Staten Island, New York
Staten Island is a borough (boro) of New York City. It is also known as Richmond County and is one of New York State’s 62 counties. The entire county is an island and is the southernmost area of New York State. To the west and the north is New Jersey accessible by three bridges. To the east is Brooklyn, also accessible via a bridge. There is also ferry service from the top of Staten Island to Manhattan. Staten Island is the least populated of the five boros., the estimated population was 475,000.
Traffic Tickets in Staten Island, New York
Most traffic stops in Staten Island take place on its two major highways. The I-278 (Staten Island Expressway) crosses the island east and west. It connects New Jersey with Long Island. The NYS-440 (West Shore Expressway) goes north-south along the western side of the island. It runs between the Outerbridge Crossing in the south and the Bayonne Bridge in the north.
Many motorists entering from New Jersey get speeding tickets in Staten Island. This is because New Jersey highways have a speed limit of 65 miles per hour. In New York City, the speed limit never exceeds 50 mph. Very often motorists entering from New Jersey do not adjust their speed properly and end up with speeding citations. The typical speeding infraction involves a motorist clocked in the 70-80 mph range. The expressways are patrolled by the Highway Police of the NYPD. These officers are highly trained in traffic patrol. Besides speeding tickets, they also issue a high number of HOV violation tickets, charged as Disobeying a Traffic Control Device. The expressway has a HOV lane dedicated to vehicles with multiple passengers. However, many motorists, looking to avoid the traffic, enter this lane without any passengers. This charge is less serious than speeding.
All traffic tickets in Staten Island are adjudicated in the Richmond Traffic Violations Bureau. This office is located at 1775 South Avenue in the western part of Staten Island. The Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) is much different than the usual traffic court. There is no prosecutor and there is no plea bargaining. There are limited procedural rights and almost no discovery rights. All contested tickets must have a trial at which the ticketing police officer presents the case along with his notes. Needless to say, it is not easy to win your case here.
If you received a traffic ticket in Staten Island you may want to consider retaining counsel. For a nominal fee your lawyer can submit the Not Guilty plea for you, make any necessary court appearances in your place, and conduct the trial. Not only do you save the time and hassle of traveling back to Staten Island, you also have a better shot at beating the charge.
The Benjamin Goldman Law Office
The Benjamin Goldman Law Office is a New York State law firm. Our firm’s main practice area is Traffic Ticket Defense. We opened in 2011 and since then have helped many motorists with traffic related charges in Staten Island. Our attorneys can help with criminal charges such as DWI and driving with a suspended license. We can also help with any traffic ticket. The lawyer assigned to your case will have much experience at this court and will have previously obtained dismissals and Not Guilty findings. Feel free to contact us to discuss your case. Consultations are free.