Traffic Enforcement

The major thoroughfares through the City of Beacon are N.Y. 9D and Interstate 84.  Enforcement in town is handled primarily by the Beacon City Police, though the NYS Police are also active in the late night hours, particularly on weekends. The MTA Police also patrol part of town as there is a Metro-North Railroad Station located in the city.  Most speeding tickets are written for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit, though the police are stricter in the 30 mph zones. Stationary radar and laser speed detection are widely used on I-84, where enforcement is much more intense due to the high volume of drivers crossing the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Traffic enforcement along all of the other roads in the city is shared by the City Police, NYS Police, and Dutchess County Sheriff's Office.

Traffic Court

Both justices have "traffic calendars," which are devoted to adjudicating traffic tickets. The NYS Police are prohibited from negotiating plea bargains on traffic violations.  Unfortunately, no special town prosecutor has been appointed to deal with tickets written by the NYS police.  As such, Trooper tickets will have to go to trial unless another disposition can be reached with the court.

Local police officers generally prosecute their own tickets. Most tickets are resolved through plea bargains.

Most tickets are resolved through plea bargains. Traffic court sessions can easily last 1-2 hours or more. Attorneys are permitted to appear without their clients being present for traffic court.

For more information about speeding and other traffic offenses, click here

To read some Frequently Asked Traffic Law questions, click here.

For information about having the Law Office of Glenn Magnell defend your speeding ticket or DWI charge, click here.