As the summer heat seems to linger into the early fall, more and more people in the High Desert head into the mountains around Bishop and Independence for a quick weekend getaway. Getting there truly is half the fun, because the scenery is amazing, the towns are quaint (carnivores will enjoy Mahogany Smoked Meats in Bishop), and, for the most part, the people are friendly. It’s incredible how quickly all that stuff comes to a halt, however, once you see flashing lights in your rear-view mirror.

On Highway 395, the speed limit is generally 65 mph. However, there are a lot of little towns that trigger sudden speed limit drops, and if you miss a sign, a CHP officer will be happy to point out your error. Out on the open road, going 100mph in a 65mph zone is essentially like travelling 60mph in a 40mph: it’s fast but not insanely fast, especially if there is little traffic.

100+mph Speeding

Under VC 22348(b), those extra few ticks on the speedometer will cost you dearly. For a first-time infraction at 100mph, the bail (fines and penalty assessment) is $850, and the fine goes up substantially for higher speeds or subsequent infractions. There’s more bad news, because 100+ mph speeding tickets may cause your auto insurance rates to go through the roof because this violation stays on your record for 7 years instead of the normal three. The approximately $900 fine is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the thousands of dollars in increased insurance premiums.

These tickets are bad news for your driving record as well, because they are two-point infractions and traffic school-ineligible offenses; there is also a possible 30 day license suspension. Furthermore, and you’ll have to trust me on this, there’s a good reason the county courthouse is not a sought-after tourist destination.

An attorney can appear for you and typically get the charge reduced to a traffic-school eligible infraction, which also reduces the fine and lessens the insurance premium hike.

Getting Legal Help

The aggressive lawyers at Bigger & Harman, APC, are committed to giving individuals a voice when dealing with speeding and traffic tickets. Call today at 661-859-1177 or email attorney@markbigger.com to receive the personal professional attention you deserve. En español, llame al 661-376-0214.