The sight of flashing red and blue lights in the rearview mirror will elevate the heart rate of even the most veteran drivers. As a frenzy of thoughts races through your head, including “How fast was I going?”, the reality of “How much is this going to cost me?” sets in as your speeding ticket is handed to you.
Getting a speeding ticket anywhere is a stressful experience but paying for one in New York can be straightforward and hassle-free. With some basic information and a few mouse clicks here and there, you can pay for a New York speeding ticket online and be done in a New York minute as the saying goes.
Here’s how to do it.
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Paying a Speeding Ticket Online in New York
If you get ticketed for speeding in New York, chances are it will occur in one of the five boroughs (Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island) of New York City, the most populous metropolis in the United States.
Whether your speeding ticket is issued leaving a Yankees game in The Bronx or racing down Manhattan’s swanky Park Avenue, you can avoid the long lines in person and pay for your speeding ticket online by visiting the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website.
Here’s how it works:
Getting Started
Before paying your speeding ticket online you need to confirm the New York government entity (i.e., the New York city or county) that issued the violation. A speeding ticket issued in any of the five boroughs of New York City is considered a non-criminal moving violation and is issued by the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB).
Here’s what you need to get started:
- Verify that your speeding ticket has the words “Traffic Violations Bureau” at the bottom
- Locate the traffic ticket number to identify your violation in the DMV’s database
- If you have misplaced your ticket and do not have the violation number, you can enter your unique DMV identification number (if you have one), or you can look up the traffic ticket number by providing your full name, date of birth, and gender
Once you have this preliminary information, you can proceed to the next steps of paying your speeding ticket online.
Next Steps to Pay NY Speeding Ticket
By paying a speeding ticket online through the New York DMV’s website at https://transact2.dmv.ny.gov/pleadnpay/, you are effectively pleading guilty to the infraction and acknowledging that you violated the subject jurisdiction’s traffic law with respect to the legal speed limit. (You can also use this website to change a previously entered “Not Guilty” plea to a speeding ticket to “Guilty” so you can pay for it online.)
In doing so, you agree to pay all fines, fees, and surcharges associated with the traffic ticket in question. To pay for your infraction online, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The traffic ticket you intend to pay must be entered into the New York DMV’s database system
- Your speeding ticket must have an “open” status, meaning that either you have not entered a plea yet or you have entered a plea (i.e., guilty) but have not paid the fine
- Your driver’s license or driving privileges are not subject to a suspension or revocation as a result of submitting a guilty plea to the speeding ticket
If you fail to satisfy any of the above requirements, you will not be able to pay for your New York speeding ticket online and will need to visit a TVB location to resolve the matter.
Once you provide all of the required information and have met the eligibility criteria, entering the traffic ticket number (or your identification information) will direct you to the payment page where you can submit payment for your speeding ticket. You will receive an email confirmation of the payment for your records.
How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in New York?
The average speeding ticket in New York is around $50 but it depends on the speeding violation type. Speeding tickets issued near schools or in construction zones will usually be higher. Another factor affecting the dollar amount of traffic fines is how much you exceed the speed limit.
- If you are cited for driving at an “inappropriate speed” for the area you are traveling through, the fine will be between $45 and $150
- If your traffic ticket is issued for speeding up to 10 mph over the speed limit, the fine will be no less than $45 and no more than $150
- If you drove between 10 and 30 mph over the speed limit, you can expect to pay between $90 and $300 to pay for the ticket
- If you are cited for speeding 30 mph or more past the speed limit, your fine will be between $180 to $600
Repeat offenders who get caught speeding two or more times during an 18-month period will see escalating fines for each subsequent offense.
In addition to monetary fines, getting caught speeding in New York could also expose you to potential jail time. For minor offenses, the maximum jail time is 15 days while for more serious offenses (e.g., exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph or more), you could spend up to 30 days in jail.
Paying a New York Speed Camera Ticket Online
In New York, speeding tickets are not just issued by law enforcement officers. They can also be given out by special cameras designed to detect and catch violators. Speed cameras are mounted in school zones to protect children and discourage speeding in those areas.
The fine for a traffic ticket issued by a speed camera in New York is $50 and this can be paid online just like a regular speeding ticket.
Pay Speeding Tickets Issued Outside New York City
If you receive a speeding ticket in the State of New York but outside New York City, you need to locate the traffic court of the jurisdiction that issued the violation. The government entity could be a village, township, city, or even county.
The information you need should appear on the back of the speeding ticket and if you are unclear about which court to contact for making an online payment, the New York State Unified Court System website is a good place to start.
Final Thoughts
While getting caught speeding is never a pleasant experience, paying for a speeding ticket online in New York can be a straightforward process that can be completed in a matter of minutes, especially if your violation occurs in New York City.
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