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Chenango County Traffic Diversion Program

The Chenango County District Attorney has implemented a program designed to assist motorists with certain non-serious Vehicle & Traffic offenses by allowing them to participate in a traffic safety course approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, in lieu of a conviction of the traffic offense. Upon successful completion of this traffic safety course, the motorist's traffic ticket(s) will be dismissed. There will be no fine or surcharge and there will be no record of conviction on the motorist's driving record.


Description of the Program

Upon acceptance into the Traffic Diversion Program a motorist will be given 30 days to complete a 6 hour traffic safety course approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. This course may be completed in a traditional classroom setting or online. After the motorist sucessfully completes the course, he or she must forward a "Certificate of Completion" to the District Attorney's Office within the 30 days from the acceptance into the program. There will be a non-refundable application fee for admittance into the Traffic Diversion Program, the fee schedule is outlined below.


Eligibility Requirements

  • The motorist must not have previously completed a Traffic Diversion Program within the State of New York in the preceding 18 months.
  • The motorist must not have been convicted of three or more moving violations within the last 18 months.
  • The motorist must not have had a suspended or revoked license for either 3 speed misdemeanor or persistent violator in the preceding 36 months.
  • The motorist must not have been involved in a motor vehicle accident which resulted in physical injury or death if he/she seeks to have the ticket(s) dismissed through the Traffic Diversion Program.
  • The motorist must not have had his/her license suspended for "failure to answer summons" if he/she seeks to have the ticket(s) dismissed through the Traffic Diversion Program.
  • The motorist has no more than 4 tickets from a single incident if he/she seeks to have the ticket(s) dismissed through the Traffic Diversion Program.
  • The motorist was not disrespectful to officer(s) during the traffic stop.

Eligible Offenses


Ineligible Offenses

  • Any misdemeanor offense.
  • VTL sections 600(1)(a) and 600(2(a) - Leaving the scene of a property damage or personal injury accident.
  • VTL section 1174 - Passing a stopped school bus.
  • VTL section 1225(d) - Texting while driving.
  • VTL section 1212 - Reckless driving
  • VTL section 1192 - Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Application Fee Schedule

The standard ticket application fee is $200, which is non-refundable.

Exceptions:
    Using a cellphone without a hands-free device (VTL 1225-c2a)
    $300
    Speeding (VTL 1180-b and 1180-d) 21 miles per hour and above posted speed limit
    $300
    Speeding in a school or construction zone (1180-c and 1180-f)
    16 miles per hour and above the posted speed limit
    $300
    Operating without insurance (319-1)
    $300

Based on the fee schedule above, if you have more than one ticket and one is in the elevated fee schedule (exceptions list), that is the fee due.

Any motorist who submits false information with their application will be denied or terminated from the Traffic Diversion Program and will not have their application fee refunded.


Instructions for Applying

Before applying to the Chenango County Traffic Diversion Program, make sure you mail in a plea of "not guilty" to the court in which your charges are pending. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of your license by the court.

  • Fill out the Traffic Diversion Program application completely and attach all required documents.
  • Include the following documents with your application:
    • A copy of your traffic ticket(s)
    • A copy of your abstract of driving record for the state in which you are licensed. This can be obtained through the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles for New York drivers
    • Two self-addressed, stamped, #10 business size envelopes
    • A certified check or money order in the amount described above, made payable to: Chenango County Treasurer and reference "Traffic Diversion Program" in the memo.
  • Mail all of the above to:

    Chenango County District Attorney's Office
    ATTN: Traffic Diversion Program
    26 Conkey Avenue, Box 126
    Norwich, New York   13815

Please Note: Failure to completely fill out the application or omitting any of the required documents may be grounds for the denial of your application. If you submit false or misleading information on your application, you will be terminated from the Traffic Diversion Program and your application fee will not be refunded. The application is made under penalty of perjury.

The Chenango County District Attorney has complete discretion to approve or deny any application


After You Have Been Accepted:

If you are accepted into the Traffic Diversion Program, you will be notified by mail. You will have 30 days from the date on the notice to complete the traffic safety course approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP). Please note, the fee for the traffic safety course is not included in the application fee to enter the Traffic Diversion Program.


Testimonials

Testimonials of people who have completed the program can be found here.