Traffic Enforcement & Prosecution

The main thoroughfare in the Town of Shawangunk is NY 208. The town is otherwise made up of rural highways without much traffic. Enforcement is handled primarily by the local police, though responsibilities are shared by the NYS Police from “Troop F” and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office. There are no major highways to patrol, so enforcement is strictest in the most heavily populated areas. Speeding tickets are usually written for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit, except in lower speed zones. In addition, the police regularly look for miscellaneous vehicle and traffic violations to initiate traffic stops.

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.  Unfortunately, no special town prosecutor has been appointed to deal with tickets written by the NYS police.  As such, Trooper tickets will likely have to go to trial, since they are unable to negotiate.

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

The wait to speak to speak to the officers is typically not very long. Less than a 1 hour wait is usual. 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.

Criminal Law Enforcement & Prosecution

All criminal prosecutions are handled by the Ulster County District Attorney's Office. The Ulster DA's office has taken a fairly hard line on DWI prosecutions. In 2010 there were almost 2,000 alcohol related driving arrests impaired or intoxicated driving (DWI, DWAI, DWAI-D) in Ulster County.  Both the NYS Police and the Ulster County Sheriff's Department made numerous arrests. Most arrests occurred after dark with many taking place after midnight.  Police officers assume that many drivers who are out after midnight have consumed alcohol and or drugs.  As a result they are looking for any lawful reason to pull drivers over in order to investigate possible DWI incidents.  Alcohol checkpoints were established several times by state and local police.

In addition to DWI and DWAI, numerous arrests were made for Driving While Impaired by Drugs, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation and Driving With a Suspended Registration.  All of these offenses are "criminal" violations of the law and, as a result are prosecuted by the Ulster County District Attorney's office.  The DA’s has a general rule that breath tests of .12% or more will not be reduced through plea bargains.  However, this is not a hard and fast policy.

Neither judge in Shawangunk Town Court is an attorney.

For more information about DWI, click here.

To read some Frequently Asked Questions about DWI, click here.

For information about having the Law Office of Glenn Magnell represent you, click here.