New York shares a 445-mile border with Canada, so it’s common for Canadian drivers to commute in the Empire State. Despite not being American citizens, Canadian drivers are subject to American laws. This means a traffic ticket could present a problem.
If you are a Canadian citizen and you received a ticket while driving in New York, our experienced law firm can help. Find out why drivers on both sides of the border count on The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers.
New York Tickets Can Affect You in Canada
Some drivers believe that getting a ticket in a foreign country is not something to worry about. But they should understand that Canada and New York share drivers’ records. This means a traffic ticket could be bad news for a Canadian driver.
Due to special reciprocity agreements, a ticket that you receive in New York will make its way back to Canada. So if you are convicted in New York, this information will be transmitted to Canadian officials. You can then expect demerit points, insurance hikes, and more.
Quebec and Ontario have reciprocity agreements with New York. Essentially, as long as both jurisdictions recognize whatever the offense was in New York, they will assign demerit points to their drivers upon conviction. Too many demerit points will lead to a driver’s license suspension.
And that is on top of other problems such as:
- Court fines (including the New York Driver Responsibility Assessment)
- Surcharges
- Higher insurance premiums
- Potential license revocation
Traffic Tickets That We Assist With
Our goal at The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers is to help drivers avoid these and other legal and financial problems. We are knowledgeable about Canadian rules, New York driving laws, and other relevant factors that will impact your case.
Our firm has represented countless drivers who have been ticketed for the following offenses in New York:
- Speeding
- Failure to obey a stop sign
- Failure to obey a traffic signal
- Failure to stop for a school bus
- Street racing
- Reckless driving
- Illegal cell phone use
- Driving without a seat belt
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield to emergency vehicles
- Unsafe lane change
These and other tickets have their counterparts in Canada, and they will affect your driving record there. Let us get to work defending you and potentially avoiding or mitigating some of the worst consequences associated with traffic tickets.
How We Represent Canadian Drivers
When you retain our firm to handle your New York traffic ticket, we will review the charges and the evidence against you. If it is unreliable, or was illegally obtained, we can challenge it. It’s even possible to have evidence suppressed and tickets thrown out of court.
In some cases, we negotiate plea deals with prosecutors that can lessen the severity of your ticket. This would involve you pleading guilty to a lesser offense to avoid more serious penalties. Whether and under what conditions to enter into a plea deal will vary from one case to another.
We help Canadian drivers understand the potential ramifications of receiving a traffic ticket in New York. Then, we get to work seeking the best possible outcome. This can help you save money, enjoy lower insurance premiums, and avoid costly points on your driving record.
If you are pulled over for a ticket, we recommend that you do the following:
- Be respectful to the officer: One of the most important things you can do is to treat the New York law enforcement officer with respect. Arguing with the officer or getting upset simply will not help you.
- Limit what you say: You have the right to remain silent and should exercise that right. Provide basic information as required under law (e.g. your driver’s license), but otherwise limit what you say.
- Review your ticket carefully: Find out what the alleged offense was, along with basic information like the time, date, location, and identity of the officer who ticketed you.
- Note your traffic court date: You should especially take note of the court information on your ticket. This includes the time, date, and location of where you need to appear.
- Gather evidence: Collect any relevant evidence such as photos and videos you may have recorded of your stop. If there were any witnesses to the facts in question, get their names and contact information.
Contact Our New York Law Office
Finally, and at your earliest convenience, reach out to us so we can begin working on your case. We are ready to develop a personalized legal strategy for dispensing with your ticket so you can move forward. Contact The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers today to get started.