Click here to fight your New York traffic ticket.
U-turns are great for getting around when you’ve made a wrong turn. But they’re also great for getting traffic tickets.
U-turns in New York’s business districts are strictly illegal and can result in serious fines, fees, and other penalties.
All of this information can be found in the massive block of text that is the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL). But, if you don’t want to dig through thousands of lines of legalese, just keep reading this article.
What Is Considered a Business District?
A business district is a large hub of commercial and corporate activity, usually with a bunch of different companies’ headquarters. Most cities will have one big business district in the center of the downtown area. New York has two.
New York’s first business district is the Financial District. This includes most of the southern tip of Manhattan, the majority of Wall Street, and some of Battery Park City. Some of the biggest banks and lending agencies in the United States have their headquarters in this business district, such as CitiBank and American Express.
New York’s second business district is Midtown. Midtown is known for being a haven for tourists visiting the city, but it’s also home to the world’s largest collection of corporate headquarters. More businesses call Midtown their home than any other place of similar size in the world.
The VTL officially defines business districts as anywhere that commercial or industrial buildings border a highway. That means you can also get a ticket for making a U-turn in a business district even when you’re not in one of these two major business districts.
U-turns in Business Districts in New York?
Whether you’re driving through the Financial District, Midtown, or just past a couple of banks, it is illegal to make a U-turn. The only exception to this rule is in the event of an active emergency. However, in most cases, turning around is punishable by steep financial penalties.
These penalties also apply to three-point turns. Three-point turns are considered a form of U-turn intended for use on a narrower roadway. These are treated the same as U-turns for the purpose of evaluating whether you broke the law in one of New York’s business districts.
Penalties for an Illegal U-Turn in a Business District in New York
If you make an illegal U-turn in a business district in New York, you will likely face steep fines, fees, and other penalties.
The fine for one of these violations is roughly $150. This is the amount that will be shown on your ticket.
If the court convicts you of the violation and you are found guilty, you will also be required to pay a surcharge of $88. The violation will then appear on your driving record abstract.
After a conviction for making an illegal U-turn in a business district, you will be assessed up to two points on your driver license. These points stay active on your license for up to 18 months. However, the conviction will remain on your record for up to 4 years. If you get more than 11 points on your license within 18 months, it can be suspended.
While the conviction is on your record, you can expect your insurance premiums to increase. According to the Zebra 2019 State of Auto Insurance Report, that increase will be around 22.6%. If you’re paying the average amount for car insurance in New York ($1,688 per year), that comes out to an additional $382 per year. The total over four years would be a whopping $1,528
Additional Illegal U-Turns in New York
Business districts aren’t the only places where U-turns are illegal. There are three other laws on the books with slightly different applications. Here they are:
Vehicle and Traffic Law §1161
VTL §1161 states that you cannot make a U-turn in a location where there is not sufficient visibility leading up to the site of the U-turn. There is sufficient visibility only when you can be seen from at least 500 feet away. This law primarily applies to sections of road found on curves or around trees, such as if you were to be driving upstate.
Vehicle and Traffic Law §1160
VTL §1160 applies less to where you make the turn and more to how you make it. In order to legally make a U-turn when the law allows you to do so, you must start your turn from the left-most lane, just like you would if you were going to be turning left.
Vehicle and Traffic Law §1110(a)
VTL §1110(a) is less about U-turns specifically and more about road signage. Tickets for this VTL code can be written to anybody who disobeys a traffic control device, which means something like a sign or a marking.
You can get tickets for making an illegal turn and for failing to obey a traffic control device when you make a U-turn at a place with a sign that says no U-turns.
How To Make a Legal U-Turn in a Business District
Here’s how to make a legal U-turn in a business district in New York: Don’t. U-turns are entirely illegal within the city’s primary business districts and whenever near commercial or industrial buildings that border a highway. If you need to turn around, consider making a left or right and circling back around the block.
Tips for Fighting an Illegal U-Turn Ticket
If you’ve received a ticket for making an illegal U-turn, whether in a business district or elsewhere, do not plead guilty or pay your ticket before talking to a lawyer. It is crucial that you consult a lawyer through the WinIt app as soon as possible so that you can avoid late fees on your ticket and/or a potential bench warrant.
Start by pleading not guilty and let your lawyer handle the rest. Finding a lawyer through the WinIt app is a quick and easy way to beat your ticket. Simply select a lawyer from the list of countless legal experts and let them get to work.
So what are you waiting for? Whether you received a speeding ticket or an illegal U-turn ticket you can fight your ticket with Winit.
