Traffic Tickets | Cayuga County DA

Traffic Diversion Program

This program allows individuals charged with a violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to apply for the Cayuga County Traffic Diversion Program. If your application is approved, you will pay for and complete the course, then you will be sent a dismissal of your charge. It will also be sent to the Court.

It is your responsibility to contact the court prior to applying for a diversion. We recommend that you mail in a not guilty plea to the Court and request a 30-day adjournment of your court date in order to complete diversion program. The District Attorney's Office cannot grant adjournments.

Please review the complete details about the diversion program, your rights and options at www.cayugacountyda.com/traffic-tickets

If your application is not approved, you will be redirected to our Traffic Reduction Program.

Not everyone will be eligible to apply for the Traffic Diversion Program. You cannot apply if:

You have a Commercial Driver’s License
You have been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, Vehicular Homicide or Vehicular Assault in the last 10 years
You have been charged with DWI or DWAI (VTL § 1192)
You have been charged with any felony or misdemeanor in connection with your traffic tickets
You have been charged with an Ignition Interlock Violation (VTL §1198)
You have been charged with Reckless Driving (VTL § 1212)
You have been charged with Leaving the Scene (VTL § 600-1a, 600-2a, 601)
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (any charge under VTL § 511)
You are charged with a violation of transportation law.
You have been charged with Failure to Exercise Due Cause for Emergency Vehicle (VTL § 1144)
You have been charged with Passing a School Bus (VTL § 1174)

Traffic Tickets issued for the Town of Locke are NOT eligible for the Diversion Program.

If you have any of the above charges, your application will automatically be denied.

If your application is denied, please do not reapply for the same ticket.

Instructions for Applying:

Before registering for the Traffic Diversion Program, make sure to mail in a plea of “Not Guilty” to the Court where your charges are pending. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of your license by the Court.

Next, review all the information about the Traffic Diversion Program at www.cayugacountyda.com/traffic-tickets. If you submit false or misleading information in your registration, your application with be denied.

Complete this registration page. You must provide the information for all fields marked with a red asterisk (*). A driver’s license number is required to apply.

If there is an accident associated with your ticket, you MUST upload proof from your insurance company that there are no outstanding claims or liabilities from the accident. If you do not provide proof, your application will be automatically denied.

You must upload a copy of the tickets. If you do not have a copy of your tickets, you must request a copy from the Court prior to applying. You must upload all the tickets you received during the stop. You MAY NOT upload tickets from multiple stops.

If you have a driver’s license from another state, you must upload a 3-year driving abstract from the state where you are licensed.

If you are represented by an attorney, please enter your attorney’s email in the Attorney Email field.

The Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office reserves the right in their sole discretion to approve, deny, or grant an exception to the eligibility requirements of the Traffic Diversion Program or deny any application for participation in the Traffic Diversion Program. **

** To maintain the independence of the judiciary, please understand that the Court has the ultimate authority to approve or reject the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office motion for diversion and dismissal. **

** If your application for Traffic Diversion is rejected by the District Attorney’s Office and/or the Court, any administrative fee paid by you will be refunded. However, if you fail to complete any of the conditions of your enrollment in the Traffic Diversion Program – such as the completion of a Defensive Driving Course – your administrative fee will not be refunded and your participation in Traffic Diversion will be terminated. **

Traffic Diversion Program

Traffic Reduction Program

This program allows individuals charged with a violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to apply for the Cayuga County Traffic Reduction Program. Once your application is received, you will pay for and complete the course, then you will be sent a Traffic Disposition Form, which will offer a reduction of your charge. It will also be sent to the Court. You will be required to review and sign that form, then you will need to mail the form to the Court to accept the reduction offer.

It is your responsibility to contact the court prior to applying for a reduction. We recommend that you mail in a not guilty plea to the Court and request a 30-day adjournment of your court date in order to complete either the reduction program. The District Attorney's Office cannot grant adjournments.

Please review the complete details about the reduction program, your rights and options at www.cayugacountyda.com/traffic-tickets

Not everyone will be eligible to apply for the Traffic ReductionProgram. You cannot apply if:

You have been convicted of Vehicular Homicide or Vehicular Assault in the last 10 years
You have been charged with DWI or DWAI (VTL § 1192) as part of your current tickets
You have been charged with any felony or misdemeanor in connection with your traffic tickets
You have been charged with an Ignition Interlock Violation (VTL §1198)
You have been charged with Reckless Driving (VTL § 1212)
You have been charged with Leaving the Scene (VTL § 600-1a, 600-2a, 601)
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (any charge under VTL § 511)
You have been charged with Passing a School Bus (VTL § 1174)
You are charged with a violation of transportation law.

