Many people think of speeding tickets as minor issues. They don’t think twice about just paying the ticket, which is essentially pleading guilty to a Class A traffic infraction. A history of traffic violations can affect insurance rates and may even eventually cost a driver their license.
Many drivers habitually speed. They become so accustomed to exceeding the posted speed limit that they exceed the speed limit frequently and might even increase how much they exceed the posted speed limit. Not all speeding offenses are the same. The higher the speed of the driver, the worse the possible penalties they’ll face if they plead guilty or are convicted of a related traffic infraction.
What are the penalties for speeding?
The severity of a speeding offense largely depends on how much a driver exceeds the posted speed limit. Speeding tickets for traveling at between one and four miles per hour (mph) over the limit can carry a $30 fine and a $6 surcharge. For infractions involving a speed between five and nine mph above the limit, the costs increase to a $70 fine and a $10 surcharge.
Drivers cited for speeds between 10 and 19 mph above the limit pay $135 in fines and $16 in surcharges. A citation for driving at between 20 and 24 mph over the limit carries a $200 fine and a $32 surcharge.
Once the speeding offense involves traveling at 25 mph or more over the limit, the issue becomes a Class 2 misdemeanor, not just a Class A traffic infraction. The fine could cost between $150 and $300, and the driver faces between 10 and 90 days in jail as well. A misdemeanor speeding offense in a construction zone could lead to between $300 and $1,000 in fines and between 10 days and a year in jail. And, as noted above, there are also the secondary consequences related to licensing and insurance to consider.
Drivers can theoretically fight traffic citations, regardless of whether they face a ticket or a misdemeanor charge. Reviewing what led to speeding allegations with a skilled legal team can help motorists understand their options and respond effectively to a recent citation or arrest.