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Is Driving Too Slow A Traffic Violation in New York?

What many motorists do not realize is that can be a traffic violation for a motorist to drive their motor vehicle too slowly on a public highway. In fact, Vehicle and Traffic Law Sections 1181 (a) and (b) set forth the elements of the violation of Driving Too Slow and Driving Below Minimum Posted Speed Limit. Each subsection carries three (3) points on your DMV record if convicted under VTL 1181.

Ordinarily when one thinks of the speed limit, it is usually those who speed in excess of the posted speed limit that come to mind. While it is certainly very dangerous for a motorist to drive their vehicle in excess of a posted speed limit on a primary or secondary road, it is also dangerous for a driver to drive too slowly, especially on a public highway. One can see this issue when there is a very slow driver who drives their vehicle on the left lane of a major highway on Long Island such as the Long Island Expressway (LIE), Southern State Parkway, Northern State Parkway, Meadowbrook Parkway, Wantagh Parkway, or Sagtikos Parkway. Driving at a very slow pace, especially in what is designated to be a passing lane, can have a serious effect on the flow of traffic and lead to possible interference with the flow and in some cases, a motor vehicle accident.

However, in most cases, if one is charged with VTL 1181, this violation can usually be plea bargained at most of the traffic courts on Long Island like the Nassau Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (NCTPVA), Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (SCTPVA), and most village and town Courts in both Nassau and Suffolk County.

If you need an experienced Long Island traffic attorney, please contact us at the Law Offices of Michael W. Alpert at (516) 280-7288 or e-mail: malpert@alpertlegal.com.