California Speeding Tickets, Unlike Any Other
Guilty or not, before you decide to fight a speeding ticket, you should discuss the circumstances with a traffic ticket attorney. Not all tickets are winnable even when you are not guilty, but there are many technicalities involved with speeding tickets. Traffic lawyers spend nearly every day in traffic court and hear rulings on various cases, so they know what elements of the CA Vehicle Code the state must prove to get a conviction.
A law enforcement officer (LEO) must receive training and certification on the radar or lidar device that they use to determine your speed, and the device must get calibrated within a specified timeframe, or it is not admissible as evidence. Likewise, the arresting officer must be present as you are constitutionally guaranteed the right to face your accuser. LEOs with many years on the force could guess your speed, and the judge may take their word over yours, particularly if you go into traffic court unrepresented.
Speeding Tickets and Insurance Premiums
California speeding tickets have the highest fine rates among all 50 states. They rank fourth worse overall, and a speeding ticket of almost $500 for 26 mph over the limit is one of the highest in the nation. If you receive a ticket for speeding more than 100 mph, your fine will be between $900 and $2600. If convicted, your insurance premium will skyrocket upon renewal to double or triple what you were paying. That is, if the insurance company will renew your policy. Worse yet, the judge has the discretion to suspend your driving privileges for 30 days, on the spot. Adding all these costs together results in speeding tickets that are very expensive. A conviction on a 100+ mph speeding ticket could cost as much as $10,000 in fines and increased insurance over the seven years it will stay on your motor vehicle driving record (MVR).
Never Go It Alone
Fighting a speeding ticket unrepresented, whether you are guilty or not, could be a recipe for disaster. When you fight the speeding ticket on your own and lose, you will need to pay the fine and court costs, plus the DMV will assess Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) points on your driving record, which will increase your insurance premiums.
The adage, “A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client,”often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, is very likely true; although whether “Honest Abe” said it first is debatable. Even lawyers from different professional areas know better than to represent themselves in the unfamiliar surroundings of traffic court. The pace of traffic court can make them look totally unprepared. Therefore, the wise course of action would be to discuss your ticket with a traffic attorney for Inyo County.
Traffic Attorneys for Inyo County
Bigger & Harman represent drivers in traffic courts in both Independence and Bishop, CA, courthouses. When you receive a speeding ticket in Inyo County, call Bigger & Harman, (661) 349-9300, to discuss your options before you decide to pay the fine or plead not guilty and fight the ticket. Bigger & Harman have been very successful in getting dismissals on 100+ mph speeding tickets across Central Valley.
Another option is to send them an email, attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com, with the details of your situation. Every detail about your ticket is important to determine whether to fight it or not. You will always get a reply, even if their advice is to pay the fine and accept traffic school if you are eligible.
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Se habla Español 661.349.9755.
References
CA Vehicle Code (CVC) 22348, Speed Laws
The CA DMV Portal
The 2018 California Superior Court Bail Schedule for Infractions and Misdemeanors.pdf