There can be a world of difference between what it costs a regular driver and what it costs for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) speeding ticket conviction or paid fine.

CDL Speeding: Three Levels of Concerns

Although there is a tight bandwidth of speed within which most truckers or bus drivers fall, there are typically three levels of anxiety. Bus operators and truck drivers rarely get ticketed for 100+ mph speeding tickets. It just doesn’t happen.

However, a bandwidth of around 20 mph over exists. A sudden speed limit change generally accompanies extreme grades. The Grapevine, Donner Pass, Cajon Pass, and others fall under CA Vehicle Code 22407, Speed Laws, which declares that a Caltrans or a local survey “…may determine and declare a speed limit…” as low as 20 mph might be “reasonable and safe” and thus legal as long as signs are posted along the highway.

Another pertinent section of CVC is 22348 (c), Speed Laws, or designated slow lane. This section of the CA code states that vehicles subject to CVC 22406 must use the immediate right lane for travel and the second land for overtaking or passing unless preparing to make a left-hand turn.

#1 — CDL Speeding: 6-10 MPH over the Limit

The conviction on a CDL speeding ticket for between 6 and 10 mph will result in a typical fine in CA of between $230 and $280 depending on the county and their court costs. The driver will get assessed 1.5 NOTS points and 4 CSA severity points.

#2 — CDL Speeding: 11-14 MPH over the Limit

The conviction on a CDL speeding ticket for between 11 and 14 mph will result in a typical fine in CA of between $230 and $280 depending on the county and their court costs. The driver will get assessed 1.5 NOTS points and 7 CSA severity points.

#3 — CDL Speeding: 15 MPH or More over the Limit

When a CMV driver is convicted for CDL speeding 15 mph or more over the 55 mph speed limit, such as doing 70 mph, this is an FMCSA “serious offense” and under CVC 22406.1, Other Speed Laws, a misdemeanor crime. Although the fine could be between $230 and $500, the driver could serve from 5 to 90 days in the county jail or probation.

The driver, if convicted, will be assessed the maximum ten severity points under the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) system, which could be multiplied by two or three, depending on how recent the driver or firm received other violations in the same Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) category within the Safety Measurement System (SMS). The total could be thirty if another violation occurred within the safe driving category within the previous six months, or twenty with a violation up to 12 months earlier.

If the driver is convicted of a second incident a “separate offense of a serious traffic violation,” 15 or more mph over the limit within three years of the first, the driver will be disqualified from driving a CMV for 60 days under Section 13506 and a 120-day disqualification for a third within three years according to Section 13508.

Consult a Traffic Ticket Attorney Who Handles Chatsworth in LA County or Lamont in Kern County

Call Bigger & Harman in Bakersfield, (661) 349-9300, when you get a CDL speeding ticket on the Grapevine and have a Chatsworth or Lamont Traffic Court date. Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.

We handle traffic tickets and DMV Hearings across California, particularly for CDL holders. We offer free consultations, flexible schedules, and a proven record of success. Give us a call or email today, attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.

References:

The 2019 CA Commercial Driver Handbook.pdf