Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1218, “Crossed Fire Hose”

Many motorists are not aware of this, but it is prohibited to drive over fire hoses that were laid out for a fire. There are several purposes for this law:

1. Prevents Accidents: Driving over a fire hose can cause a vehicle to lose control or become entangled, leading to accidents.


2. Maintain Public Safety: A damaged hose can hinder firefighting efforts, putting property and lives at risk.


3. Protect Firefighters: Driving over a fire hose can disrupt water flow, damage the hose, and possibly injure firefighters.

If you are convicted (whether with a guilty plea or after trial) you will get two points on your New York State driver’s license. The exact fine is up to the judge, with the maximum being $150 + $93 surcharge. In New York City, the fine is $138. With the violation appearing on your driving record, you can expect to see higher insurance premiums.

Statute

The entire statute is one sentence and provides:

§ 1218. Crossing fire hose. No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of a fire department when laid down on any street or private driveway, to be used at any fire or alarm of fire, without the consent of the fire department official in command.

Disputing a VTL 1218 Traffic Ticket

A common misconception is that a defendant can only plead Not Guilty if they believe the allegations are not true. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of how the justice system works. Pleading “Not Guilty” does not mean you are claiming that the allegations are not true. Rather, pleading “Not Guilty” means you are utilizing your Constitutional rights to require the government to prove their case. There is nothing immoral or unethical to filing a Not Guilty plea to a charge that may be entirely correct.

In many instances, instead of the officer or prosecutor going through the burden of establishing a case, they will present you with a plea offer. The plea offer would modify the violation, thereby reducing or eliminating the points. In most instances it would lower the total fine as well. More importantly, the modification would minimize or eliminate the exposure to increased insurance premiums.

Retaining a traffic ticket lawyer when facing traffic related charges is often a worthwhile endeavor. Firstly, your lawyer can file the Not Guilty plea in court and make any court appearances in your place. Secondly, an experienced and tough traffic attorney puts you in the best position to obtain the most optimal disposition. Thus there is a strong likelihood you can avoid the points on your record all without leaving your home or taking off from work. To find out more, you can contact the team at the Benjamin Goldman Law Office.

Benjamin Goldman Law Office

The Benjamin Goldman Law Office is a New York State traffic ticket law firm. Our law office can help with a ticket for VTL 1218. We have vast experience with all types of traffic related charges. The Benjamin Goldman Law Office handles traffic tickets all over New York State. Besides New York City and Long Island, our firm takes on cases in Upstate New York, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Capital District, Catskill Mountains, Western New York, Hudson Valley, Central New York, and Finger Lakes. We welcome all traffic-related charges and will be glad to review and consider your case. The Benjamin Goldman Law Office provides all motorists with a free consultation.

Fight the VTL § 1218 Ticket