As I’ve written before, my Traffic Law practice takes me to Stafford Town Court on a regular basis.  Stafford, New York’s geographic location makes it a prime location for speeding tickets as it covers the Thruway (I-90) between Batavia and Leroy.

That said, the Court’s procedure for hearings on traffic matters has changed a bit over the last few months.  Stafford Town Court is one of the few courts where the officer who issued the ticket actually prosecutes the ticket.  Most town courts will have an assistant district attorney who does this.  In Stafford, it is not uncommon for 10-15 New York State Troopers to appear to prosecute their individual cases.

The new practice in Stafford is to have a “trial” where the Trooper/officer will give testimony of the facts surrounding the ticket being issued.  The defendant then has the opportunity to cross-examine the Trooper or give his/her version of the facts.  It is also the time to make an application before the court for a reduction of the ticket.  As stated in prior posts, the main factors for the court are the driving history of the defendant, speed cited, and any other factors, including whether the officer was given a “hard time” by the driver during the stop.

If you have received a traffic or speeding ticket in Stafford Town Court, contact me for a free consultation at 585-752-7523.

After reviewing my Traffic Law cases from 2009, it did not surprise me to see that cases in Stafford Town Court ranked in my top 5 for the year.  Stafford, NY is located between Batavia, NY and Rochester, NY and the majority of cases I see are speeding tickets that are incurred on the NYS Thruway which runs through the town.  New York State Troopers patrol the Thruway which has a posted speed limit of 65 mph.  I rarely see a ticket written for under 80 mph.

Stafford Town Court is one of the rare courts in New York that still have Troopers/Sheriffs prosecute their own cases.  There is no assistant district attorney for traffic violations present. 

As I’ve written before, Stafford Town Court has two Judges - Judge Call and Judge Mancuso.  Both are competent and fair.  Out of all the traffic courts I appear in, Stafford Town Court is one where I know I will get a good, reasonable result on behalf of my clients.

If you have a case in Stafford Town Court, contact me for a free consultation at 585-752-7523.

Sad news out of Morris, New York in Otsego County where 31 year old Trooper Jill Mattice was killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer.  She was a six year veteran assigned to the Oneonta barracks.  My thoughts and prayers to her family and collegues.  Reportedly, she was the first female NY Trooper killed in the line of duty.

According to the preliminary investigation, Mattice was in the eastbound lane when for unknown reasons she crossed the center line at a slight curve in the road. Her car then sideswiped the westbound tractor-trailer, Troop C State Police Maj. Kevin C. Molinari said.  It was also noted that police have not ruled out the possibility she may have been using her cell phone or texting at the time of the crash.

In my Traffic Law practice, I interact with NY Troopers on a regular basis.  This is especially true in courts such as Stafford Town Court where the Troopers still prosecute their own tickets.  To a person, with few exceptions, NY Troopers are professionals who put their lives on the line every day fro the protection of NY residents.  While most of my clients see these men and women in an adversarial position - a ticket or an arrest - I respect the work of the Troopers.