DA: Traffic Diversion Program running smoothly
CHENANGO COUNTY – Since the county’s new Traffic Diversion Program was implemented in May of this year, Chenango County District Attorney Joe McBride says the program has been a win-win for everybody involved.
“Gard [Turner’s] doing a great job of administering the program, of working with all the town courts in the county, and making sure people who have tickets know that the program is an available option to dispose of their tickets,” said McBride about the Traffic Diversion Program’s administrator, Gard Turner.
Following the lead of other counties in New York State, Chenango County’s Traffic Diversion Program is designed to afford motorists who commit certain non-serious vehicle and traffic violations an opportunity to participate in a traffic safety course approved by the NYS DMV in lieu of a conviction on the traffic offense.
Upon the completion of the traffic safety course and payment of the required application fee, the motorist’s traffic ticket(s) will be dismissed.
McBride says the program has multiple aims: To make the roads safer by promoting traffic safety and defensive driving courses, and to give otherwise safe drivers a break on their driver’s licenses – all while aiding the county and its towns financially.
“One of the reasons this program is great for the community is, some fines issued by local courts – without laying blame – are very, very high,” said McBride. “Gard and I were in court and one gentleman had two tickets that, with the surcharges, totaled $695, and we thought that was unfair and excessive.
“So we wanted to let people know that the traffic diversion program is going well, and that if you do get a ticket – and obviously we do not want anybody to speed or get a traffic violation – but if you do make a mistake, we want to make sure people are aware the program is an option they have.”
The Chenango County website offers a number of testimonials from people who have participated in the program so far.
One testimonial reads, “I entered the program after receiving a traffic violation that carried a potentially heavy penalty if convicted. As I had an otherwise good record for the 40 years in which I’ve been driving, I was offered the opportunity to have my infraction dismissed if I worked with [the DA’s] office and agreed to take a safe driving course and pay a fee of $300.
“It seems like a clear win for the community, and is certainly a good experience for people like me: Generally careful drivers, who make an unexpected mistake, but are given an opportunity to learn from it and achieve a positive outcome from law enforcement.”
As for the money that’s collected in the program, the first $40,000 of the year went towards paying the program’s administrative costs, as per the county Board of Supervisors, McBride said. In the three months the program has existed, the program has raised nearly $50,000.
“We’re paid through the end of the year. The rest of the money that is paid from now through the end of the year will go half towards the county, and half towards the municipality in which the violation occurred,” McBride said. “In most other counties, it’s been just a win-win situation for everybody involved, and we hope this program is as successful in our community.”
To learn more about the Traffic Diversion Program, visit www.co.chenango.ny.us/district-attorney/traffic-diversion.php or call Traffic Diversion Program Administrator Gard Turner at (607) 337-1745, ext. 2.
“Gard [Turner’s] doing a great job of administering the program, of working with all the town courts in the county, and making sure people who have tickets know that the program is an available option to dispose of their tickets,” said McBride about the Traffic Diversion Program’s administrator, Gard Turner.
Following the lead of other counties in New York State, Chenango County’s Traffic Diversion Program is designed to afford motorists who commit certain non-serious vehicle and traffic violations an opportunity to participate in a traffic safety course approved by the NYS DMV in lieu of a conviction on the traffic offense.
Upon the completion of the traffic safety course and payment of the required application fee, the motorist’s traffic ticket(s) will be dismissed.
McBride says the program has multiple aims: To make the roads safer by promoting traffic safety and defensive driving courses, and to give otherwise safe drivers a break on their driver’s licenses – all while aiding the county and its towns financially.
“One of the reasons this program is great for the community is, some fines issued by local courts – without laying blame – are very, very high,” said McBride. “Gard and I were in court and one gentleman had two tickets that, with the surcharges, totaled $695, and we thought that was unfair and excessive.
“So we wanted to let people know that the traffic diversion program is going well, and that if you do get a ticket – and obviously we do not want anybody to speed or get a traffic violation – but if you do make a mistake, we want to make sure people are aware the program is an option they have.”
The Chenango County website offers a number of testimonials from people who have participated in the program so far.
One testimonial reads, “I entered the program after receiving a traffic violation that carried a potentially heavy penalty if convicted. As I had an otherwise good record for the 40 years in which I’ve been driving, I was offered the opportunity to have my infraction dismissed if I worked with [the DA’s] office and agreed to take a safe driving course and pay a fee of $300.
“It seems like a clear win for the community, and is certainly a good experience for people like me: Generally careful drivers, who make an unexpected mistake, but are given an opportunity to learn from it and achieve a positive outcome from law enforcement.”
As for the money that’s collected in the program, the first $40,000 of the year went towards paying the program’s administrative costs, as per the county Board of Supervisors, McBride said. In the three months the program has existed, the program has raised nearly $50,000.
“We’re paid through the end of the year. The rest of the money that is paid from now through the end of the year will go half towards the county, and half towards the municipality in which the violation occurred,” McBride said. “In most other counties, it’s been just a win-win situation for everybody involved, and we hope this program is as successful in our community.”
To learn more about the Traffic Diversion Program, visit www.co.chenango.ny.us/district-attorney/traffic-diversion.php or call Traffic Diversion Program Administrator Gard Turner at (607) 337-1745, ext. 2.
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