Many drivers get the false impression that the vast open roads in Mojave are not heavily patrolled and that they won’t be stopped for speeding. However, a speeding 100+ mph ticket, even for a first offense, will require a mandatory court appearance in Mojave Superior Court.
Some drivers get out there on the desert roads and even State Highway 58 and think there are no consequences for exceeding the speed limit. Some even believe it’s an out-of-the-way place to hold a street race or speed contest.
Be very careful of that, as it is a misdemeanor crime to participate or aid in the organization of a speed contest or street race, sometimes called a “sideshow.” Moreover, the law enforcement officer (LEO) could write two violations, one for speeding 100+ mph and another for a speed contest.
What the Traffic Code Says Speeding 100+ MPH
CA Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 22348 (b), Speed Laws, states, “A person who drives a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than 100 miles per hour is guilty of an infraction…” Further, it states that if convicted, the first-time offender will be fined “…not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).”
However, this was the base fine when the code was written in 1959. Since then, CA legislators have added ten surcharges, penalties, and assessments to fund DNA testing, EMT, EMS, night court operation, court construction, and state & county assessments to fund other projects. Those additional penalties could bring the total to five times that $500 amount.
Typically, a driver convicted of speeding 100+ mph could pay a fine of between $900 and $2,500. That fine amount is trivial compared to the increase in auto insurance premiums.
Although drivers who live in small towns like Mojave pay less than many other CA municipalities, the average CA driver pays $2,190 annually for full coverage. Imagine what paying twice that would do to your family budget.
Also, CVC Section 12810, Issuance and Renewal of Licenses, authorizes the DMV to assess two negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) points for a conviction of any major infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies.
Those two NOTS points are halfway to a six-month suspension and concurrent 12-month probation. Imagine how inconvenient not having a driver’s license in Mojave or another small town would be.
Further, the conviction of a major infraction could stay on your motor vehicle driving record (MVR) for up to seven years. Therefore, the double auto insurance premium could cost you around $15,300. It would be wise to consult a Kern County traffic attorney immediately.
What’s more, the judge has the discretion to suspend your driver’s license for 30 days immediately. Therefore, if you do not hire a traffic attorney and go into Mojave Superior Court without representation, you might hear the judge say, “Leave your driver’s license with the bailiff. You won’t need it for the next 30 days, and pay your fine of $2,139 to the court clerk on your way out.”
These figures are not a dramatization. These are actual penalties.
For more information about the legal consequences of speeding 100+ mph in Mojave, CA, read our blog post, The Legal Results of Speeding 100+ in the Mojave.
Consult the Bakersfield, CA, Speeding Attorneys, Bigger & Harman
Call Bigger & Harman at Bakersfield (661) 349-9300, use our website’s contact form to set up an appointment for a consultation quickly, or email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
We offer CA drivers a free, no-obligation initial consult for speeding 100+ mph. We have a great deal of experience with this offense in Mojave, CA, and Central Valley.
References:
The 2021 CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
CVC Section 22348, Speed Laws & 12810, Issuance and Renewal of Licenses.