Q: I Failed to stop at stop sign. Ticket has a court date on it, cop says it’s not mandatory, just wanted to be sure.

A: If you send in your ticket with a guilty plea you do not need to go to court.

A: Thank you for your question. In most cases, the date on a traffic ticket in New York (assuming you are not charged with a misdemeanor under the Vehicle and Traffic Law) is the date by which you have to answer the ticket (enter a plea) and a personal court appearance is usually not necessary at that time. Of course, and when in doubt, it is a good idea to call the court and confirm that no appearance is necessary.

On a side note, and before you plead guilty, please consider that in the State of New York, if you accumulate 6 or more points within an eighteen-month period, in addition to any fines and surcharges set by the court, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will impose a Driver Responsibility Assessment (“DRA”) of $100.00 a year, for 3 years, for the first 6 points and $25.00 per year, for 3 years, for each additional point over the initial 6.

Finally, and if you are going to plead guilty to avoid having to go to court, please consider speaking with an attorney, as they can appear in court for you on a traffic matter without the need for you to show up in court.

A: A stop sign ticket has three points. You should not merely plead guilty because once you do, the points will be assessed automatically. As far as appearing in court, it is mandatory. The officer told you something that is completely untrue. If you fail to appear, they may issue an impending suspension notice. Make sure you appear or if the court allows, you may hire an attorney to appear for you. Good luck!