So, you got a speeding ticket for doing 88 in a 70 mph zone; you looked on the internet, and it said the base fine was $70 for 16 to 24 mph over the speed limit. You grab your credit card and cash. You’re headed down to Hanford Courthouse on Kings County Drive when you run into an old friend.
You get talking, and the subject of speeding tickets comes up when he asks where you’re going.
Your friend tells you that the “base fine” is what the fine was when the traffic code was written in 1959.
He laughs and asks, “You really didn’t think the fine was just $70, did you?” He said, “In Cali, it’s more like ‘taxation by traffic citation.’ You really need legal representation. Talk to a traffic attorney, Dude. I used Bigger & Harman last time I had a ticket and they got it dismissed."
You must admit, you did think that was kind of low considering how many times you’ve heard how California has some of the most expensive traffic fines in the USA, but you wondered how much it really is.
A subsequent search of Google shows that the real fine is around $360 after adding the penalties, assessments, and surcharges, but what shocked you was what you read in Bigger & Harman’s article, “The Real Cost of a Speeding Ticket.”
What this blog post pointed out was that the real expense of a speeding ticket conviction is not the fine but the negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) points and insurance costs.
You learned that after a paid ticket, the DMV assesses one NOTS point for this minor infraction, which becomes a part of your motor vehicle driving record (MVR) for three years, which causes an increase in premiums when your insurance company learns of your speeding ticket at renewal.
You had some doubts about how much your insurance would go up until you read an article by Forbes, How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in California? Which said:
“The average California car insurance cost after a speeding ticket is $3,790 per year, an increase of $1,104. Based on rates from over 20 car insurance companies, our study found California car insurance costs go up over $1,100 annually on average when you have one speeding ticket on your driving record.”
Those numbers are high given the average price of full coverage auto insurance statewide. The Forbes figures likely add in the premium rise from speeding over 100 mph, which can double or triple your premium.
The actual average, according to Bankrate.com, was $2,290 for 2023 but will likely be higher for 2024 — especially with a speeding ticket conviction or paid fine. However, what you pay for auto insurance could be much higher or lower, depending on your coverage, where you live, your age, and a variety of other factors. The most significant factor is your driving record.
At renewal, your auto insurance company will remove your “good driver’s discount of 20%” for three years. For the average CA driver, that’s a $458 annual rise in premiums. Then, they’ll add the associated risk, usually 10 to 12%, for a minor infraction speeding ticket. You quickly do the math and discover that it’s another $229 at 10%.
So, some longer math shows that you will pay around $687 more per year in raised premiums, and after three years, the ticket will have cost you $687 times 3, or $2,061, plus $360 — about $2,421.
Suddenly, you’re very glad you ran into your old friend before you paid the fine. You make up your mind then and there to call Bigger & Harman and find out what your options are — there has to be an option that’s cheaper than $2,421.
Consult Bigger & Harman About Your Speeding Ticket in Kings County
When you’ve been cited for speeding in Kings County, contact Bigger & Harman, APC, at (661) 349-9300 to discover your options for disputing it in Hanford Courthouse.
Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.
Also, use can use our handy contact form or email attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2023.
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
The Forbes article, How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in California?
CVC Section 22349, Speed Laws.