffic tickets in NY are not as clear as | | | | not. The officer does not have to appear for that |
| other states. They usually don't say what you | | | | date (and neither do you).Some judges will not |
| owe. They tell you to respond within 48 hours, | | | | accept deals if they think the reduction is too |
| and then in another spot tell you to appear in | | | | great. Other judges will approve any deal. In |
| court on a certain date.You can respond by mail, | | | | certain counties, for example, for a speed of |
| and in most courts it's okay to be late (though | | | | more than 25 mph over the limit, many judges |
| certainly not recommended). In many counties | | | | will insist that the deal must still be a speed, even |
| north and west of Albany, an attorney can | | | | if a lower one.Of course, you will find the same |
| resolve the ticket by mail or fax with the | | | | variety among police officers and prosecutors as |
| prosecuting attorney or directly with the officer, | | | | well.Court hours vary widely too. Most larger |
| and with the Court. In some courts, including most | | | | courts have their clerk's office open for normal |
| of Albany County and the counties to the south, | | | | business hours (9-5 or perhaps 8-4). Some smaller |
| someone will eventually have to appear in | | | | courts are rarely open. Some courts have their |
| Court.The typical way this is handled is the | | | | trials at 8 am, some during the day, and many in |
| attorney mails in a letter pleading "not guilty" and | | | | the evening. Some courts are so busy they have |
| asking for a control date or a trial date. With a | | | | multiple sessions.Some courts will handle criminal |
| control date, the case goes into limbo while the | | | | matters on a different schedule than regular |
| attorney negotiates with the prosecutor. With a | | | | traffic tickets. DWI cases are usually handled on |
| trial date you usually want to get things resolved | | | | the criminal calendar. |
| before that date, or appear in Court on that date. | | | | |