If you have any of the above charges, your application will automatically be denied.

If you have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and are charged with one of the following:

1. Speed of 15 mph or more over the speed limit ( VTL 1180)

2. Reckless Driving (VTL 1212)

3. Following Too Closely (VTL 1129a)

4. Moved from Lane Unsafely (VTL 1128a)

You are not eligible for the Reduction Program.

Instructions for Applying:

Before registering for the Traffic Reduction Program, make sure to mail in a plea of “Not Guilty” to the Court where your charges are pending. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of your license by the Court.

If you submit false or misleading information in your registration, your application with be denied.

Complete this registration page. You must provide the information for all fields marked with a red asterisk (*). A driver’s license number is required to apply.

If there is an accident associated with your tickets, you MUST upload proof from your insurance company that there are no outstanding claims or liabilities as a result of the accident. You will not receive a disposition until that proof is provided.

If you have a driver’s license from another state, you must upload a 3-year driving abstract from the state where you are licensed.

If you are represented by an attorney, please enter your attorney’s email in the Attorney Email field.

** The Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office reserves the right in their sole discretion to approve, deny, or grant an exception to the eligibility requirements of the Traffic Reduction Program or deny any application for participation in the Traffic Reduction Program. **

** If your application for Traffic Reduction is rejected by the District Attorney’s Office and/or the Court, any administrative fee paid by you will be refunded. However, if you fail to complete any of the conditions of your enrollment in the Traffic Reduction Program – such as the completion of a Traffic Safety Course – your administrative fee will not be refunded and your participation in Traffic Reduction will be terminated. **

Traffic Reduction Program

Spanish Reduction Course

For individuals charged with traffic infraction(s) pending in City/Town/Village Courts in Cayuga County:

A traffic ticket, alleging that you have committed an offense in violation of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law(s), has been filed with the court. You are presumed innocent until proven guilty. You have the right to a trial in this matter. You have the right to retain an attorney to represent you now, or at any stage in these proceedings. However, unless charged with a misdemeanor, you are not entitled to an assigned attorney.

You have several options to address your ticket(s). You may choose to proceed in one of the following legally authorized manners. Please be advised that this Office cannot provide legal advice as to how to proceed, or which of these options you should choose. Please review our Traffic Policy prior to contacting our office.

It is your responsibility to contact the court prior to applying for a reduction/dismissal. We recommend that you request a 30-day adjournment of your court date in order to complete either the reduction or diversion traffic safety program. The District Attorney's Office cannot grant adjournments.

OPTIONS:

Enter a Plea of Not Guilty:

By pleading “Not Guilty” on your ticket, you choose to exercise your right to a trial in court (or negotiate with the District Attorney’s Office [see option #3]). Should you choose to exercise your right to a trial, the People of the State of New York, represented by the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office, must prove that you have committed the charged traffic offense(s) beyond a reasonable doubt. At trial, you will have the right to hear, see, and challenge any evidence submitted to prove your guilt. This includes confronting and cross-examining witnesses (police or peace officers, or any other witness who may testify against you). You also have the right to call witnesses on your behalf to testify. You may, but are not required to, testify on your own behalf as well. After hearing all the evidence submitted at the trial, the Court determines whether the People have proven your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and renders a verdict.

You are not entitled to a jury trial; rather the Judge will determine guilt. If convicted, the Court will impose a fine and surcharge. If applicable, points on your license may also be assessed in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. If found not guilty, the charges will be dismissed.

2.Enter a Plea of Guilty:

By pleading "Guilty," you waive your right to a trial. A plea of “Guilty” will permit the Court to impose any legally authorized fine and surcharge. You may also be assessed points on your license in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law. You may withdraw, with the court’s permission, your plea of guilty at any time prior to sentencing and exercise your right to a trial.

3. Negotiate/Alternative Disposition or Plea Reduction:

To receive a dismissal or reduction of your traffic ticket(s), you have two options. The District Attorney’s Office offer a Traffic Diversion Program and Traffic Reduction Program. You must apply and be approved for the Traffic Diversion Program, which will result in a dismissal of your ticket(s). Anyone, with some exceptions, may apply for the Traffic Reduction Program, which will result in a reduction of your ticket, but will still result in a traffic conviction, a fine and surcharge.

Traffic Diversion Program

All individuals charged with a violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law seeking a dismissal can resolve their traffic violation by participating in the District Attorney’s Traffic Diversion program, with a few exceptions. Successful completion of the program will result in a recommendation that the charges against you be dismissed resulting in no points on your driver’s license and it will not affect your insurance rates.

