City of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in New York State. It is the fifth largest city in the state by population., the city’s population was estimated at 148,000. The Syracuse Metropolitan area had a population of around five hundred thousand. The exact amount depends on the parameters of the metro area. Syracuse is perhaps the only city in upstate New York that has seen a slight population increase, reversing a trend of several decades.
Syracuse serves as the “county seat” of Onondaga County. All county government offices are located in Syracuse. The city serves the entire Central New York region, a large part of the North Country region, and part of the Finger Lakes region. Syracuse was incorporated in 1847 and named after the historic Sicilian coastal city. The southern shore of Onondaga Lake forms the city’s northwestern border.
Traffic Tickets in the City of Syracuse
The Syracuse City Court is a busy court and has approximately ten judges. City courts have criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanors (that carry a term of imprisonment of no more than one year) and handle civil matters where the amount of money in dispute is less than $15,000. City courts also handle traffic violations. The Syracuse City Court has a large caseload of traffic related cases due to the highways that traverse the city boundaries.
Interstate 81 (I-81) runs north-south through the center of Syracuse. It is the only north-south highway in the Central New York region. Interstate 690 runs east-west. The I-690 branches off the I-90 (New York State Thruway) to lead motorists to and from downtown Syracuse. A small portion of the I-481 appears in the eastern side of the city. However, while most interstate highways in New York have a 65-mph speed limit, the highways through Syracuse are mostly 55 mph. This is because of the frequent on and off ramps and narrower lanes. The reduced speed causes motorists to inadvertently exceed the speed limit. Indeed, most traffic stops on the highway are for speeding. In New York State, interstate highways are patrolled by New York State Police.
Local city streets are the source of many traffic related charges as well. The types of charges vary and include speeding violations. The city speed limit is 30 miles per hour. Typical city summonses are for disobeying a traffic control device, rolling through a stop sign, texting while driving, and driving with a suspended license or registration. The main road in the city is New York State Route 5 (Genesee Street). It runs east and west across the city. This road provides access to the interstates. US-11 (Salina Street) runs north and south, mostly parallel with the I-81. It intersects NYS-5 near the highway interchange.
There are several misconceptions about traffic tickets in New York. First, is that you need to appear personally in court to fight the ticket. Second, is that you cannot fight your ticket without presenting a defense that is true and provable. For these reasons, most recipients of traffic tickets simply plead guilty to the charges. This usually ends up being a costly mistake. A serious traffic violation can incur heavy fines and fees. Most importantly, it will cause increased car insurance rates. If you are from out of the state, the violation will, in all likelihood, appear on your home state driving record and be seen by your car insurance company. The truth is that an attorney can go to court in the place of their client, and you do not need a defense in order to fight the charges. Your attorney can handle all in your place.
If you received a traffic ticket in Syracuse, it is prudent that you contact a traffic ticket attorney before you take action. Most traffic lawyers provide motorists with free consultations. Your attorney can discuss the charges with you and advise how they can help.
The Benjamin Goldman Law Office
The Benjamin Goldman Law Office is a New York State traffic ticket defense firm. Since 2011, we have been dedicated to helping motorists with all kinds of traffic-related charges. Over the years, our firm has received hundreds of five-star reviews. The Benjamin Goldman Law Office has assisted hundreds of clients in Onondaga County. We are ready, willing, and able to take on your case in Syracuse.
Points Reduced or Money Back Guarantee*
Our firm offers a Point Reduction or Money Back Guarantee*. This means we will issue a full refund of your legal fee if we are unable to reduce the points added to your license as a result of the ticket.
*Traffic tickets only. Does not apply to misdemeanors and felonies.