Am I Allowed To Break The Speed Limit During A Medical Emergency In New York?

In an emergency situation, various rules and responsibilities might suddenly seem much less important. You might feel pressured to rush as quickly as possible to a nearby hospital. Perhaps you have only minutes to work with in truly life-or-death situations. You may have heard that in some emergency situations, it is acceptable to break the speed limit in Rockland County. But is this really true?

Emergencies Do Not Provide Valid Defenses to Speeding Tickets 

Even if you were struggling with some kind of emergency, you do not have the right to break the speed limit in New York. This is a myth with no legal basis. If police catch you breaking the speed limit, you will still experience consequences for your actions.

The logic is that if you are struggling with a genuine emergency, you should simply dial 9-11. An ambulance can usually transport you (or someone else) to the nearest hospital in the fastest way possible. Unlike other motorists, those driving ambulances are allowed to break the speed limit. They can also navigate through red lights, drive on the wrong side of the road, and commit various other maneuvers that would be difficult or illegal for other motorists.

More importantly, they can warn other motorists to get out of the way with sirens and lights. All of this means that if you want to get to the hospital as quickly as possible, calling an ambulance is usually the best move. It also means that if you encounter an emergency, there is no valid excuse for breaking the speed limit.

If a police officer pulls you over and discovers that you’re dealing with a serious emergency, they will assist you as best they can. For example, your loved one might have been shot in an accident, and you may be attempting to transport them to a nearby hospital before they bleed out. If this is the case, the officer may transport the victim to their police vehicle and drive them the rest of the way to the hospital. After this emergency has been resolved, however, you may still face a speeding ticket.

Fighting a Speeding Ticket in New York

 Although you cannot fight a speeding ticket by claiming you were experiencing an emergency, you can still fight it in other ways. For example, you might dispute the police officer’s opinion that you were speeding. Perhaps there was no speeding camera, and the officer in question was simply using their eyes to judge your speed. You can also argue that you were justified in speeding based on the circumstances of the situation. During a DMV hearing, you may experience leniency if you explain that you were attempting to save someone’s life.

Find a Qualified, Experienced Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Rockland County 

If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced New York City criminal defense lawyer, look no further than Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law. Over the years, we have helped numerous motorists with their traffic tickets. While you might not have the right to speed in emergency situations, many other defense strategies may prove effective. Book a consultation today to learn more about your legal options – and fight your speeding ticket with confidence.

Sources: 

dmv.ny.gov/brochure/traffic-violations-bureau

dmv.ny.gov/virtual-hearings