April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the State of New York has not been shy about its intent to participate. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that from April 10th to 15th, the state will be increasing its effort to catch distracted drivers. At the top of their list of offenders to watch for: drivers using smartphones.
As part of “Operation Hang Up”, law enforcement will be increasing police patrols as well as traffic checkpoints. In addition to their regular police cruisers, officers will also be using unmarked police vehicles, allowing them to better blend in with traffic and observe the public. This is not the first campaign of this sort employed by the state. In November of 2016, a similar event saw more than 1,000 tickets issued, 550 of which were handed out for distracted driving.
Drivers who are caught violating the law can face fines amounting to hundreds of dollars. Younger and probationary drivers may have their driver’s license suspended or revoked (for multiple offenses within a six month period).
Penalties for distracted driving can include:
- 1st offense: Up to $200 in fines
- 2nd offense in 18 months: up to $250 in fines
- 3rd offense in 18 months: Up to $450 in fines
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If you receive a traffic ticket during any time of the year, call us before paying your fine. By paying a citation, you are effectively pleading guilty to the alleged offense represented by your ticket. At Gannes & Musico, LLP, we can help you to understand the full range of punishments you may face and how you can work to avoid them. Let our NYC traffic ticket attorneys walk you through your legal options so that you may discover what course of action may be best for your situation.
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