Work Zone Traffic Ticket NYS VTL § 1180f

A car can be deadly when driven unsafely around people on foot. Because a car has been likened to a “weapon,” the law is harsh when it comes to work or construction zone traffic tickets.

The Law

The law, NYS VTL§ 1180f, defines a work zone as a highway construction or maintenance work area and does not allow a person to drive his or her car through a highway construction or maintenance work area faster than the posted work area speed limit.

In these areas, the speed limit(s) are usually less than the normally posted speed limits. But, the law says that the minimum speed limit for a work zone speed is 25 mph and that a work zone limit cannot be more than 20 mph below the normally posted limit.

There is no guessing as to when a person is driving through a work zone area. They are clearly marked with diamond shaped orange signs notify a driver of work zones. The signs can read “work zone” or “flagger ahead.” Not following the direction of a work zone flagger directing traffic can result in another kinds of tickets.

Monetary Penalties

Work zone speeding tickets can cost a lot of money, because fines are doubled. This means a diver will pay a lot of money, even if he or she is a first time offender. But, a general rule of thumb is, the more speeding convictions, the higher the fines.

Work zone speeding ticket fines in New York State range from $90 to $600 and depend on the rate of speed over the posted speed limit a driver is alleged to have gone.

For speeds in excess of:

• 1-10 mph, fine ranges from $40 to $150
• 11-30 mph, fine ranges from $180 to $300
• 31 mph and greater, fine ranges from $360 to $600
• Town and village surcharges are $143 and all other court surcharges are $135.

This is serious money, but there are more consequences to a work zone violation conviction.

Point Penalties

Like speeding ticket fines, points associated with speeding tickets vary and depend on how fast a driver is alleged to have driven.

• 1-10 mph: 3 points
• 11-20 mph: 4 points
• 21-30 mph: 6 points
• 31-40 mph: 8 points
• 40 and up: 11 points

Suspensions and Revocation Penalties

Remember it was said that the law is harsh when it comes to work or construction zone traffic tickets? Well, punishment in the form of suspensions and revocation are a perfect example. After two or more work zone speeding convictions, a person’s driving privileges will be suspended for 60 days. Or driving privileges will be revoked for a third conviction within an 18-month period. Read more about the difference between a suspensions and revocation.

Other Penalties To Keep In Mind

It is also important to keep in mind that a VTL 1180f conviction can trigger a driver responsibility assessment fee (DRA). The DRA begins at $300 and increase by a total of $75 for every point greater than 6 points. A work zone traffic ticket conviction can also cause major car insurance premium increases over the course of years, which translates into major money.

Safety Tips

The biggest safety tip a driver can take to ensure safety when driving in work zones is to SLOW DOWN. Workers and work vehicles can be located anywhere in the area, including your lane. According to the New York State Department of Transportation, more than 40,000 people are injured every year because of car crashes in work zones. So, remember to drive cautiously and give yourself a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.

Should the urge to speed in work zones tempt you, remember the fine is doubled for these tickets. Also, if you receive two convictions for speeding in work zones within 18 months, your driver license will be suspended.

What Happens If I Do not Answer a Work Zone Speeding Traffic Ticket?

If a driver does not answer a work zone speeding ticket the DMV will suspend the driver’s driving privileges. A person can be charged with a misdemeanor crime for driving with a suspended license. A suspension for not answering a speeding ticket does not mean that a driver is guilty of the violation; it means that a driver did not let the court know that he or she is pleading not guilty to the violation. Then, a driver must take extra steps and pay money to restore his or her driving privileges.

Find Out Your Options — Consult the Best Traffic Ticket Lawyer in Westchester County

Avoid the negative consequences of a work zone speeding ticket conviction and as an added bonus, save money in the process. If you want the best outcome possible, then let The Claro Law Firm fight hard for your rights! Call Elisa Claro, Esq. at 917-300-3334 or online at The Claro Law Firm for a free traffic consultation. By doing so you will let the best Westchester County traffic ticket attorney work for you. New York traffic Lawyer Elisa Claro, Esq. has handled thousands of traffic tickets throughout New York, including Westchester County – Yonkers, Harrison, White Plains, with fantastic results. Let us set you up for success, call today!