White Plains Traffic Violation Lawyer

Dedicated Traffic Ticket Defense for Westchester County Drivers

A traffic ticket can carry consequences that go well beyond a fine. Points on your driving record, higher insurance premiums, and a suspended license are all real possibilities depending on the charge and your driving history. 

At The Law Offices of Michael J. Borrelli, P.L.L.C., Michael J. Borrelli brings more than 30+ years of criminal law experience and tens of thousands of traffic matters handled to every case he takes. From 2007 to 2019, Michael served as the DWI Coordinator for the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, where he trained every ADA and law enforcement officer in the county on New York DWI law and traffic stop procedures. He knows how these cases are built because he spent years building them. 

Whether you’re facing a speeding ticket, a reckless driving charge, or something more serious, the decisions you make after receiving that ticket affect your license, your record, and your insurance rates. When you choose The Law Offices of Michael J. Borrelli, P.L.L.C., the attorney you hire is the attorney who shows up. Michael personally attends 99% of client court appearances, and free, confidential consultations are available 24/7, including weekends. Our office also serves Spanish-speaking clients (hablamos español).

You don't have to deal with a traffic violation on your own. Call The Law Offices of Michael J. Borrelli, P.L.L.C. any time, day or night, at (914) 928-2766 for a free, confidential consultation, weekends included.

Speeding Tickets in White Plains

Speeding is the most common traffic violation in White Plains, but penalties vary significantly depending on how far over the posted limit you were traveling. For violations within 10 mph of the limit, fines can reach $150 and carry up to 15 days in jail. Exceeding the limit by 10 to 30 mph doubles both the fines and potential jail time. Speeds more than 30 mph over the limit can result in fines up to $600. A prior speeding conviction within the past 18 months increases fines in a subsequent case, and three speeding convictions within an 18-month period can lead to license revocation under New York law.

Speeding in a school zone or highway work zone results in doubled fines, even if school wasn’t in session or construction wasn’t actively occurring at the time of the alleged violation. White Plains has a number of active school zones, and I-287 (the Cross Westchester Expressway) passes through the area with speed limits that can drop quickly and work zone designations that apply even when crews aren’t present. The Hutchinson River Parkway, patrolled by New York State Troopers, is a second active enforcement corridor traversing the White Plains area where enhanced penalties regularly apply. Speeding convictions add between 3 and 11 points to your driving record depending on the speed involved.

Reckless Driving Charges in White Plains

Reckless driving isn’t a simple traffic infraction in New York; it’s a misdemeanor. Under New York law, reckless driving means operating a vehicle in a manner that unreasonably interferes with the safe flow of traffic or endangers others on the road. A first offense carries up to 30 days in jail and fines up to $300. A second offense increases potential jail time to 90 days with fines up to $525. A third offense can result in up to 180 days in jail and fines reaching $1,125. Conviction also adds five points to your driving record.

Reckless driving cases in White Plains are prosecuted by Westchester County ADAs at White Plains City Court, the same prosecutorial office where Michael spent his career. That context matters when evaluating how the case is likely to proceed and where the defense opportunities lie. Aggravating factors compound the situation quickly: when reckless driving is alleged alongside impairment, the case can escalate to charges carrying far more serious penalties. A misdemeanor conviction, unlike a traffic infraction, stays on your criminal record and can affect employment, housing, and professional licensing well beyond any fines or points.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

New York law requires every motorist involved in a crash to stop and exchange information. Failure to do so is a criminal offense, not merely a traffic violation. When only property damage is involved, a first-time offender may face a traffic violation and three points on their driving record. Any injury, even a minor one, can elevate the charge to a criminal matter. 

Leaving the scene of a crash with serious injuries can result in Class E felony charges. When the crash is fatal, Class D felony charges can apply, with sentencing exposure that extends well beyond anything a traffic court fine might suggest. Felony-level leaving-the-scene charges escalate out of White Plains City Court entirely and are handled in Westchester County Court. This procedural shift changes the nature of the defense from the outset.

If you’ve been charged with leaving the scene of an accident, the decisions you make in the hours and days that follow matter. Speaking with a White Plains traffic violation attorney before making any statements to law enforcement is critical.

Cell Phone & Texting Violations

Handheld cell phone and texting violations carry five points on your driving record per conviction and fines ranging from $50 to $150 for a first offense, with maximum fines increasing for each subsequent conviction. The financial hit doesn’t stop with the court fine. Insurance premiums typically rise after a points-generating conviction. 

White Plains police and Westchester County law enforcement conduct regular distracted-driving enforcement crackdowns, and Westchester County Parkway Police actively target handheld device use on the Hutchinson River Parkway and Bronx River Parkway traversing the White Plains area. These stops can escalate quickly if the officer observes additional violations or signs of impairment.

Drivers with a junior or probationary license face steeper consequences: a first offense can result in a 120-day suspension, and a second offense within six months of license restoration can lead to a revocation of at least one year. More information on New York’s handheld device laws is available from the NY DMV.

Driving on a Suspended License (AUO) in White Plains

Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, driving with a suspended or revoked license, is a criminal offense, not a traffic infraction. Second- and third-degree AUO are misdemeanors. In the most serious misdemeanor cases, second-degree AUO can result in up to 180 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. First-degree AUO is a felony, with conviction carrying up to four years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

When a license suspension is a condition of a probation case, an AUO charge doesn’t just create new criminal exposure. It can trigger a probation violation proceeding running alongside the new charges. That combination significantly raises the stakes of what might otherwise appear to be a straightforward traffic stop.

