What's happening
This bill allows New Yorkers to plead guilty and pay traffic fines online, including the use of electronic signatures.
Why it matters
Increases accessibility and convenience. by allowing people to resolve traffic violations online, reducing the need for in-person court appearances, travel, and time off work.
Streamlines court operations. by enabling electronic pleas and payments, which could help reduce administrative burdens and speed up case processing.
Modernizes the legal process. by officially recognizing electronic signatures and internet-based submissions as valid, aligning court practices with contemporary technology standards.
May improve compliance and payment rates. since making it easier to plead and pay could encourage more people to resolve tickets promptly, potentially reducing defaults and related penalties.
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Who cares
Drivers charged with eligible traffic offenses
The bill would allow them to submit guilty-plea applications and pay fines or penalties online, excluding third or subsequent speeding violations within eighteen months.
Local criminal courts
Courts would receive online guilty-plea applications and prescribe the manner and conditions for electronic payment of fines or penalties.
Department of Motor Vehicles
The commissioner-prescribed application form would need to accommodate online submission, including instructions for using an electronic signature.
Headline styles
Pay Fines Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1604
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Pay Traffic Fines Online
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1640
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing a plea of guilty and payment of fines or penalties electronically via the internet
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1805 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 182 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1805. Plea of guilty, how put in. The provisions of section 170.10 of the criminal procedure law and the provisions of section eighteen hundred seven of this article may be waived, to the extent hereinafter indicated, by a defendant charged with a violation of any provision of the tax law or the transportation law regulating traffic, or a traffic infraction, as defined in this chapter, other than a third or subsequent speeding violation committed within a period of eighteen months, provided that he or she shall submit to the local criminal court having jurisdiction, in person, by duly authorized agent, by first class mail or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or electronically via the internet, which method shall include instructions relating to the use of an electronic signature, an application setting forth (a) the nature of the charge, (b) the information or instructions required by section eighteen hundred seven of this article to be given defendant upon arraignment, (c) that defendant waives arraignment in open court and the aid of counsel, (d) that he or she pleads guilty to the offense as charged, (e) that defendant elects and requests that the charge be disposed of and the fine or penalty fixed by the court, pursuant to this section, (f) any statement or explanation that the defendant may desire to make concerning the offense charged and (g) that defendant makes all statements with respect to such application under penalty of perjury. This application shall be in such form as the commissioner
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01992-01-7
S. 1640 2
shall prescribe and a copy thereof shall be handed to the defendant by the officer charging him or her with such offense. Thereupon the local criminal court may proceed as though the defendant had been convicted upon a plea of guilty in open court, provided, however, that any imposition of fine or penalty hereunder shall be deemed tentative until such fine or penalty shall have been paid and discharged in full, prior to which time such court, in its discretion, may annul any proceedings hereunder, including such tentative imposition of fine or penalty, and deny the application, in which event the charge shall be disposed of pursuant to the applicable provisions of law, as though no proceedings had been had under this section. Such fine or penalty may be paid electronically via the internet in a manner and condition prescribed by the court. If upon receipt of the aforesaid application such court shall deny the same, it shall thereupon inform the defendant of this fact, and that he or she is required to appear before the said court at a stated time and place to answer the charge which shall thereafter be disposed of pursuant to the applicable provisions of law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing a plea of guilty and payment of fines or penalties electronically via the internet
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation authorizes a plea of guilty and payment of fines or penalties electronically via the internet. courts to provide for the payment of fines or penalties electronically.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Section 1805 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 182 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
How to put in guilty plea to include: electronically via the internet, which method shall include instructions relating to the use of an electronic signature. Such fine or penalty may be paid electronically via the internet in a manner and condition prescribed by the court.
§ 2. Sets forth effective date.
Justification
This legislation would permit municipal courts to process guilty pleas and accompanying payments via the internet. Currently traffic law violators can plead guilty and pay fines by mailing payments to the court where the violation took place. The payments must be physically mailed and staff must enter data and process payments in a time consuming fashion. In providing for payment through electronic means, the payment process is streamlined saving time and therefore reducing costs.
Legislative history
2015-16: 55567a/A7455 - Rules/transportation
Fiscal implications
Savings to municipal courts.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.