Traffic Enforcement & Prosecution

Both U.S. 9 and NY Route 52 run through the Village of Fishkill.  Enforcement in town is handled primarily by local police. The local officers maintain a stronger presence during high traffic times, particularly due to the number of pedestrians. The Village speed limit is 30 mph, and most speeding tickets are written for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit. Traffic law enforcement along all of the other roads in the Village of Fishkill is split between NYS Police and the Dutchess County Sheriff's office.

Traffic Court

Both town justices have "traffic calendars," which are devoted to adjudicating traffic tickets. The NYS Police are prohibited from negotiating plea bargains on traffic violations.  As a result, a special town prosecutor has been appointed to deal with tickets written by the NYS police.  95% of state police tickets are adjudicated through plea bargains with the special prosecutor.  The Town Prosecutor and both judges are reasonable about plea bargains as long as the speed through town was not too high.

Local police officers generally prosecute their own tickets, though the special prosecutor may substitute for them.  Again, most tickets are resolved through plea bargains.

The line of people waiting to talk to the special prosecutor about a plea bargain is not particularly long.  Less than a 1 hour wait is typical.  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.