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Should I Pay My Speeding Ticket?

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It happens. You’re running late for work and you don’t realize you’re pressing down on the gas as the numbers on your speedometer tick up. Blue lights come out of nowhere, and you’re faced with a speeding ticket. Some luck. While you might be inclined to just pay the ticket and get it over with, take a moment to consider the implications. Paying a speeding ticket has the same effect as entering a guilty plea, so it is important to be mindful of the possible consequences.

If you were speeding 14 miles per hour or fewer over the speed limit, this ticket will not result in any points on your license and will not be reported to the Department of Driver Services. If you were speeding over 14 mph above the speed limit, but less than 19 mph over, your ticket is considered a “super speeder” ticket, and entering a plea to that will result in 2 points on your license, the ticket is reported to DDS, and DDS assesses an additional $200 fine. Speeding 19-23 mph over the speed limit results in 3 points, the ticket is reported to DDS, and you are hit with the $200 fine from DDS. 24-33 mph over is 4 points, along with the other penalties outlined above, and speeding 34 mph or more over the speed limit results in 6 points, the ticket is reported, and you get the additional $200 fine.

Points on your license can have an adverse impact on the cost of your insurance, and getting 15 or more points within a 24 month period can result in a license suspension. If you are under 21, there may be additional penalties to paying speeding tickets. Before you pay that ticket and move on, make sure you understand the risks involved in doing so. We can help you negotiate reductions with the solicitor to help you get the best possible outcome when you are stuck with a speeding ticket.

If you have been charged with speeding, it is important to understand your options. We want to make sure you are educated and empowered throughout the criminal justice process. Give us a call for a free consultation at 404-581-0999. Written by Attorney Katherine A. Edmonds.

Speeding Laws in Georgia

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In Georgia, a speeding citation can result in a number of possible consequences. Not only will there be a monetary fine associated with driving over the maximum speed limit, but also the citation can add points to the driver’s record, which in turn could suspend his/her license, and possibly even increase costs of insurance.

The amount of the fine for speeding depends on multiple factors such as where the violation occurred, the driver’s previous record, and the posted speed limit. However, the maximum fines for a first time speeding violation are as follows:

  • $25 for driving > 5 mph over < 10 mph over the speed limit
  • $100 for driving > 10 mph over < 14 mph over the speed limit
  • $125 for driving > 14 mph over < 19 mph over the speed limit
  • $150 for driving > 19 mph over < 24 mph over the speed limit
  • $500 for driving > 24 mph over < 34 mph over the speed limit

Additionally, according to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-189, drivers in Georgia must pay an additional penalty on top of the fine collected from the speeding citation when drivers have been considered a “Super Speeder” under Georgia law. This fine is an additional $200. In Georgia, a “Super Speeder” is characterized as a driver convicted of speeding in one of the following ways:

  • The driver is convicted of speeding at 75 mph or more on a two-lane road; OR
  • The driver is convicted of speeding at 85 mph or more on any other road or highway in the State of Georgia.

The Georgia Super Speeder penalty must be paid prior to the deadline stated in the statute or the driver’s license will be at risk of suspension.

Point System

In Georgia, one of the consequences of certain speeding citations is that points are added to a driver’s record upon conviction. The Georgia Point System ranges from 2-6 points per offense. A driver with 15 points in a 24-month period will have his/her driver’s license suspended. The following speeding citations have the below-mentioned stated consequences to a driver’s record:

  • 15- 18 mph over the speed limit = 2 points
  • 19-23 mph over the speed limit = 3 points
  • 24-33 mph over the speed limit = 4 points
  • 34 + mph over the speed limit = 6 points

Due to the possibility of having your driver’s license suspended if either you are at risk of accumulating too many points or failure to pay your Georgia Super Speeder penalty, it is of vital importance to a hire an experienced traffic/ criminal defense attorney to advise you of all of your possible options, as well as your constitutional rights. At the Law Offices of W. Scott Smith, we do just that. Therefore, if you have been charged with speeding over the maximum limit, please call our office today at 404-581-0999 for a free consultation.