Absent a trial, the 5-step process outlined below applies to the vast majority of traffic violations in New York, including speeding, cell phone use, seat belt tickets, and running a red light or stop sign.
1. Sending the Letter of Representation to the Traffic Court
First, we send a formal letter to inform the court that we represent you and to enter a plea of Not Guilty on your behalf. We will also adjourn your case to a later date to give us adequate time to negotiate a reduction.
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No Court Appearance Required: The court date on your ticket no longer applies. Future dates become internal "control dates" where we report progress to the court. We handle all tracking and adjournments internally.
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Misdemeanors Exception: If you are charged with a misdemeanor (such as Aggravated Unlicensed Operation), a personal court appearance is required, and we will advise you of exact details in advance.
2. Negotiating a Reduction with the District Attorney's Office
Next, we negotiate a reduction or dismissal with the prosecutor in person or by mail. Prosecutors typically take 4 to 8 weeks (or more) to respond to negotiation requests.
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Case Background: We will email you specific questions regarding the circumstances of your ticket. Your answers help us build the strongest possible defense argument.
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Driving Record: For NYS drivers, we pull your driving record for you. If licensed in another state or Canadian province (such as Ontario or Québec), we will email you a direct link to obtain your official record online.
3. Informing You and Gaining Your Consent
Once a favorable plea offer is made, we will reach out via email or mail to explain the exact reduction and any associated penalties. We require your explicit consent before submitting any agreement to the judge.
4. Sending the Proposed Disposition to the Court
After receiving your consent, we submit the proposed disposition to the judge for official approval. While courts almost always accept negotiated prosecutor deals, if a judge ever rejects a disposition, we will renegotiate a new outcome at no additional charge to you.
5. Sending You the Fine or Dismissal Notice
Upon final court approval, we send the fine or dismissal notice via email and mail. Courts generally allow 2 to 4 weeks for payment. Please note that fine payments must be paid directly to the court by the client; our office cannot submit fine payments on your behalf.
Expected Timeline
The entire process usually takes between 2 to 5 months. We send regular email updates throughout every stage of your case.
Fee Policy Warning
Legal fees for traffic matters are due up front, and Mr. Azria cannot enter an official appearance with the court until the legal fee is settled. Court fines are assessed by the judge and are separate from legal fees.
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