Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1221 “Drove through/Within Safety Zone”

If there is probable cause that you drove through an area that is not a roadway, but an area dedicated to pedestrians, you can be charged with VTL § 1221. If you plead guilty to this ticket or are found guilty of this violation you will get two points on New York State driving record. The exact fine is determined by the judge with the maximum being $150 + $93 mandatory surcharge for a first-time offender. A conviction of this violation will appear on the driving record, and as such, you will likely see an increase in your insurance premiums for several years. In most cases where this ticket is issued, the police officer issues other tickets for other violations as well. In such instances, the fines increase, the insurance goes up higher, and it may incur driver responsibility assessment fees.

Text of the Relevant Statutes

Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1221 states:

§ 1221. Driving through safety zone prohibited. No vehicle shall at any time be driven through or within a safety zone.

A “safety zone” is defined in Vehicle & Traffic Law § 141 as

§ 141. Safety zone. The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.

Challenging a VTL 1221 Traffic Ticket

Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal or even immoral to plead Not Guilty to charges that are entirely accurate. A Not Guilty plea does not mean you are claiming that the ticketing officer was mistaken or lying. Pleading Not Guilty simply means that you are availing yourself of your Constitutional rights and require the government to prove the charges. Any motorist that receives a traffic ticket can challenge the charges whether the charges are inaccurate, accurate, partially accurate.

In New York State, motorists can retain a law firm to handle their traffic ticket in its entirety. This means your attorney can file the Not Guilty plea in court for you and make any necessary court appearances in your place. It is possible to get the charges reduced or dropped and the person that got the ticket would not have to leave their home or work. For more information, you can contact the Benjamin Goldman Law Office.

Benjamin Goldman Law Office

The Benjamin Goldman Law Office is a New York State law firm that exclusively practices Traffic Law. Our firm should be able to help with any traffic-related charges issued in any New York jurisdiction. Our team helps clients in Central New York, Mohawk Valley, New York City, North Country, Hudson Valley, Western New York, Catskill Mountains, Long Island, Upstate New York, Capital District, and the Southern Tier region. For more detailed information on how the Benjamin Goldman Law Office can help, you can reach out at your convenience. We are available during regular business hours (and sometimes over the weekend) by phone, text message, or email. The Benjamin Goldman Law Office provides all motorists with a free consultation. Our team looks forward to helping with your case.

Fight the VTL § 1221 Ticket