The District Attorney’s Office retains the right to reject any applicant who would otherwise be eligible.

In order to be eligible to participate in the Traffic Diversion Program, you must meet the following criteria:

You have NOT been convicted of any DWI or vehicular homicide in the last 10 years;
Complete the traffic safety education course
You MUST provide all requested information
To be eligible for the Traffic Diversion Program or the Traffic Reduction Program, you must upload a copy of ALL requested documents.
If you already sent a copy of your ticket to the Court, you must contact the Court to request a copy. Do not send original tickets to this Office as we are not responsible for original(s).
You have not completed the Traffic Diversion Program within the last 18 months.
Submit your application once. Duplicate applications will NOT be accepted and will only delay the process.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the Traffic Diversion Program, your application will be automatically reviewed for the Traffic Reduction Program.
You cannot apply for the Diversion Program if you were charged with any violation of the transportation law.
If you have a Commercial Driver’s License you are NOT eligible for Diversion.

Only submit supporting documentation if relative to the ticket[s] that you received. For example:

If you received a NO Inspection ticket, provide proof of your inspection. (Receipt from Inspection Station).
If you received a NO Insurance Ticket but had insurance at the time, provide proof of such. (A letter from your Insurance Agent stating you had full coverage on the date of the accident. Insurance cards will not be accepted.)
If you received a NO Registration ticket, provide proof from the DMV of your registration.
If your ticket was the result of an accident, provide a copy of the accident report or accident information exchange and provide a signed letter from your Insurance Agent stating that all claims (must include all involved parties) from the accident have been satisfied.

It is your responsibility to contact the court to let them know that you are applying for a reduction and request a 30-day adjournment of your court date. This Office cannot grant adjournments.

TRAFFIC DIVERSION PROGRAM: If approved, the benefit to the defendant would be a dismissal upon program completion. The cost to participate is $295.00.

The following charges are Not Eligible for the diversion program:

The Any felony or misdemeanor
DWIs and DWAIs (any charge under VTL 1192)
Ignition interlock tickets (any charge under VTL 1198)
Reckless Driving (VTL 1212)
Leaving the Scene (VTL 600-1a. 600-2a, 601)
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (any charge under VTL 511)
Any transportation law violations

*these charges must be handled in Court

If you qualify for the Traffic Diversion Program, you will be instructed to take the Defensive Driving Course. Once it is completed, a dismissal letter will be sent directly to you and the Court.

If your application is not accepted for the Traffic Diversion Program, it will be reviewed for a Traffic Reduction.

Traffic Reduction Program

All individuals charged with a violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law seeking a reduction can resolve their traffic violation by participating in the District Attorney’s Traffic Reduction program, with a few exceptions. Successful completion of the program will result in the charges against you being reduced, resulting in less points, or no points on your driver’s license.

To receive a reduction, you must provide all requested information when applying. You must complete the Traffic Safety Course. You will then be sent a proposed reduction disposition. If the plea reduction is acceptable, you must sign the form and return it to the Court, by mail or email. Please do not email anything to the District Attorney’s Office.

The benefit to the defendant would be a reduction upon program completion. The cost to participate is $50.00.

The following charges are Not Eligible for the reduction program:

The Any felony or misdemeanor
DWIs and DWAIs (any charge under VTL 1192)
Ignition interlock tickets (any charge under VTL 1198)
Reckless Driving (VTL 1212)
Leaving the Scene (VTL 600-1a. 600-2a, 601)
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (any charge under VTL 511)
Any transportation law violations

*these charges must be handled in Court

If you have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and are charged with one of the following:

1. Speed of 15 mph or more over the speed limit ( VTL 1180)

2. Reckless Driving (VTL 1212)

3. Following Too Closely (VTL 1129a)

4. Moved from Lane Unsafely (VTL 1128a)

You are not eligible for the Reduction Program.

The plea reduction will be sent to the email address you entered when taking the course. Please allow at least two weeks for processing of your reduction request. After we have reviewed your request, a copy of the recommendation will also be emailed directly to the court. Any proposed agreement is subject to approval by the Court.

If the plea offer is acceptable, you must sign the back of the plea reduction form, acknowledging that the offer is acceptable, and email or mail it directly to the court. Once received, the Court will impose a legally authorized fine and surcharge. Fines can range from $0-$450. If applicable, you may also be assessed points in accordance with the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Traffic Policy

How long does it take to complete the Reduction Course?

Approximately 30 minutes

How long does it take to complete the Diversion Course?

Approximately 60 minutes

How much does the course cost?

Traffic Diversion: $295

Traffic Reduction: $50

How do I disclose I have an attorney?

