Came to the dreaded TVB disputing a ticket December 27, first time in 15 years. I actually found it to be a kangaroo court. But I want to first say that this review is in no way to promote reckless driving or disrespecting cops who stop you. Here's what happened. I got a ticket for "disobeying traffic device", a no turn sign. If you drive NYC you know there are many new traffic signs due to the "vision zero" initiative. So I did not see the sign, therefore I couldn't have "disobeyed" it. I come for the hearing, a blond woman around 60 was the judge. A terse Judge Judy type who lets you know pretty quick the fix is in.
She administers the oath and as soon as you open your mouth she's already shaking her head and basically rolling her eyes. So if you think YOU'RE gonna wing it, HER act is well rehearsed. I was the first one called so I had no preconceptions of her to taint the exchange, and even called her "your honor". As the cop was reading out the charge, I noticed she was meticulously writing down and drawing diagrams of everything he said. Then I gave my defense that I DID make an illegal turn but I did not "disobey" anything, as the ticket read, because I did not see the sign, as they are new. As evidence of new signs everywhere I gave her a recent (December 2, 2016) New York Post article that said how "CONFUSED" drivers are with all the new signage and regulations, with one short paragraph highlighted. First she pretended not to know of the new "vision zero" regulations (it's her job to know) and showed displeasure at me showing her an article, barely looking at it, then I told her the relevant paragraph was highlighted. She read it like 'blah blah blah yeah whatever'. Dismissively. Remember, she took down his testimony METICULOUSLY. Immediately I felt like they were cronies, one hand washing the other, even though I wasn't disputing his case of an illegal turn. I told her if the ticket had read "illegal turn" I would have been guilty but the ticket read "disobeyed sign", like on purpose. She said she saw no difference, judged me guilty and that was it, merry Christmas. The cop didn't even acknowledge when I thanked him after just to be respectful. There you go, bad sport even though he won.
It was a humiliating experience as I have a clean driving record with very little court experience and didn't really know how to respond when I realized the judge was dirty, and responded poorly for sure. I know this town's a third world hell hole, and I really don't expect much decency or honesty, but like literally a kangaroo court? Really?? Their "fair hearing" is just a formality to a guilty verdict, and unless you bring a lawyer to muck it up for them, you are cha ching, easy money. All they understand is a hack, lawyerly defense, especially since it's a quickie judgement. Anything you say or show in your defense that deviates from their standard formula, where they actually have to think, they will hear as "blah, blah, blah". You might get it knocked down about 20% if you have a clean record but you know they're high balling you to begin with. I do realize that this review might actually be helping them by discouraging people from contesting a bogus ticket, but I think the main purpose of this forum is to share experience openly and honestly for one's own catharsis and to help others know what's up. And you can also make a point from their perspective that if they're actually fair to you, it could invite more people to come for a hearing, swamping them, which only brings me right back to the point of what a twisted hell scape of competing interests and hidden motives this town is, better known as the rat race.
Another example of how obtuse and lazy their system is, is that instead of calling in defendants one by one for a private hearing, all defendants are in the same room listening to one another's cases, which creates grandstanding judges and defendants with stage fright in front of all those people and jaded NYPD, contaminating the verdict even more. They want to make it as uncomfortable for you as possible to challenge them. I would just say if you truly feel you're innocent, just come with the attitude that it's only a traffic ticket, not life or death, and the judge is probably a yawning stooge who is not really interested in your defense, by design. Don't be too principled about it, they're not. Lawyers are milling about, come early, talk to one if you can, no need to prepare much on your own because, again, you shouldn't expect good faith. The environment is typical stale, dystopian bureaucracy, you wouldn't even know it was Christmas. A Dickensian Pottersville, thuggish and vile. Just so you know.
PS: To Andrew C's review before me, belittling the public (since removed). Everyone on here so far is from the city and mostly Queens, Andrew is from Huntington Station in SUFFOLK. Andrew, you're NYPD. Thanks for making my point. read more