Traffic Ticket - Disobeyed Traffic Control Device?

[chiram97]

My dad got a long ticket today for reasons he couldn't quite understand. Well, he doesn't speak English very well but didn't think he was violating any laws--though perhaps he may have been violating one of those newer laws that I don't even know about.

Anyway, this happened in NY on the interstate around Nassau County, and this LONG ticket has 3 charges and a "Supporting Deposition" portion (at least I think it's 3 charges?). Well it has the following violation descriptions:

1. Disobeyed Traffic Control Device

I don't know what this means exactly but he mentioned something about the officer saying something about turning or switching lanes.

2. Improper Plates

What is this exactly? His plates are current and there's nothing wrong with them...(?)

3. Operating Without Insurance

His van does have insurance; in fact he just paid it not long ago and doesn't expire until at least September this year.

*****Thank you for reading all of that. Now what I want to know is:

A) The LONG-@ss ticket has the 'plead guilty/not guilty' by mail sections, and there's 3 of them (1 for each). Do I just fill them out and mail them? And what happens next??

B) What if I don't mail them, or plead guilty? How many violation points is that and what might happen next?

C) It has the address of a court there and a date and time printed on it, under "this matter is scheduled to be handled on the appearance date below".

What does this mean?? Is it the place we'll have to go if we plead not guilty to fight it in court? If so, assuming we plead guilty to at least one of the charges, do we just go on that day, or do we wait for further notice?

D) What exactly is the "Supporting Deposition / CPL 710.30 Notice to Support Simplified Traffic Information"?

In this portion it only states one Description of Violation (Disobeyed Traffic Control Device), does this mean there is only one charge? I'm so confused........

Thank you for all your help in advance.

[dubh35]

I'm not that familiar with NY law, but can give you some general responses.

1. A traffic control device is basically anything on the road--a sign, signal, marker--that guides and regulates traffic. So it could be anything from a red light to a no left turn sign.

2. There may be something wrong with how the plates are mounted, or a missing light, or the condition of the plate. Even though the plates are current, they may be missing a sticker.

3. He apparently did not show the officer evidence of insurance. Note that once he shows there was valid insurance at the time of the ticket, that part of it will be dismissed.

Re the other questions, again, I'm not familiar with NY tickets/traffic law, so couldn't tell you what the points would be. I can tell you that the date on the ticket is the date by which the ticket must be paid. Since you have a mail option, you can pay early.