Put the Attorney’s email address in the attorney email address section and be sure to put your own personal email in the student email address section as well.

Can I list more than one charge in the Diversion or Reduction Program?

Yes, you will need to list all the tickets that are a result of the initial traffic stop. You cannot list tickets from a different traffic stop.

How long before I will receive a Dismissal or Reduction on the charge(s)?

You should receive an email from Advent within 14 business days of passing the course. If you do not receive anything from Advent you can email Investigator Dan Emmi at demmi@cayugacounty.us or call 315-294-8013. Please check your spam folder before contacting the office.

Do I have to go to court after taking the Diversion Program?

No. You will be sent a dismissal letter by email. It will also be sent directly to the Court.

Do I have to go to court after taking the Reduction Program?

No. You will need to send in your signed reduction recommendation form to the court prior to the court date or you will need to speak to the court directly if you need more time. The District Attorney’s recommendation form will be emailed to you from Advent, under the title “Advent Plea Reduction”. If the plea recommendation is acceptable to you, sign the plea reduction recommendation form and return it to the Court listed on the ticket. The court will notify you if there is a fine associated with the plea reduction. Once the fine is paid to the court, the traffic matter will be resolved.

The District Attorney’s Office cannot grant adjournment requests; you must contact the Court directly.

Do not mail the recommendation to the District Attorney's Office.

Will the Programs cover multiple tickets?

Yes, but only if the other tickets were issued at during the same traffic stop. If you receive additional tickets from a separate traffic stop, then you will need to take the Reduction a second time for those tickets. You are only eligible for the Diversion Program every 18 months.

Do not mail the recommendation to the District Attorney's Office. It must be mailed to the Court.

Este programa permite que las personas acusadas de una violación a la Ley de Vehículos y Tránsito soliciten el Programa de Reducción de Tráfico del Condado de Cayuga. Una vez que recibamos su solicitud, pagará y completará el curso, luego se le enviará un Formulario de Disposición de Tráfico, que ofrecerá una reducción de su cargo. También se enviará al Tribunal. Se le pedirá que revise y firme ese formulario, luego deberá enviarlo por correo al Tribunal para aceptar la oferta de reducción.

No todos son elegibles para solicitar el Programa de Reducción de Tráfico. No puede solicitarlo si:

1.Ha sido condenado por homicidio vehicular o agresión vehicular en los últimos 10 años.

2.Ha sido acusado de conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol o drogas (DWAI) (VTL § 1192).

3. Ha sido acusado de cualquier delito grave o menor relacionado con sus multas de tráfico.

4. Ha sido acusado de una infracción del bloqueo de encendido (VTL § 1198).

5. Ha sido acusado de conducción temeraria (VTL § 1212).

6. Ha sido acusado de abandonar el lugar del accidente (VTL § 600-1a, 600-2a, 601).

7. Conducción sin licencia agravada (cualquier cargo bajo VTL § 511).

8. Ha sido acusado de una infracción de la ley de transporte.

Si tiene alguno de los cargos anteriores, su solicitud será denegada automáticamente.

Si tiene una Licencia de Conducir Comercial (CDL) y se le imputa alguno de los siguientes cargos:

1. Conducir a 24 km/h o más por encima del límite de velocidad (VTL 1180)

2. Conducción Temeraria (VTL 1212)

3. Seguir demasiado cerca (VTL 1129a)

4. Cambiar de carril de forma insegura (VTL 1128a)

No cumple los requisitos para el Programa de Reducción.

Instrucciones para la solicitud:

Antes de registrarse en el Programa de Reducción de Tráfico, asegúrese de enviar por correo una declaración de "No culpable" al tribunal donde se encuentran sus cargos pendientes. De no hacerlo, el tribunal podría suspender su licencia.

Si presenta información falsa o engañosa en su registro, su solicitud será denegada.

Complete esta página de registro. Debe proporcionar la información de todos los campos marcados con un asterisco rojo (*).

Si hay un accidente relacionado con sus multas, DEBE subir un comprobante de su compañía de seguros que acredite que no tiene reclamaciones ni responsabilidades pendientes como resultado del accidente. No recibirá una resolución hasta que se presente dicho comprobante.

Debe subir una copia de las multas. Si no tiene una copia de sus multas, debe solicitar una al Tribunal antes de presentar la solicitud. Debe subir todas las multas que recibió durante la parada. NO PUEDE subir multas de varias paradas.

Si tiene una licencia de conducir de otro estado, debe subir un resumen de conducción de 3 años del estado donde tiene la licencia.

Si le representa un abogado, introduzca su correo electrónico en el campo correspondiente.

Curso de Reduccion