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People v. Massian

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 9th and 10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
Jun 28, 2018
60 Misc. 3d 134 (N.Y. App. Term 2018)

Opinion

2017-997 S CR

06-28-2018

The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. William L. MASSIAN, Appellant.

Zelli & Cahill, PC (Scott Lockwood of counsel), Deer Park, for appellant. Suffolk County Traffic Prosecutor's Office (Justin W. Smiloff of counsel), for respondent.


Zelli & Cahill, PC (Scott Lockwood of counsel), Deer Park, for appellant.

Suffolk County Traffic Prosecutor's Office (Justin W. Smiloff of counsel), for respondent.

PRESENT: ANTHONY MARANO, P.J., JERRY GARGUILO, JAMES V. BRANDS, JJ

ORDERED that the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

The People charged defendant in a simplified traffic information with speeding ( Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1180 [b] ), alleging that defendant had operated his motor vehicle at a speed of 82 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour speed zone. Following a nonjury trial, the District Court convicted defendant of speeding and imposed a $250 fine, and, among other things, an administrative fee of $55.

In his brief on appeal, defendant argues that the proof at trial failed to establish (1) the identity of the driver of the vehicle, (2) the officer's ability to estimate the speed of a moving vehicle, (3) the distance and time defendant had been observed speeding by the officer, and (4) the calibration of the laser device that had been used to record the speed of defendant's vehicle. However, in his "affirmation of errors" (see CPL 460.10 [3 ] ), defendant merely alleged, among other things, that the trial evidence presented by the People was legally insufficient to sustain his conviction and that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. As the affidavit of errors failed to specify how the "evidence was insufficient as a matter of law," the District Court's return, understandably, made no reference to the claims now raised. Consequently, these claims are unpreserved for our review (see People v. Angel , 39 Misc 3d 149[A], 2013 NY Slip Op 50946[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2013] ).

Upon an independent review of the court's return, we are satisfied that the verdict of guilt was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v. Romero , 7 NY3d 633 [2006] ).

Defendant's contention that the imposition of the administrative fee in the sum of $55 was unauthorized, since state law preempts the imposition of such a fee, is similarly not preserved for appellate review (see People v. Cataldo , 57 Misc 3d 153[A], 2017 NY Slip Op 51597[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2017] ). In any event, the administrative fee in the sum of $55 imposed by the court is authorized and is not preempted by state law (see People v. Gray , 58 Misc 3d 155[A], 2018 NY Slip Op 50184[U] [App Term, 2d Dept, 9th & 10th Jud Dists 2018] ).

Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

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


Summaries of

People v. Massian

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 9th and 10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
Jun 28, 2018
60 Misc. 3d 134 (N.Y. App. Term 2018)
Case details for

People v. Massian

Case Details

Full title:The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. William L. Massian…

Court:SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT, 9th and 10th JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

Date published: Jun 28, 2018

Citations

60 Misc. 3d 134 (N.Y. App. Term 2018)
2018 N.Y. Slip Op. 51048
2018 N.Y. Slip Op. 51049
110 N.Y.S.3d 197

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