Traffic Enforcement
Warwick is a relatively prosperous community surrounded by extensive farmlands. There are no major highways that pass through Warwick, though several local roads (Kings Hwy & Route 94) are heavily travelled and on which traffic enforcement by both town and village police officers is common. Traffic enforcement in is done by both state police troopers from “Troop F” of the NYS Police, the Warwick Town police and the Warwick Village police force. No roads in Warwick have speed limits above 55 mph. Stationary and moving radar are widely used.
Traffic Court
Both town justices have mized “calendars” at which traffic, civil and criminal cases are heard. The NYS Police are prohibited from negotiating plea bargains on traffic violations. However, unlike almost every other Orange County jurisdiction, there is NO special town prosecutor to deal with tickets written by the NYS police. As a result, state police ticket dispositions are reduced to a choice between pleading guilty as charged or have a trial. Both judges can be a challenge to deal with at times.
Local police officers prosecute their own tickets and most tickets are resolved through plea bargains. Court sessions can last as long as 3-4 hours. Attorneys are permitted to appear without their clients being present for traffic court.
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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 for impaired or intoxicated driving (DWI, DWAI, DWAI-D) in Orange County. Both the NYS Police and the Warwick Town 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. Alcohol checkpoints have been infrequently established by the a combined task force of NYS Police and Warwick Town police or Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies. All of these offenses are “criminal” violations of the law and, as a result are prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Both local and state police “DWI patrols” have been known to park near local bars and follow patrons leaving the bar until they have a reason to stop their vehicle.
Other typical criminal cases heard in Warwick Town Court are petty larceny, 3rd degree assault, harrassment 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.