New York City Traffic Ticket Records

New York City traffic ticket records are managed by the DMV Traffic Violations Bureau for all non-criminal moving violations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. With millions of drivers passing through each day, the city sees a huge volume of tickets for speeding, red lights, cell phone use, and lane changes. The TVB system lets you look up your case, enter a plea, and pay fines without ever setting foot in a courthouse. If your ticket involves a criminal charge like DWI, that goes through the local criminal court in your borough instead.

Which Courts Handle New York City Traffic Ticket Records

New York City spans five boroughs, each one its own county. The boroughs are New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), Bronx County, Queens County, and Richmond County (Staten Island). For non-criminal moving violations, all five boroughs use the same system. The DMV Traffic Violations Bureau handles these cases instead of the local courts. This setup frees criminal courts to focus on more serious charges.

The TVB does not deal with every type of ticket. Parking violations go through the NYC Department of Finance. Red light camera tickets and school zone speed camera tickets are also handled separately since those are civil penalties tied to the vehicle owner, not the driver. Criminal offenses like DWI, driving on a suspended license, and reckless driving still go through the criminal court in each borough. If you are not sure which court has your case, check the ticket itself. It will say where to respond.

New York City TVB Office Locations

There are eight TVB offices spread across the five boroughs. Each office is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and Thursday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. You can only get in with a scheduled hearing or an online reservation. Walk-ins are not accepted.

The Bronx office is at 696 East Fordham Road. Brooklyn has two locations: Brooklyn North at 625 Atlantic Avenue (2nd Floor) and Brooklyn South at 2875 West 8th Street. Manhattan North sits at 5 West 125th Street, while Manhattan South is at 17 Battery Place on the 10th Floor. Queens North is at 30-56 Whitestone Expressway in Flushing. Queens South is at 168-35 Rockaway Boulevard (2nd Floor) in Jamaica. The Staten Island office is at 1775 South Avenue, Suite 2. You go to the office in the borough where your ticket was issued, though you can plead guilty or schedule a hearing from any borough online.

How to Respond to New York City Traffic Ticket Records

You have two main choices. Plead guilty and pay the fine, or plead not guilty and get a hearing. Either way, you must respond within 15 days of the violation date. If you do not, the DMV will suspend your license. That suspension stays in place until you answer the ticket and pay any extra fees. Driving on a suspended license is a crime in New York, so ignoring a ticket can make things much worse.

To plead guilty, you can use the online TVB system. You need your full name, ZIP code, ticket number, violation date, and date of birth. You can also mail the ticket with payment to the Traffic Violations Plea Unit at P.O. Box 2950-ESP, Albany, NY 12220-0950. Make checks payable to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Keep in mind that once you plead guilty, you cannot change your plea. The conviction goes on your record and points get added.

To plead not guilty, you schedule a hearing. You do not have to go in person. You can fill out a Statement in Place of Personal Appearance and the judge will hold the hearing without you. The decision comes by email. If you want to attend, you can show up at the TVB office or join virtually. You can only reschedule once, and the new date must fall within 20 months of when the ticket was issued. Call 718-488-5710 to reschedule by phone at least 24 hours before your hearing.

What Happens at a New York City TVB Hearing

A DMV Administrative Law Judge hears your case. These judges are trained lawyers who know Vehicle and Traffic Law well. You are considered innocent until proven guilty by "clear and convincing evidence." The officer who wrote your ticket will testify first and explain why you got the citation. Then you or your lawyer can ask the officer questions. You may also testify, bring witnesses, or present evidence. The judge might ask follow-up questions too. You do not have to testify, and the judge cannot find you guilty just because you stayed silent.

If the judge finds you guilty, fines and points apply. If you think the decision was wrong, you can file an appeal using form AA-33. Appeals require a fee. You can check your eligibility to appeal online or get the form at any TVB office.

New York City Traffic Ticket Records and Points

Every traffic conviction in New York City adds points to your driving record under the DMV point system. Speeding 1 to 10 mph over the limit puts 3 points on your record. Going 11 to 20 over is 4 points. A cell phone ticket or texting violation is 5 points. Running a red light adds 3 points. If you hit 11 points within 18 months, your license can be suspended.

Fines vary by violation. Under VTL Section 1800, a first traffic infraction can bring a fine up to $150. A second offense within 18 months jumps to $300. Third and later offenses can reach $450. Speeding fines under VTL Section 1180 run from $45 for going 1 to 10 mph over the limit up to $600 for exceeding the limit by more than 30 mph. Mandatory surcharges get added on top. A Driver Responsibility Assessment fee of $300 kicks in at 6 or more points in 18 months, plus $25 per year for each point beyond six.

Do NYC Camera Tickets Show on Your Record

New York City runs both red light cameras and school zone speed cameras. These tickets go to the vehicle owner, not the driver. No points are added to anyone's license. Red light camera tickets are handled by the NYC Department of Finance. Speed cameras under VTL Section 1180-B issue tickets when you go more than 10 mph over the posted limit in a school zone. Photos from these systems do not show the driver's face.

Bus lane camera violations work differently from traffic tickets. As of August 2024, bus lane fines start at $50 for a first offense and climb to $250 for each additional one within 12 months. These are civil penalties. They show up in your traffic ticket records as part of your history with the city, but they do not add points or affect your license status with the DMV.

New York City Parking and Other Violations

Parking tickets in New York City are not handled by the TVB. The NYC Parking Violations Bureau manages those. You can reach them at 212-639-9675 or call 311. If you are outside the city, dial 212-NEW-YORK. The NYC Department of Finance website has tools to look up, pay, and dispute parking tickets. These do not add points to your license, but unpaid parking tickets can lead to booting, towing, and registration holds.

For your driving abstract, you can order a copy through MyDMV for $7 online or $10 at a DMV office. The abstract shows all convictions, points, and suspensions tied to your license. It is a certified DMV record with the Commissioner's signature.

Nearby Cities With Traffic Ticket Records

Several large cities and towns near New York City also handle significant traffic case volumes. Each one has its own court system or agency for processing tickets.