Unless you're very wealthy and don’t mind giving your money away, you don’t have much choice about fighting a 100+ speeding ticket.
A 100+ speeding charge carries a mandatory court appearance by either you or your attorney. You could go to court, plead guilty, and accept the consequences, but that’s not a wise choice.
You hear it all the time, “I’ll just throw myself on the mercy of the court.” That’s really not wise in Hanford Traffic Court in Kings County. The judges there are used to motorists who were caught doing 100+ between LAX and SF on I-5 and the normal consequences are pretty severe.
The fine alone will be somewhere between $900 and $2,500. However, that is only a small portion of what you will pay during the seven years after your conviction. The reason is that the DMV will assess the two negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) when they get notified of your conviction.
Once your auto insurance provider sees that you were convicted on a 100+ speeding ticket, they will double or triple your premium. The average Californian already pays $2,065 per year. Imagine paying another $2,000 to $4,000 per year for even three years. Those NOTS points are halfway to a negligent operator suspension of six months and probation for twelve months.
The DMV will issue a “Notice of Suspension and Probation” to those drivers who accumulate four NOTS points within a year, six points within two years, and eight within three years. Then, you only have ten days to request a hearing or get a driving privilege suspension.
However, if you show up in court without representation, you could give the judge the impression that you are minimizing the seriousness of the offense, and you do not want to do that. According to CA Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 22348, Speed Laws, the judge has the discretion to suspend your license for 30 days on the spot. Hanford traffic commissioners and judges have a long tradition of imposing those 30 day suspensions.
Possible Benefits of Hiring a Traffic Attorney to Fight Your 100+ Speeding Ticket
In addition to those listed above, here are some possibilities having a traffic attorney could benefit you with:
- You can go to work or school as if it’s any other day.
- Possibly get a reduced charge to a one point violation
- If the law enforcement officer who ticketed you doesn’t show up, or makes a mistake, a traffic attorney can ask for a dismissal.
One of the benefits we would normally list is that the attorney can appear for you. But Kings County is one of the only places in the state where the main traffic commissioner normally tries to require your presence even with an attorney. But our office has put together a strategy, and implemented it successfully, so that you legally do not have to appear.
Not only that, but we go the extra mile on making the officer jump through extra hoops in order to increase the odds the case will be dismissed.
Before you decide to “just throw yourself on the mercy of the court,” consult a CA traffic attorney who regularly appears in Kings County to resolve 100+ speeding tickets.
Consult With Bigger & Harman About a 100+ Speeding Ticket in Hanford Traffic Court
Call Bigger & Harman to discuss a 100+ speeding ticket defense (661) 349-9300.
We have a solid reputation for successfully defending 100+ mph speeding tickets across Central Valley—although there is no guarantee. We will work hard to give you the best chance of a dismissal or lesser charge and no suspension.
Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.
Email: attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
The 2021 CA Driver Handbook English y Español
CVC Section 22348, Speed Laws