Lawyer’s Traffic Ticket Guide for Fine Town Court

The town of Fine, which includes the State University of New York (SUNY) Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) Ranger School (Est. 1912), is situated alongside a branch of the Oswegatchie River inside the Adirondack State Park. The town has a population of 1,512 (2010 U.S. Census), and covers almost 170 square miles in southwestern St. Lawrence County. The area is served by New York State Routes 3 and 58, which intersect near the hamlet of Fine, located within the town’s borders.

Have you been issued a speeding ticket that is returnable to Fine Town Court? If so, call our St. Lawrence County speeding ticket defense attorneys now at 800-893-9645 to see how we can help you save money, time and points on your license.

One of the worst things you can do is to ignore your ticket. Failure to Answer a ticket can result in a suspension of a driver's privilege to drive. If a driver is caught driving with a suspended license a police officer may arrest the driver and charge them in a criminal act.

Pleading Not Guilty: If you chose to fight your ticket, you will have to plead not guilty. Instructions on how to do so are provided on your ticket, generally you can do this via mail or in person.

Once the court receives your plea, it will be acknowledged with a court notice. This court notice will tell you when your court date is. It is at this court date that you will have the opportunity to bring forth your case’s strengths and weaknesses.

Pleading Guilty: If you chose to plead guilty to your traffic violation; please follow the directions on your ticket. Once the court receives your plea, it will be acknowledged with a fine notice. This fine should be paid in full by the date provided. Failure to do so can result in a suspended license.

Please note, pleading guilty to a speeding ticket has many long-term financial consequences. Such as high fines, fees, points and insurance increases. Pleading guilty is the equivalent to being convicted after trial.

Dress Code: Although there is no official dress code, we highly recommend all litigants to come in a formal attire. Many judges often frown upon those individuals who come to court in open-toed sandals, shorts, or other similar items.

Security: The court is a secure place, as such you will be asked to walk through a magnetometer prior to entering the court.

Tip: It is advised that all electronic devices be turned off, all food and beverages be disposed, and it is very important to present yourself in a respectful manner.

Court Clerk: The role of the Court Clerk is to assist the Judges in carrying out their duties. They may assist the Judges in court as well as out of court. Many clerks send letters to litigants, collect fine monies, and help answer day-to-day questions before the court.

What to Bring: You should bring your court notice and driving record. Your court notice will help any court personnel direct you to where you need to go. And your driving record can be persuasive to mitigating your case, if it is clean.

Trial: Each motorist is entitled to a trial on his or her traffic matters. In general, a traffic trial will occur on the driver’s first court appearance. The first court appearance is usually designated as a pre-trial conference.

How will a speeding conviction affect my insurance?

There are many different things insurance companies take into consideration when they determine a driver’s insurance rate. For the most part, the algorithm used is proprietary in nature and the average driver will not be privy to this information.

Some things considered in an insurance policy can include but is not limited to a driver’s age, their accident history, the type of car driven, and any convictions to moving violations.

Is the date on the front of my ticket my court date?

Ultimately, the date on the front of your ticket may be your court date but for the most part, it is your respond by date.

Aren’t speeding tickets a pure money grab for small municipalities?

Many public officials around the United States have denounced the belief that speeding tickets are issued to raise revenue. Public officials have consistently stated that tickets are a way to hold public safety their highest priority.

Do I have to testify at a traffic trial?

I local criminal court, you are innocent until proven guilty. You are not required to testify at your trial.

If a plea of guilty is entered by mail, does the fine need to be paid at the same time?

In general, when a driver mails the court their guilty plea, the court will send back a letter with the fine amount with a date certain to pay the fine. If the driver does not get a response in 5 business days, the driver should call the court to follow up on the status of their ticket.

At Joseph P. Villanueva, Attorneys At Law, we have a statewide speeding ticket defense practice and we can help you save money, points on your license, and precious time sitting in court. Our lawyers have been representing clients throughout New York State and Syracuse of years. If you have a ticket in St. Lawrence County, give us a call to learn how we can help. Our lawyers can be reached at 800-893-9645.

For more information, please visit the following links:

Traffic Ticket FAQs
Tips on Avoiding a Speeding Ticket
Top Reasons to Hire an Attorney