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New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Guide: Common Charges on Long Island
The New York Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) covers everything from speeding tickets to DWI. Some VTL charges are traffic infractions, some are misdemeanors, and a few are felonies, and almost all of them can affect your license with the DMV. Below are the VTL sections charged most often in Nassau County and Suffolk County courts, with a guide to each one. Richard Hochhauser of Hochhauser Criminal & DWI Defense, PLLC is a former Long Island prosecutor who handles these cases, and the DMV problems behind them, every week.
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Traffic infraction, misdemeanor or felony?
Most moving violations, such as speeding, are traffic infractions: they are not crimes, but they bring fines, surcharges and license points. Other VTL charges are crimes. Driving with a suspended license (VTL 511), driving with a suspended registration (VTL 512), failing to surrender plates or a license after a revocation (VTL 318(7)), reckless driving (VTL 1212) and a first DWI (VTL 1192(2) or (3)) are misdemeanors. Repeat DWIs and some suspended license cases can be felonies.
Many VTL charges also come with a separate DMV consequence, such as a suspension or revocation, that runs on its own track. Fixing the DMV problem before your court date often changes the outcome.
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Where Long Island traffic cases are heard
| Court or agency | Address | What it handles |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau County District Court | 99 Main Street, Hempstead, NY 11550 | Traffic misdemeanors, such as VTL 511, 512, 318(7) and DWI |
| Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency | 801 Axinn Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 | Traffic infractions in Nassau County |
| Suffolk County District Court, First District | 400 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip, NY 11722 | Traffic misdemeanors and DWI in western Suffolk County |
| Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency | 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788 | Traffic infractions in the five western towns of Suffolk County |
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law sections, by type of charge
Suspended, revoked and unlicensed driving
| Section | Charge | Long Island arraignments |
|---|---|---|
| VTL 511 | Aggravated unlicensed operation (suspended or revoked license) | 2,705 |
| VTL 340(a) | Failure to surrender a suspended license or registration | 2,712 |
| VTL 512 / 355 | Operating with a suspended or revoked registration | 1,054 / 991 |
| VTL 318(7) | Insurance lapse revocations and failure to surrender plates or license | 910 |
| VTL 509 | Unlicensed operation (no license or expired license) | 50 |
| VTL 401 | Unregistered vehicle (including expired registration) | 33 |
| VTL 306 / 319 | Inspection and insurance violations | 237 / 142 |
Impaired driving
| Section | Charge | Long Island arraignments |
|---|---|---|
| VTL 1192(3) | Common law DWI | 1,818 (all of 1192) |
| VTL 1192(2) | Per se DWI (0.08% BAC or higher) | |
| VTL 1192(2-a) | Aggravated DWI (0.18% BAC or higher) | |
| VTL 1192(4) / (4-a) | DWAI by drugs, or drugs combined with alcohol | |
| VTL 1194 | Chemical test refusal | |
| VTL 1198 | Ignition interlock violations | 82 |
Accidents and dangerous driving
| Section | Charge | Long Island arraignments |
|---|---|---|
| VTL 600 | Leaving the scene of an accident | 341 |
| VTL 1212 | Reckless driving | 200 |
| VTL 1180 | Speeding | 33 |
| VTL 1182 | Speed contests and racing | 11 |
Arraignments are approximate counts from about two years of Nassau County and Suffolk County district court arraignment records. Many traffic infractions are handled in traffic courts and do not appear in these counts.
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law: frequently asked questions
What does “VTL” mean on my ticket?
VTL stands for the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law. The number after it is the section you are charged under, such as VTL 511 for driving with a suspended license or VTL 1192 for DWI.
Is driving with a suspended license a crime in New York?
Yes. Aggravated unlicensed operation under VTL 511 is a misdemeanor at its lowest level, and can be a felony in some circumstances. Driving with no license or an expired license under VTL 509 is a lesser offense.
Can a misdemeanor traffic charge be reduced to a ticket?
Often, yes. Many suspended license and suspended registration charges are reduced to traffic infractions, especially when the DMV problem is fixed before court.
Where are Long Island traffic cases heard?
Traffic misdemeanors in Nassau County are heard at the Nassau County District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead, NY 11550, and in Suffolk County at the Suffolk County District Court, First District, 400 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip, NY 11722. Traffic infractions are usually handled by the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, 801 Axinn Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530, or, for the five western towns of Suffolk County, the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788.
How much does a traffic or suspended license lawyer cost?
Hochhauser Criminal & DWI Defense, PLLC charges a flat fee, quoted after your free consultation, so you know the cost up front.
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This is general information about New York law, not legal advice about your case. Laws change; check the official text and talk to a lawyer about your situation.
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