PEOPLE v. ZUCKERMAN (2021)

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, defendant's motion to dismiss the simplified traffic information is denied, and the matter is remitted to the District Court of Suffolk County, Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, for all further proceedings.

On June 9, 2018, defendant was charged in a simplified traffic information with speeding (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180 [b]) for driving a 2012 Lexus at a speed of 70 miles per hour (mph) in a 55 mph zone on southbound side of the Sagtikos State Parkway, near exit S3. On March 1, 2019, the matter appeared on the calendar of the District Court, Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, for trial. Upon the People's request for an adjournment because the complainant officer had taken his wife to a medical appointment, defendant orally moved to dismiss the simplified traffic information. The court denied the People's request for an adjournment and granted defendant's motion on the ground that this was the trooper's third nonappearance for trial, the People were requesting a third adjournment of the trial date, and defendant had been ready for trial at each previous appearance.

It is well settled that a trial court can dismiss a pending criminal prosecution only upon the limited grounds set forth in the Criminal Procedure Law (see Matter of Holtzman v Goldman, 71 NY2d 564 [1988]; People v Douglass, 60 NY2d 194 [1983]; People v Atta-Poku, 63 Misc 3d 131[A], 2019 NY Slip Op 50414[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2019]). Here, the dismissal of the simplified traffic information was improper as it was not based on any statutory ground (see e.g. CPL 160.50, 170.30, 290.10). Thus, the court did not have the inherent authority to dismiss the simplified traffic information based upon the unavailability of the complaining witness, which ground has been considered a “failure to prosecute” (see People v Douglass, 60 NY2d at 204-205; People v Alonso, 57 Misc 3d 155[A], 2017 NY Slip Op 51611[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2017]; People v Ramos, 37 Misc 3d 143[A], 2012 NY Slip Op 52293[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2012]; People v Murchinson, 31 Misc 3d 146[A], 2011 NY Slip Op 50943[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2011]; People v Meynard, 18 Misc 3d 130[A], 2008 NY Slip Op 50045[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2008]; People v Arroyo, 12 Misc 3d 133[A], 2006 NY Slip Op 51181[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2006]; People v Tartaglione, 5 Misc 3d 126[A], 2004 NY Slip Op 51190[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2004]).

Accordingly, the order is reversed, defendant's motion to dismiss the simplified traffic information is denied, and the matter is remitted to the District Court of Suffolk County, Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, for all further proceedings.

RUDERMAN, P.J., DRISCOLL and VOUTSINAS, JJ., concur.