Why Fight a Traffic Ticket
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Do Not Pay That Ticket Before You Read This
Paying a traffic ticket feels like the fastest way to make it disappear, but in New York, paying is the same as pleading guilty. That guilty plea gets reported straight to the DMV, points are added to your record, and your insurance company is notified.
Since February 16, 2026, New York’s updated point system makes this decision even riskier: alcohol- or drug-related driving incidents and aggravated unlicensed operation now carry 11 points instead of zero, and the suspension review threshold has dropped to 10 points within 24 months, down from 11 points within 18 months.
If you are holding a ticket right now, understanding what disputing it can protect is worth a few minutes before you decide to just pay it.
Strong Defense Starts Here
Facing a traffic violation in Saratoga Springs or the Capital District? Speak directly with Attorney Garofalo—free of charge.
How Traffic Defense Attorney Garofalo Approaches Your Traffic Violation Case
We proudly help drivers dispute traffic tickets throughout Saratoga Springs, Malta, Wilton, Clifton Park, Moreau, Halfmoon, Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George, Warrensburg, Chester, Colonie, Guilderland, Rotterdam, Scotia, Glenville, Saratoga County, Warren County, Schenectady County and Albany County. Wherever your ticket was issued in these communities, our legal team is ready to help.
Ask Us About These Services
- DWI Defense Attorney
- First-Time DWI
- Second & Third DWI Offenses
- Felony DWI
- DWAI (Alcohol or Drug-Impaired)
- Aggravated DWI (BAC of .18 or higher)
- DMV Refusal Hearings
- Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO)
- Speeding Tickets
- Traffic Violations
- Red Light Violations
- Distracted Driving
- Texting While Driving
- Cell Phone Use While Driving
- Following Too Closely (Tailgating)
- Suspended License
- Failure to Yield
- Leaving Scene of Accident
- Reckless Driving
- Headlight / Taillight Violations
- Failure to Signal
- Construction Zone Speeding
- Unsafe Lane Change/Improper Passing
- Overtaking / Passing Stopped School Bus
- Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device / Sign
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Hit and Run)
- Speed Contest / Racing
- Driving uninsured
- Expired inspection
What a Guilty Plea Really Costs You
A traffic ticket looks minor on paper, but the downstream consequences of simply paying it can follow you for years.
Points Add Up Faster Than Drivers Expect
Under the current point system, speeding 31 to 40 mph over the limit carries 8 points, and speeding more than 40 mph over the limit carries 11 points on its own. Reaching 10 points within 24 months now triggers a formal DMV suspension hearing, a much lower bar than the previous rule.
Fees Stack on Top of Fines
Once you reach 6 or more points within 18 months, the DMV adds a Driver Responsibility Assessment on top of your fine and surcharge in the amount of $300.00, and drivers with 11 or more points can now face a bill exceeding $675 for that assessment alone.
Insurance Premiums Climb After a Conviction
Insurance companies treat a guilty plea as a clear risk signal. Even one moving violation conviction can raise your premium, and the increase can last for several years depending on your policy.
License Suspension Risk Is Higher Than Ever
Because the suspension review threshold dropped from 11 points in 18 months to 10 points in 24 months, drivers who previously stayed under the radar with a ticket or two now face real suspension exposure.
Reversing a Guilty Plea Is Difficult
Once you plead guilty, whether by mail or by paying online, undoing that decision later is hard. If the officer’s report, the equipment calibration, or the circumstances of the stop were flawed, disputing before you plead is the only real opportunity to raise it. Your only way to reversing a plea of guilty is to bring a Coram Nobis Motion, also handle by Attorney Garofalo.
How We Help You Fight Your Ticket
When you contact our office, Attorney Garofalo personally reviews the ticket, the point value involved, and your current driving record before recommending a course of action. Key steps typically include:
- Reviewing the officer's basis for the stop and whether the citation was issued correctly
- Evaluating whether the facts support a negotiated reduction, a point-reduction plea, or a full hearing
What to Expect When You Fight a Ticket
Understanding the process helps you make an informed decision instead of defaulting to a quick guilty plea.
- Ticket Review: Attorney Garofalo reviews your citation, checks the point value under the current 2026 rules, and looks at your existing driving record.
- Plea Strategy: Rather than pleading guilty by default, you receive an assessment of whether fighting the ticket, negotiating a reduction, or requesting a hearing serves you best.
- Court or Hearing Appearance: If the case proceeds to court or a DMV hearing, Attorney Garofalo represents you directly, not a rotating associate.
- Resolution: Outcomes vary by case, but the goal throughout is minimizing points, fines, and any risk to your license.
Why Local Drivers Choose Attorney Garofalo
Drivers across Saratoga County, Warren County, Schenectady County and Albany County want a lawyer who understands the local courts and the current DMV rules. Here is what sets Attorney Garofalo apart:
- Over two decades of focused experience in DWI, DWAI, and traffic violation defense across Upstate New York
- Direct communication with Attorney Garofalo personally at every stage of your case
- Up-to-date knowledge of the 2026 DMV point system changes and how they affect your specific ticket
- Free consultation so you understand your options before deciding whether to pay or dispute
- Familiarity with local prosecutors, judges, and court procedures throughout Saratoga County
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Paying a ticket in New York is treated as a guilty plea, and it results in a conviction, points, and a report to your insurance company.
As of February 16, 2026, accumulating 10 or more points within 24 months can trigger a formal DMV suspension hearing, down from the previous threshold of 11 points in 18 months.
Not necessarily. Fighting gives you the chance to negotiate a reduced charge or fewer points, which can lower your total cost compared to an outright guilty plea.
A reduced violation with fewer points, or a dismissal, generally limits or avoids the insurance impact that a full conviction would cause.
Ignoring a ticket can lead to a default conviction and an indefinite license suspension, which is often worse than either paying or disputing it.
Do Not Decide Alone
The DMV’s 2026 point system changes mean tickets that once felt minor can now carry serious consequences for your license and your finances. Before you pay a ticket and accept a guilty plea, speak with an attorney who understands exactly how the current rules apply to your situation.