Vehicular Manslaughter Charges

Vehicular manslaughter charges arise when the reckless operation of a vehicle while intoxicated results in a death. All vehicular manslaughter charges are felonies under New York law and can apply to motor vehicles and boats. 

• Second-degree vehicular manslaughter is a Class D felony carrying up to seven years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. 
• First-degree vehicular manslaughter, which applies when the defendant’s BAC was 0.18 or higher, when the defendant has a prior DWI conviction, a prior vehicular manslaughter conviction, or a suspended license, is a Class C felony carrying up to 15 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.
• Aggravated vehicular homicide is a Class B felony, applying when the defendant had a BAC of 0.18 or higher, caused the death of more than one person, had a child passenger age 15 or younger in the vehicle, or when other statutory aggravating factors are present. Conviction can result in up to 25 years in prison. 

These cases involve violent crime exposure and require the full resources of an experienced DWI defense. Michael has handled more than 40 felony criminal trials, experience that bears directly on the complexity these charges demand.

New York DMV Driver Violation Point System

Every traffic conviction in New York adds points to your driving record under the Driver Violation Point System (DVPS). Accumulating 11 points within 18 months results in a license suspension. Accumulating six or more points within 18 months triggers a mandatory Driver Responsibility Assessment fee payable directly to the DMV, on top of any fines imposed by the court. 

Insurance premiums typically increase after points are added, compounding the long-term financial impact of a conviction. Points are added only upon conviction, which means a contested ticket that doesn't result in conviction prevents those points from appearing on your record.

Point values for common violations:

• Speeding: 3–11 points based on speed over the limit
• Reckless driving: 5 points
• Texting while driving: 5 points
• Failure to stop for a school bus: 8 points
• Railroad crossing violation: 5 points
• Failure to yield: 3 points
• Child safety restraint violation: 3 points
• Running a red light or stop sign: 3 points
• Leaving the scene (property damage only): 3 points
• Signal failures and most other moving violations: 2 points

The Law Offices of Michael J. Borrelli, P.L.L.C. defends drivers across White Plains, NY, and the surrounding area against charges that would add points to their records, trigger the Driver Responsibility Assessment, or put their licenses at risk.

Why Choose Our Traffic Violation Lawyer in White Plains?

Michael Borrelli’s background isn’t the standard résumé of a defense attorney. From 2007 to 2019, he served as the DWI Coordinator for the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, personally responsible for training every Assistant District Attorney and law enforcement officer in Westchester County on New York DWI law and traffic stop procedures. That role gave him a detailed understanding of how prosecutors and officers approach these cases, what they look for, and where their procedures can fall short.

That institutional knowledge translates directly to traffic defense. Over his career, Michael has handled tens of thousands of traffic matters and more than 40 felony criminal trials. He spent seven years in the Superior Court Trial Division of the Westchester County DA’s Office before building his defense practice.

What that means for your White Plains traffic case:

• Prosecutor’s Perspective: Michael spent years building cases from the prosecution side, so he knows exactly where defense opportunities exist in traffic violations and DWI matters.
• NHTSA SFST Certification: Michael completed both the NHTSA DWI/SFST practitioner course (24 hours) and the NHTSA DWI/ARIDE course (16 hours), the same training law enforcement officers hold. When a traffic stop involved field sobriety testing, he evaluates whether it was administered correctly.
• Personal Court Attendance: Michael personally attends 99% of client court appearances. You won’t be handed off to an associate at White Plains City Court.
• Deep Local Relationships: As a lifelong Westchester County resident, Michael has worked with courts and law enforcement agencies across the county for more than 29 years, building relationships that matter when navigating your defense.
• CLE Speaker on DWI Law: Michael has lectured at continuing legal education programs for both attorneys and law enforcement, including sessions on DWI Pringle Hearings, Hardship Hearings, and examination of DWI witnesses.
• Spanish Language Services: Our office serves Spanish-speaking clients. Hablamos español.

Traffic Violations FAQ

Where Are White Plains Traffic Tickets Handled?

Traffic tickets issued in White Plains are handled in White Plains City Court at 77 South Lexington Avenue. Drivers have a 30-day window to respond to a ticket. Failing to respond can result in a default guilty finding and a suspended license, which then creates the risk of an Aggravated Unlicensed Operation charge if you continue to drive.

Do I Have to Go to Court for a Traffic Ticket in White Plains?

In most cases, an attorney can appear at White Plains City Court on your behalf for traffic infraction matters. That means you may not need to miss work or take time out of your schedule for a court date. Whether attorney-only appearance is available in your specific matter depends on the charge. Contact our office, and we can tell you what applies to your situation.

What Happens If I Just Ignore a Traffic Ticket?

Ignoring a New York traffic ticket typically results in a default conviction, mandatory surcharges, and points added to your driving record. The DMV can suspend your license for failure to respond. Once your license is suspended, driving becomes an Aggravated Unlicensed Operation offense, a criminal charge with consequences far more serious than the original ticket.

Additional Resources & Free Consultation

For more information on New York traffic violations and your rights, the following resources may be helpful:

• NY DMV Traffic Violations Bureau — What You Should Know
• NY Courts — Town and Village Court Information

If you’re facing a traffic charge in White Plains, NY, call our firm. Your consultation is free and available any time. 

You can reach The Law Offices of Michael J. Borrelli, P.L.L.C. at (914) 928-2766, day or night, weekends included, or contact us online to get started.