The purpose of this website is to provide a detailed outline of the policies and procedures followed by the Broome County District Attorney’s Office regarding the prosecution of traffic infractions.
As a licensed driver and a member of our community, it is important to remember the need for effective traffic regulation and high safety standards. The District Attorney’s Office considers this to be an important part of our responsibility, yet we acknowledge that many traffic infractions are unintentional and/or isolated occurrences.
With that in mind, our office has adopted a policy whereby many infractions may be handled quickly and simply through the mail by participating in the Broome County Traffic Diversion Program, thus eliminating the need for further court appearances. Please keep in mind that not all infractions are eligible for this program. Any traffic case that involves a misdemeanor charge, alcohol consumption, an accident or an unacceptably high speed (30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit) will be reviewed by an Assistant District Attorney in our office and handled by our office in the appropriate local criminal court. This may include a pre-trial conference and/or a trial in the local criminal court.
In the remaining cases, which make up the majority of traffic infraction cases, our office has established a policy whereby motorists may have their charges disposed of and dismissed by completing the Broome County Traffic Diversion Program.
In implementing this policy, we have considered the usual arguments of equity (fairness) and circumstances that are often raised in traffic cases. Such arguments include, but are not limited to, lack of notice of speed zone, going with the flow of traffic, malfunctioning speedometer or cruise control, dispute as to excessiveness of speed and being late for an appointment. In other words, all reasonable subjective explanations have been taken into account in setting this policy.
With these considerations in mind, our office has established the Diversion program as an alternative for motorists charged with most traffic infractions to pleading guilty and receiving points on their license.
