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Crimes

What is the Penalty for Driving Across Someone’s Lawn in New York?


— December 21, 2021

The first time he captured the offender on camera, the police were unable to take legal action because the footage failed to capture the driver’s face.


Almost everyone knows how it feels to be in a rush. And when you’re in a rush, you can find yourself doing crazy things just to save a few minutes of time. However, being late is no excuse for breaking the law, especially when you’re behind the wheel of a car. As crazy as it might sound, some drivers in New York have taken to driving across people’s lawns in order to shave a few minutes from their daily commute. But what will happen if you do this, and what kinds of penalties might you face?

If you have been issued a traffic ticket for driving across someone’s lawn in New York, it’s best to get in touch with a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. These legal professionals can help mitigate any legal consequences you might be facing, and they can fight for your rights in an effective manner. You might be surprised at just how serious the penalties can be for a violation like this, and a qualified defense attorney with traffic experience is critical in this situation. 

Man Caught on Camera Driving Across People’s Lawns

On October 17th of 2021, it was reported that disgruntled neighbors had captured a man driving over their lawns on camera. This individual ostensibly created his own “shortcut” after becoming frustrated that a school bus had stopped in front of him for too long. Amazingly, this individual seems to have made a habit of driving over people’s lawns, as neighbors in the Elmira area witnessed him doing this on more than one occasion. Finally, one neighbor decided to set up a motion-activated camera, which captured the incident. 

Cartoon cow in sweater saying, “What the…?” Image by OpenClipart, via FreeSVG.com, CC0 Public Domain.
Image by OpenClipart, via FreeSVG.com, CC0 Public Domain.

The first time he captured the offender on camera, the police were unable to take legal action because the footage failed to capture the driver’s face. But the second time he caught the man driving across his lawn, the police were able to take action and issue fines. The individual who set up the camera was especially concerned because of his daughter, who is disabled and vulnerable. However, he also stated that he was concerned about the safety of other small children who might be playing in the yards that this individual was driving through. You can face up to 30 days in jail for your first conviction of this crime, plus a fine of up to $400. For repeat offenders, fines can reach up to $1,000 and jail sentences can be up to 6 months. 

Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today

If you’ve been issued a traffic ticket of any kind in New York, get in touch with Darren DeUrso, Attorney at Law. We have helped many New Yorkers fight their tickets in the past, and we can do the same for you. You don’t need to simply accept the consequences of these traffic tickets without putting up a fight in court. Pushing back may allow you to keep your license, and in more serious cases it may keep you out of jail. Book your consultation today, and we can immediately start working on an effective strategy for you. 

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