Why I Love Upstate New York Courts: Pay Phones and Cheap Soda Pop

I really liked this 1960s show, NYC lawyer moves
to the country for fresh air and real people.
Maybe young me was influenced?
from digital landing.com

I practice law in the Finger Lakes part of New York State. When people hear I practice in NY they naturally assume that I practice in "the" City because in their minds the entire state is New York City. NYC is a small place physically with a lot of people.

The opposite of that is where I live, breathe, and work, "lots of land spreading out far and wide, keep Manhattan just give that countryside." Eddie Albert singing the Green Acres Opening Song. He played a NYC attorney who relocated to the country.

Green acres is the place to be

Farm living is the life for me

Land spreading out,

so far and wide

Keep Manhattan,

just give me that countryside.

                                                                          Green Acres TV show "the 1960s"

We are about as far from NYC on a geographic level as we are away from NYC on a cultural level.
In the Courts I have visited it often feels like an incredible time warp.

In Owego Town court building, a pay phone 

In Owego Town Court, 50 cents for a Coke!

You gotta love these things, pay phones, 50 cent soda, and people who still see the world through a country prism. Yes, I like practicing here because I feel it is more authentic and people generally value each other's word. If you are straight with them they will be more than straight with you.

I'm now going on 8 years up here and it is better than I had first imagined. My friends told me I should have my head examined when I first told them I was moving up here, as in go see a shrink. they thought I was nuts. One of the key advantages to practicing here is that if you develop a good reputation it means something here.

Always consult with an attorney about any criminal or non-criminal charges you have pending to discuss your options and/or defenses.

I am certified in Field Sobriety and Breath Alcohol Testing, and an active member of the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD). My online materials include over 500 blog posts, dozens of articles, and over 500 informative videos on my youtube channel.

I have co-authored Strategies for Defending DWI Cases in New York, in both 2011 and 2013. These are West Thomson legal manuals on New York State DWI defense, and focus on the best practices for other lawyers handling a New York DWI case. I was selected by Super Lawyers as a Upstate New York 2013 Rising Star in DWI/DUI Defense based on my experience, contributions, and professional standing.

http://www.ithacadwi.com

newman.lawrence@gmail.com

607-229-5184

Reviews of Larry Newman:

http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/14850-ny-lawrence-newman-530905.html

New York Traffic Misdemeanors: No Valid Registration, No Valid Insurance, and No Valid Driver's License

There is a world of difference between criminal and non-criminal charges. Criminal charges generally involve an arrest, booking, fingerprints and then they require court appearances, and lawyers.

In a word, the paper documents we call our car insurance, our driver's license, and our car registration are merely SYMBOLS. If there is nothing beneath them, no real validity to there physical presence and representation they are worthless.

The penalties can be huge:

Persons driving a car without valid insurance under NYS VTL section 319 face up to a one year license revocation. Fines between $150 and $1500 plus DMV fees of $750.

Persons driving without a valid registration under NYS VTL section 512 face jail time.

DO You Need to KNOW? 

I recently had a phone call. Grandson borrowed grandpa's car. He was arrested following a stop for speeding. How does that happen you ask? Well Grandpa had not kept up with the registration, ie. he didn't pay, and then let the insurance lapse.

He spent the night in jail because of this, and wanted to know WHY?

Why was he being held accountable for grandpa?
Why was he arrested for this?
Why was he now facing misdemeanor charges?
Why if he truly didn't KNOW, why was he at fault?
Why isn't grandpa being arrested?
I'm just the driver NOT the owner. What if the owner doesn't know and the driver doesn't know?

The Key: Some Crimes require KNOWLEDGE but NOT these.

Well Bob (not his real name), it works like this, you don't have to have KNOWLEDGE about the car not being valid, or insured. It is your responsibility to make sure that any car you drive is actively registered, insured, and that your license is valid. Just like you must make sure the headlights work and the car is safe.

So make sure that the car you borrow, even from family is fully up to date on it's coverages and obligations or else you may be the one paying the price for their irresponsibility.

