VTL 1140(a), Failed to Yield Right of Way at Intersection

Vehicle & Traffic Law § 1140(a) states:

The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right of way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway.

Being found guilty or pleading guilty to this violation will put three points on your record. The fine is $150 plus a mandatory surcharge. Within New York City, the surcharge is $88, and outside of New York City the surcharge is $93. Often this ticket is issued alongside other tickets like disobeying a traffic control device or failure to stop at a stop sign. The combination of these tickets may trigger additional driver responsibility assessment fees. Obviously, insurance premiums are an issue. You can expect your insurance rates to increase with this violation on your driving record.

The purpose of this law is to keep things running smoothly, a good flow of traffic is necessary. In order to ensure this, drivers have to yield at certain times and know when to keep moving at others. Failure to do either can cause jams, accidents or other unnecessary situations.

Roadways are carefully designed to accommodate these events. For safety and efficiency, there are traffic signs at key points, such as intersections or highway ramps. One driver missing a yield sign at a busy crossroad can cause an accident with hour-long repercussions for everyone else.

For this reason, there are a variety of sections of the traffic code that deal with the failure to yield. One of them is the right of way when approaching an intersection.

This means that the right of way in an intersection is given to the driver who is already in the intersection. If you are approaching the intersection and a car is already driving through, they should be allowed to complete the movement before you enter.

The same section applies to traffic circles. Generally the right of way goes to the driver who is already in the circle, with the driver who is making a turn yielding to them.

If you received this ticket, it is advised to look into fighting the charges. There are many possible defenses to this violation. Your attorney can go to court instead of you and try to get the charges reduced to a parking ticket or dismissed. The Benjamin Goldman Law Office is a traffic ticket defense firm. We have experience fighting this specific statute and will be glad to take on your case. Our attorneys have fought this charge in Woodridge, Cedarhurst, Brooklyn, Freeport, Cobleskill, Plattsburgh, Orchard Park, Onondaga, and Schroon. Needless to say, we have the necessary experience to fight your case. Contact us at your convenience to discuss in detail. We can be reached by phone call, text message, or email.