Goshen, NY Speeding, DWI, Criminal Defense Lawyer

Busy Route 17 and Rt. 17M run the entire east-west length of the Town of Goshen. Goshen is the county seat of Orange County and all of the county courts (Supreme, County, Family, Surrogate's Courts) are located in the town as are all of the county government offices. Traffic law enforcement on Rt. 17 is handled by officers from "Troop F" of the NYS Police, as well as both town and village police officers and deputy sheriff's. The speed limit along Rt. 17 is 65 mph through the part of the road passing through Goshen (there are frequent "work zone" 55 mph segments) and almost all speeding tickets are written for speeds more than 10 mph over the limit. Stationary radar and laser speed detection are widely used. Traffic law enforcement along all of the other roads in the Town of Goshen is largely done by local town or village police officers. Local police enforcement is most active on Routes 17M and 207.

Traffic Court

Both town justices have "traffic calendars" which are devoted to adjudicating traffic tickets. The NYS Police are prohibited from negotiating plea bargains on traffic violations. As a result, the town has appointed a "special prosecutor" to act as prosecutor for tickets written by the NYS police. 95% of state police tickets are adjudicated through plea bargains with the prosecutor. The Town Prosecutor and both judges are reasonable about plea bargains as long as the speed was not more than 25 mph over the limit or over 90 mph.

Local police officers somtimes prosecute their own tickets, though the special prosecutor may substitute for them. Again, most tickets are resolved through plea bargains. Traffic court sessions can last 1-2 hours. Attorneys are permitted to appear without their clients being present for traffic court.

For more information about speeding and other traffic offenses, click here

To read some Frequently Asked Traffic Law questions, click here.

For information about having the Law Office of Glenn Magnell defend your speeding ticket or DWI charge, click here.

Criminal Law Enforcement and Prosecutions

All criminal prosecutions are handled by the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The DA's office takes a very hard line on DWI prosecutions. In 2009 there were more than 1800 alcohol related driving arrests impaired or intoxicated driving (DWI, DWAI, DWAI-D) in Orange County. Both the NYS Police and the Goshen Town and Village Police made numerous arrests. Most arrests occurred after dark with many taking place after midnight. Police officers assume that many driver's who are out after midnight have consumed alcohol and or drugs. As a result they are looking for any lawful reason to pull drivers over in order to investigate possible DWI incidents. All of these offenses are "criminal" violations of the law and, as a result are prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney's office. Police have been known to park near local bars late at night and follow bar patrons who leave the bar.

Other typical criminal cases heard in Goshen Town Court are petty larceny, 3rd degree assault, harrassment, criminal mischief and drug possession. Misdemeanors remain the jurisdiction of the town court, while felonies are transferred to the Orange County Court if there is a felony indictment by the Grand Jury.

For more information about DWI, click here.

To read some Frequently Asked Questions about DWI, click here.

For information about having the Law Office of Glenn Magnell represent you on yourticket or DWI charge,, click here.

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