Always consult with an attorney about any criminal or non-criminal charges you have pending to discuss your options and/or defenses.

http://www.ithacadwi.com

newman.lawrence@gmail.com

607-229-5184

Reviews of Larry Newman:

http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/14850-ny-lawrence-newman-530905.html

Chosen as a 2013 Rising Star in DWI/DUI in Upstate New York by Super Lawyers

Ithaca DWI Attorney Why Can't New York Lawyers Make Promises or Guarantees of a Result?

I love the song Promises Promises (1968) by Dionne Warwick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpKAnp5Klzw

The lyrics are so true to life:

Oh, promises, their kind of promises, can just destroy a life
Oh, promises, those kind of promises, take all the joy from life
Oh, promises, promises, my kind of promises
Can lead to joy and hope and love
Yes, love!!

I know the title of this blog may be a bit much but I believe it. All of us make promises (commitments) to ourselves and to others. Exchanges of promises between people are the basis of all contracts. Companies offer products and services within the marketplace with many unspoken guarantees (promises) of benefit. In a marriage contract this promise is called a Vow. No matter what you call it: vow, promise, commitment, if we are to fully function as a society of rules, conventions, and laws this is the base where it ALL begins.

My legal practice handles a wide range of matters over a pretty good chuck of territory. I do traffic violations, DWI, and personal injury cases fifty miles in all directions. My home base is Ithaca, NY, So I travel from Cortland to Steuben and from Broome to Seneca counties regularly. I even get out to Yates county but only during the warmer months, forget winter snow and ice at night on isolated, desolate country roads. I may be in transit when you call me. 

Communication is Everything

People call me, text me, fax me, and email me with requests, questions, and challenges.

The either want my representation, want a question answered, or want to argue with me about something I wrote or said or videoed... It can boggle your mind but I put myself out there and I do love to help people but it can wear on you at times when we do not have a meeting of the minds.

Contracts Require a Meeting of the Minds

Two people must be on the same page to have a contract, and form an agreement. If they both have different expectations then there is NO contract. Each side Promises something. It is the basis of all civilization. We all make and hopefully keep the promises that we make. It is a sign of integrity. 

As Dionne sings so well, Promises can lead to joy, hope, and love. Now think what is the opposite of broken promises? Commitments made, and then not kept feel terrible.

Engaging or Not Engaging a Lawyer to Represent You

Recently I had a Canadian driver contact me about a speeding ticket. I spoke with him, told him what I could do, what I would charge, and what he could expect.

I discussed ranges, fines, possible/reasonable outcomes, process, and my fees for this.

Then a flurry of 10 emails, all challenging me, how things work, and fantasy notions of Law and Order,

He then left me a message, you are fighting for me in Court tomorrow, right?

My response:

We do not have an agreement, we have been going back and forth via email,

you have certain notions about the process, ie. whether the police are showing up or not,

( I did a recent blog about this here: http://ithacadwi.blogspot.com/2012/06/if-cop-is-no-show-is-speeding-ticket.html  )

 and how your case will be dismissed because of that,

I believe that you have certain expectations that I can not promise to meet,

legally and ethically I cannot guarantee any result or outcome,

we have discussed this matter, I have given you the ranges and the potential

outcomes, I have told you what I can do and cannot do,

I can only promise to do my best nothing more than that, when you are ready to accept that

and have confidence in that then I will prepare a contract.

 You will sign it, return it, and then I will do my best to represent you 

and your interests

Promising A Specific Result

The Key concepts above are "that YOU CAN ACCEPT and HAVE CONFIDENCE IN" because if you do not have that with any professional you are doing business with then run away. Seriously, if you cannot accept what they say (promised) with confidence (this means with faith) then you should not engage them.

No lawyer can promise a certain result or a certain outcome. We can offer to do our best and nothing more. I ONLY promise that to my clients, I guarantee that I will care about them and achieve the best results based upon their unique set of circumstances.

 Lawrence (Larry) Newman, D.C., J.D.

Doctor of Chiropractic

Attorney and Counselor at Law

504 North Aurora Street

Ithaca, NY 14850

607-229-5184

http://www.ithacadwi.com

http://www.ithacainjurylawyer.com