PEOPLE v. HERNANDEZ (2018)

ORDERED that the judgment of conviction is reversed, on the law, and the matter is remitted to the District Court for all further proceedings.

Defendant was charged with operating a motor vehicle without insurance (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 319 [1] ). In September 2016, defendant appeared before the District Court, Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, pleaded not guilty to the charge and requested a trial. The court advised defendant that a trial was scheduled for November 10, 2016 and provided defendant with a document reflecting the date and time of his trial. The document further states, “If you fail to answer at that time, THE COURT MAY ISSUE A WARRANT FOR YOUR ARREST OR PROCEED IN YOUR ABSENCE AND YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SENTENCE AND/OR FEES IMPOSED, INCLUDING INCARCERATION, AND other penalties permitted by law.” Defendant was also provided with a notice, which informed defendant that “[f]ailure of any ․ parties to appear on the date set for trial may result in a suspension of [defendant's] driving privileges [and] a default conviction.” When defendant failed to appear for the scheduled trial on November 10, 2016, the court entered a default judgment against defendant without conducting a trial. On appeal, defendant contends, among other things, that the court should not have rendered a default judgment against him.

While Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1806-a (1) permits “a default judgment of a fine” to be entered against a defendant who has been charged with a traffic infraction but failed to “answer within the time specified,” the statute expressly provides that “[w]hen a person has entered a plea of not guilty and has demanded a hearing, no fine or penalty shall be imposed for any reason, prior to the holding of the hearing which shall be scheduled by the court of such city, village or town within thirty days of such demand.” Given that defendant pleaded not guilty and requested a trial be conducted on his charge, and that no trial had been held before the court entered the default judgment against defendant, the default judgment of conviction cannot stand (see People v. Malekan, 56 Misc. 3d 62, 64-65, 57 N.Y.S.3d 331 [App. Term, 2d Dept., 9th & 10th Jud. Dists. 2017]; cf. People v. All State Props., LLC, 44 Misc. 3d 133[A], 2014 N.Y. Slip Op. 51156[U], 2014 WL 3765431 [App. Term, 2d Dept., 9th & 10th Jud. Dists. 2014]; People v. Rosano, 39 Misc. 3d 126[A], 2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 50410[U], 2013 WL 1234859 [App. Term, 2d Dept., 9th & 10th Jud. Dists. 2013] ).

In light of our determination, defendant's remaining contentions have been rendered academic.

Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is reversed and the matter is remitted to the District Court for all further proceedings.

GARGUILO, J.P., MARANO and TOLBERT, JJ., concur.