Before you consider the consequences of getting caught speeding down the Grapevine in the California mountains, you must consider the weather changes quickly, and the speed limit does too.

An even more significant problem on the 5 going up or down the Grapevine is slow drivers in the fast lane. This should not be happening, and all too often, it leads to a road rage incident. Some drivers just get out there and stay. Even though they’re too scared to drive fast, they stay in the fast lane to avoid the big trucks in the two right lanes.

The temperatures up in the Tejon Pass can go from 65°F to 35°F in a few hours, and the windchill factor will make it seem a lot colder. The speeds up there can go from 55 mph to 95 mph because it’s all downhill. What’s more, who goes the speed limit in CA?

A speeding ticket for 25 mph over the speed limit comes with a fine of around $490 in Lamont Traffic Court in Kern County or Chatsworth Courthouse in LA County.

Maybe you’re thinking about just going to the court clerk’s office, paying the fine, and accepting traffic violator’s school (TVS) to keep your speeding ticket confidential from your insurance company. That’s not going to happen.

The first reason it won’t is that you will need to make an appointment with the court clerk’s office, and secondly, the court clerk cannot approve TVS for speeding 25 mph or more over the speed limit. You will probably need a traffic attorney to arrange that for you.

The best course of action is to consult with a traffic attorney about challenging your speeding ticket in court, pay their reasonable fee, and go on about your business until they notify you of what’s next.

Proposition 103, the Good Driver’s Discount, & Speeding Convictions

You might think that a lawyer will cost more than the fine, but as we said earlier, speeding 25 mph over the limit is $490, and without TVS eligibility, your auto insurance premium could rise 40 or 50%. This is especially true for a young driver or a parent with a young driver on their policy.

First, with a conviction or paid fine, your insurance provider will take your “good driver’s discount” of 20% and then add the appropriate amount that matches the risk associated with speeding 25 mph over the speed limit.

Traffic ticket fines are expensive in CA but nowhere near what you will pay in increased auto insurance premiums. The average CA driver pays $1962 per year for coverage. You could pay more or less depending on your age, the drivers' age in your household, your zip code, and several other factors.

In 1988, the CA voters approved Proposition 103, which limited what insurance companies could charge within the state. It also mandated a good driver’s discount that would give drivers with a clean record 20% off after all the other factors were considered. But when you get that first ticket that you cannot keep confidential, it seems as if they consider that their green light to charge a hefty premium.

Traffic Attorneys Who Handle Speeding Tickets in Kern or Los Angeles County

When you get ticketed for speeding on the Grapevine, call Bigger & Harman, (661) 349-9300. Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.

We are attorneys who practice only traffic law, or DMV NOTS hearings. If you always hire us for the first, you will likely not need to worry about the second. Give us a call; let’s discuss your situation. The call is free, and we use a flat fee to resolve your traffic ticket.

Email: attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.

References: