If You Get a Speeding Ticket on I-5 in California, Consult with an Attorney
Don’t let this happen to you taking the family to Six Flags Magic Mountain or Fisherman’s Wharf in San Fran. Things can move pretty quickly on the I-5 north of Los Angeles, and your speed might creep up over the limit when you think you are just keeping up with traffic. You swing out to pass a slower car, and then you see the lights.
Do you really need an attorney if you wind up getting a speeding ticket? Not always, but you should always consult with an attorney before you decide to fight a speeding ticket or pay the fine. The fines in CA are outrageous, but not as ridiculous as the increased insurance premiums, which could reach $1500 more than you’re paying now.
How Do the Police Check Speeds on I-5?
I-5 is the only interstate highway that reaches both the Canadian and Mexican borders. It connects several roads built by California before President Eisenhower began the Interstate Highway system in 1956. Some sections of what is now I-5 were built as early as 1910. Some newer sections have 22 lanes.
With so many cars on the road, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has to use more than one method to keep drivers at or near the speed limit.
The easiest way to check speed is to use a radar unit that is installed in a patrol car. A monitor shows the speed of each car as it passes through the radar’s beam. This kind of radar can be kept on continuously as the patrol car does its rounds. There are also radar and lidar guns, which can be used from a stationary car or motorcycle. Lidar is a form of laser technology that tracks your speed.
The CHP also has over 30 aircraft which can check the speed of a vehicle by flying over it at the same speed. However, it is considered a speed trap if the aircraft is the only means of monitoring the vehicle’s speed or identifying the vehicle. A patrol car or motorcycle on the ground must pace the vehicle and have it in sight to make the speeding ticket legal. It is very difficult to tell exactly which white sedan or SUV was the one speeding from the air. But, they can alert police on the ground if they see a speeding car.
Consult with a Traffic Attorney Who Serves Santa Clarita
Getting a speeding ticket in California carries serious consequences. While the base fee of $35 for 1-15 mph over the limit may seem low, there are ten additional charges, assessments, and fees added on by the state and county.
You will also get a Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) point on your license, and your insurance premiums could go up for the 36 to 39 months the conviction will stay on your motor vehicle driving record (MVR). By the time you add all of these costs, your $35 fine could cost you over $235-250. Plus, the added insurance for three years could total $1500. So, you see, the fine is just the beginning. If you were driving more than 15 mph above the speed limit, the costs would be considerably higher.
Speeding 15-25 mph has a base fine of $70, with added fees of almost $360. Speeding 25+ mph over up to 100 mph is a base fine of $100; with fees, $490-500. A conviction for speeding over 100 mph will get you a base fine of $300-500 and could cost between $900 and $2600, two NOTS points, which will stay on your MVR for seven years, and double or triple your insurance premiums - if they keep you. Additionally, the judge can suspend your license on the spot for a period of 30 days.
An experienced traffic ticket attorney can help you decide whether it makes sense to fight the ticket. If you decide to fight, you will certainly need an attorney’s help. He or she will know what to ask the law enforcement officer. The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt you were guilty of speeding. Don’t go to traffic court alone!
See what friends and neighbors are saying about our legal services on Yelp. Like this comment from Bo H. from Santa Clarita, “I have to say I am 100% satisfied with the services provided by this firm! This was my first time hiring an attorney for a traffic ticket, and it was as painless as it could possibly be! Any questions big or small were promptly answered and I was constantly kept up to date with the status of my case. Which went on for almost a year! Big shout out to Paul, Mark and Haily for making me one happy client! No doubt that I will be recommending your firm to anyone I know. THANK YOU!”
Call Bigger & Harman, (661) 349-9300. Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.
Send an email to attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
California Vehicle Code (CVC) 21453, Offenses Relating to Traffic Devices
The 2018 CA Driver Handbook .pdf
The 2018 California Superior Court Bail Schedule for Infractions and Misdemeanors.pdf