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