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
-
Speeding offenses wherein the motorist is charged with going
1-20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, unless the
ticket was for speeding in a construction zone (VTL 1180f) or
speeding in a school zone (VTL 1180c). In these cases the ticket
must be for driving 1-15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
Standard ticket application fee applies.
-
Speeding offenses wherein the motorist is charged with going 21
miles per hour or higher over the posted speed limit, unless the
ticket was for speeding in a construction zone (VTL 1180f) or
speeding in a school zone (VTL 1180c). In these cases the ticket
must be for driving 16 miles per hour or higher over the posted
speed limit. The application fee is increased
for these offenses.
-
All equipment violations are eligible except misdemeanors
and overweight truck violations. Standard ticket application fee applies.
-
All moving violations are eligible, except failure to stop for
a stopped school bus (VTL 1174).
Standard ticket application fee applies.
-
All seat belt violations are eligible. Standard ticket application fee applies.
Ineligible Offenses
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Any misdemeanor offense.
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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.
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.