If you have been charged with speeding, you need the assistance of an experienced flat-fee speeding ticket lawyer to resolve it.
Many drivers forego challenging their speeding tickets because they believe they will have to pay a retainer or an unpredictable hourly wage to hire a speeding ticket lawyer to resolve their ticket.
If you’ve been cited for speeding in Visalia or Porterville in Tulare County, consult a knowledgeable, flat-fee speeding lawyer to discover your options and how affordable they can be when weighed against the fine and increased auto insurance premium.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to avoid the complexities of traffic court, the truth about traffic violator school, how much a speeding ticket conviction or paid fine actually costs, and what a knowledgeable and experienced traffic ticket attorney can do for you.
Avoiding Traffic Court with a Flat Fee Speeding Lawyer
One of the many benefits of hiring a flat-fee speeding ticket lawyer is having them represent you in court so you won’t miss work or school.
If you dispute your speeding ticket, you might have to sit through hours of an arraignment in traffic court waiting for your name to be called, only to plead not guilty and possibly come back another day for trial.
Traffic courts get busy with hundreds of tickets daily.
Plus, if you’re not in court, the judge can’t ask you any questions that, when answered, might lead to self-incrimination.
How Much Does a Speeding Ticket Conviction or Paid Fine Really Cost?
While you might see online claims that a speeding ticket in California costs only $35, $70, or $100, this is far from accurate. The original California legislation set speeding ticket fines at $35 for 1-15 mph over the limit, $70 for 16-24 mph over, and $100 for 25 mph over up to 100 mph.
So why do some people quote figures closer to $238, $360, or $490? Not to mention the potential for a speeding ticket of 100+ mph to cost as much as $2,137.
Over the years, the state legislature has added numerous surcharges, fees, penalties, and assessments to the base fine. These additional costs cover expenses like court construction, night court, emergency services, and DNA ID funding.
However, the financial impact of a speeding ticket extends beyond the fine itself. The most significant expense often lies in increased auto insurance premiums.
Insurance Premium Increases Due to a Speeding Ticket
If you’re convicted of speeding or simply pay the fine (essentially a guilty plea), your insurance company will eventually learn of the violation. As a result, they’ll likely remove your “good driver’s discount,” typically at renewal time. In California, by law, this discount is 20%.
Beyond that initial 20% increase, your insurance company will also add a percentage based on the perceived risk associated with your speeding violation. Each additional mile per hour over the speed limit increases this risk and, in theory, the cost.
While a speeding ticket of 1-15 mph might lead to an 8-10% increase, a ticket for 100+ mph could double or even triple your premium. On average, a speeding ticket of 10-25 mph can result in a 30-35% increase over three years. For the average California driver, this translates to an extra $1,764 over that period.
The DMV assigns one negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) point for minor traffic infractions and at-fault collisions.
This assessment of points is added to your motor vehicle driving record (MVR), which is a public record, and accessible to insurance companies, employers, college recruiters, or anyone else who requests it.
Traffic Violator School for a Speeding Ticket
Many people believe that attending traffic violator school (TVS) can erase a speeding ticket.
Unfortunately, this isn’t entirely true. Before you can attend TVS to keep your conviction confidential, you must plead guilty.
Additionally, there are specific circumstances that disqualify you from attending TVS. You can only use TVS to keep one minor infraction confidential every 18 months. For instance, you'll need court approval if you were speeding 25 mph or more over the limit.
Speeding 100+ mph is considered a major infraction and ineligible for TVS. If you have multiple pending traffic tickets, attending TVS might not be financially beneficial.
There are other situations where attending TVS might not be advisable, making it essential to discuss your options with a traffic attorney.
A flat-fee speeding ticket lawyer in Tulare County, CA, can provide guidance and representation to help you navigate the complexities of speeding ticket penalties and the potential consequences.
Consult with Bigger & Harman, the Flat-Fee Speeding Ticket Lawyers
If you’ve been cited for speeding in Visalia or Porterville in Tulare County, consult a knowledgeable, flat-fee speeding lawyer to discover your options. Contact the Bigger & Harman office at (661) 349-9300 — Se habla Español 349-9755.
Alternately, use the handy online contact form or email attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com. Send a copy or picture of your citation and a summary of the stop.
References:
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2024.
CA VC Section 22350, Speed Laws