TrafficTicket

District Attorney
VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC CHARGE REQUEST FOR REDUCTION

VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC CHARGE REQUEST FOR REDUCTION

The Columbia County District Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all offenses in the county. In addition to crimes, that includes all Vehicle and Traffic infractions, such as speeding, motor vehicle equipment and stop light violations, etc.

If you (or your client) has been charged with such a Vehicle and Traffic infraction (not a misdemeanor or felony) and would like to “plea bargain” (that is, receive an offer to plead guilty to a less serious offense or an offense with fewer “points”), follow the instructions below.

VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC TICKET REQUEST FOR REDUCTION / PLEA BARGAIN

Is it possible for me to benefit from a Vehicle and Traffic plea bargain?

If you and the DA agree to such a plea bargain and the Court approves that plea bargain, there may be a reduction of points on your driver’s license and fines.
You may be able to resolve the traffic ticket by internet and mail, in which case you may not need to appear personally in court, although that is within the Court’s discretion.
You may also be able to resolve your ticket more quickly.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A REDUCTION / PLEA BARGAIN?

You have the right to retain an attorney. The New York State Bar Association has a list of Attorneys: https://www.findalawyernys.org/. The District Attorney strongly recommends that you retain an attorney.
Do not contact anyone in the Office of the District Attorney other than by the application you make by means of the website: www.columbiacountyny.com/trafficticket. Should you attempt to contact anyone in the office of the DA by means other than through www.columbiacountyny.com/trafficticket the District Attorney may determine that you have rejected your opportunity to plea bargain. No one in the District Attorney’s Office is permitted to give you any advice, legal or otherwise; nor is anyone permitted to communicate with you other than through this website.
The following charges will not be reduced by means of this website application:
VTL 1144 (a) (a): Failure to Yield the Right of Way to Emergency Vehicle (Absent extraordinary circumstances)
VTL 1144 (a): Failure to Yield the Right of Way to Emergency Vehicle (Absent extraordinary circumstances)
VTL 1229 c 1b: Back Seat Passenger Age 4-6: No Safety Belt
VTL 1229 c 1c: Back Seat Passenger Age 7-15: No Safety Restraint
VTL 1174: Failure to Stop for Stopped School Bus.
In order for you to be eligible to apply for a plea bargain of your traffic ticket, your Vehicle and Traffic Ticket must be for a non-criminal offense, i.e. an infraction. Alcohol-related, drug-related and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation offenses are NOT eligible for plea-bargains by this means. (For those more serious offenses, it is even more important for you to retain an attorney.)
ALL requests for a reduction / plea bargain of a traffic ticket must be submitted online at www.columbiacountyny.com/trafficticket
You must submit the online form with all the necessary information as soon as possible and well in advance of your next scheduled court date. (Please Note: The District Attorney does not have copies of your traffic ticket(s).)
You must also contact the Court to request an adjournment of your Court date. Merely requesting a reduction/ plea bargain does not automatically excuse you from your scheduled Court appearances, or from any other Court Order. It is entirely within the Court’s discretion to grant or deny any adjournments you may request.
Once your reduction / plea bargain request is fully submitted to the DA’s Office via www.columbiacountyny.com/trafficticket, the DA may make a plea bargain offer. Allow up to six (6) weeks for your request to be processed. (Please Note: You have no right to a reduction / plea bargain.)
If you wish to accept the plea bargain the DA may offer, then you must promptly sign it and submit it to the court. A delay in doing so may result in additional consequences for you, including suspension of your license.
If you reject the plea bargain offer, you must notify the court and the court will inform you of your trial date.
The Judge is the final arbiter of your case. The Judge will decide whether to accept your plea bargain and will determine the amount of the fine you must pay. If the Judge does not approve the plea bargain, the Judge will schedule your case for trial on a date the Judge will determine.
You will only receive, at most, one (1) plea bargain offer. If either you or the Court rejects that offer, the DA will not make another offer.

Click Here for Traffic Ticket Reduction Request

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

1.) What is a driver’s abstract?

       A Driver’s Abstract is your most recent driving record available through your state's Department of Motor Vehicles' website or in-person at your local DMV. For those with New York licenses, the New York State DMV website can be found here: https://dmv.ny.gov/dmv-records/get-my-own-driving-record-abstract

2.) How do I know if my payment and signed plea agreement have been received?

       You must contact the court to learn whether the court accepts the plea bargain.

3.)   Can I get a copy of my ticket?

       The District Attorney does not have copies of traffic tickets.

4.)   When is my payment due?

       You must pay your fine immediately after the Court sentences you, i.e., immediately after the Court informs you of the amount of the fine it has imposed.

5.)   Can I submit my plea agreement to the Court by email?

       No. You must submit your printed plea agreement by regular U.S. mail.

6.)   Will my plea result in points?

       Information on Driver Violation Point System can be found here:

https://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/about-nys-driver-point-system#:~:text=The%20Driver%20Violation%20Point%20System%20gives%20the%20New%20York%20State,action%20against%20high%20risk%20drivers.&text=If%20you%20get%2011%20points,(see%20Suspensions%20and%20Revocations)

**IMPORTANT REMINDERS**

THE COURT MAY NOT APPROVE OUR AGREEMENT.  IF SO, YOUR CASE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL.

SHOULD YOU BE CONVICTED BY GUILTY PLEA OR AFTER TRIAL, THE COURT ALONE WILL DETERMINE THE SENTENCE.

Please UNDERSTAND THAT staff persons of the Office of the District Attorney may require more than FOUR WEEKS TO PROCESS your application for a plea bargain. Please also understand that, should you attempt to communicate with persons in the Office of the District Attorney by any means other than this website or after you have submitted your application for a plea bargain, whether by telephone or electronic mail, US Mail, in person, or by any other means, the District Attorney will likely deem that attempt to be a rejection of the plea bargain offer. In that case, you will need to contact the Court to ask that it schedule your charge(s) for a trial.

**IMPORTANT REMINDERS**

THE COURT MAY NOT APPROVE OUR AGREEMENT. IF SO, YOUR CASE WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL.

SHOULD YOU BE CONVICTED BY GUILTY PLEA OR AFTER TRIAL, THE COURT ALONE WILL DETERMINE THE SENTENCE.

DO NOT CONTACT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BY ANY MEANS OR FOR ANY REASON INVOLVING YOUR
TRAFFIC TICKET, EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED IN THE WEBSITE INSTRUCTIONS. SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO DO SO, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT NO ONE RECEIVING YOUR TELEPHONE CALL OR EMAIL IS AUTHORIZED TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU. PLEASE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY ADVICE, LEGAL OR OTHERWISE.