Speeding Ticket Lawyer Manhattan

A speeding ticket issued on a Manhattan street can carry consequences well beyond the amount printed on the ticket. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys represent drivers cited under N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law §1180, the statute titled “Basic rule and maximum limits.” §1180(a) requires drivers to operate at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. §1180(b) sets a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour where no special hazard or lower posted limit applies, though most Manhattan streets carry a posted limit below that figure. Because posted limits vary by street, confirming the specific posted limit at the citation location is an early step in evaluating the ticket. Fines under §1180(h) increase with how far over the limit a driver was traveling, and the schedule rises further for school-zone speeding, commercial-vehicle violations, and repeat offenses within an 18-month period. Because the applicable fine tier depends on the specific speed alleged and the circumstances of the stop, an early review of the ticket and the officer’s stated speed reading is a useful first step. Drivers can request a consultation with Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys by calling (888) 437-7747.

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What Speeding Ticket Means in Manhattan

New York’s speeding law, N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law §1180, is titled “Basic rule and maximum limits.” §1180(a) sets the baseline rule: a driver must not operate faster than is reasonable and prudent given the conditions present at the time. §1180(b) adds a numeric ceiling, setting the maximum speed at 55 miles per hour where no special hazard exists and no other posted limit controls. Most Manhattan streets carry a posted limit below that 55-mile-per-hour ceiling, so the posted sign, rather than the statutory maximum, typically governs.

§1180(h) sets the fine schedule for a base speeding violation, and the amount depends on how far over the limit a driver was traveling.

10 miles per hour or less over the limit: a fine between $45 and $150.
More than 10 and up to 30 miles per hour over the limit: a fine between $90 and $300, and up to 15 days in jail.
More than 30 miles per hour over the limit: a fine between $180 and $600, and up to 30 days in jail.

Certain circumstances carry steeper schedules. Commercial-vehicle violations, radar-detector-related violations, and work-zone violations can carry fines up to $360 to $600, or a flat $600 for a hazardous-materials vehicle or a vehicle with an out-of-service defect, along with up to 30 days in jail. School-zone speeding during school hours carries the steepest schedule, with fines reaching up to $360 to $1,200 and up to 30 days in jail. A second violation within 18 months adds up to $150 to the applicable maximum fine, and a third or later violation within 18 months adds up to $375 to the maximum fine. These schedules do not include the separate driver-license point consequences that a speeding conviction can carry under state regulations, which are addressed on this site’s points suspension page.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Speeding Ticket Cases

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys review the officer’s stated speed reading, the method used to measure speed, and the posted limit at the citation location before advising a client on a Manhattan speeding ticket. Because the fine schedule under §1180(h) depends on exactly how far over the limit a driver was allegedly traveling, confirming the specific speed alleged is a central part of the initial case review.

The attorneys also determine whether a citation falls under the base fine schedule or one of the steeper schedules that apply to commercial vehicles, radar-detector-related violations, work zones, or school zones during school hours, since those categories carry higher fines and the same up to 30 days of jail exposure as the base schedule’s higher tier. Where a client has a prior speeding violation within the preceding 18 months, the attorneys account for the added fine exposure that a second or subsequent violation can carry within that period.

Mr. Sris brings a background as a former prosecutor to the review of how the speed was measured and documented. The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys support this work and bring additional courtroom experience to Manhattan speeding matters. The firm maintains a phone intake line staffed 24/7 so a driver can reach the firm soon after receiving a citation. The firm does not offer free consultations, and it evaluates each ticket’s specific facts before advising a client on next steps.

About the Attorneys

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., founded the firm in 1997 and has been practicing since that year. He served as a prosecutor earlier in his career, and he applies that background when reviewing how a Manhattan speeding citation was measured and documented. Mr. Sris is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He studied accounting and information systems at George Mason University, and he has applied that background to complex financial and technology-related cases, including matters involving radar, lidar, or other speed-measurement records that can arise in a speeding case.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys support Mr. Sris on Manhattan traffic matters, including speeding tickets charged under §1180. These attorneys contract directly with the firm and bring courtroom experience to cases involving the base fine schedule as well as the steeper schedules that apply to commercial, school-zone, and repeat violations. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys review citations together and coordinate on strategy for each client’s specific circumstances. The firm’s principal office is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and the firm serves Manhattan-area clients by appointment. Drivers who want to discuss a pending speeding ticket can request a consultation by calling (888) 437-7747.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fine for a first speeding ticket in Manhattan?

Under N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law §1180(h), a base speeding violation of 10 miles per hour or less over the limit carries a fine between $45 and $150. A violation of more than 10 and up to 30 miles per hour over the limit carries a fine between $90 and $300, along with up to 15 days in jail. A violation of more than 30 miles per hour over the limit carries a fine between $180 and $600, along with up to 30 days in jail. The exact amount within each range depends on the circumstances of the case.

Are school-zone speeding tickets more expensive in Manhattan?

Yes. School-zone speeding during school hours carries the steepest fine schedule under §1180(h), with fines reaching up to $360 to $1,200 and up to 30 days in jail. This schedule is higher than the base speeding schedule and the schedule that applies to most commercial-vehicle or work-zone violations. Because school-zone timing affects which schedule applies, confirming whether the citation was issued during school hours is an important part of reviewing a school-zone speeding ticket.

Does a second speeding ticket cost more than the first?

Yes. A second speeding violation within 18 months adds up to $150 to the maximum fine that would otherwise apply. A third or later violation within that same 18-month period adds up to $375 to the maximum fine. These increases apply on top of the base or steeper fine schedule that already applies to the violation, so a repeat violation within 18 months can carry meaningfully higher exposure than a first offense.

Do commercial vehicles face different speeding penalties in Manhattan?

Yes. Commercial-vehicle violations, along with radar-detector-related violations and work-zone violations, can carry fines up to $360 to $600, or a flat $600 for a hazardous-materials vehicle or a vehicle with an out-of-service defect, along with up to 30 days in jail. These schedules are steeper than the base schedule that applies to most passenger-vehicle speeding tickets. A driver cited under one of these categories should confirm which specific schedule the citation falls under.

Will a speeding ticket add points to my license?

A speeding conviction can add driver-license points under New York’s point system, which is set by state regulation rather than by §1180 itself. This page does not state a specific point value, since point values are addressed separately under the regulatory point system rather than in the Vehicle and Traffic Law’s speeding provisions. More detail on how accumulated points can affect a license is available on this site’s points suspension page.

How can I discuss a Manhattan speeding ticket with the firm?

Drivers can call (888) 437-7747 to request a consultation with Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys regarding a pending Manhattan speeding ticket. The firm’s phone intake line is staffed 24/7, so a driver can reach the firm outside standard business hours after receiving a citation. The firm does not offer free consultations, and consultations are scheduled by appointment.

This page provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Manhattan County cases are handled by our New York speeding ticket practice, where the whole process is set out.