How much are speeding tickets in California in 2021?
Posted on October 19, 2021 by John
A lot! California is one of the most expensive states for speeding penalties. While you may see the freeway as pretty “free” of monitoring by CHiPS, you would be mistaken. California takes its speed limits both on the freeway and local roads very seriously. If you get caught speeding, you might be surprised by the cost of driving too fast on California roads.
Challenging a Speeding Ticket in Court
You can, of course, challenge any traffic ticket. But be advised, speeding tickets are very difficult to defend. A good attorney can advise court date postponements and other tactics likely to keep the law enforcement officer from showing up, in which case you might win. But you shouldn’t bet on that. When challenging a ticket, you should consider:
- Cost of the ticket
- Time and money lost in court appearances and fighting the case
- Attorney fees
Cost of tickets in California
miles over:
1-15 $35
16-25 $70
26-99 $100
100+ $200
While the above are technically listed as the cost for speeding, all sorts of surcharges, fees and penalties, some up to 50% or 100% of your base fine, can be added on if you were speeding in a safety enhanced zone, road work zone, or school zone.
The Real Projected Costs of a Ticket
Expect to pay about $230 for a speeding ticket if you’re 15 mph over the limit, nearly $360 for going up to 25 mph over, and about $500 for going above 26 mph but under 100 mph. You will have to pay about $800 if you’re caught above 100 mph with the inevitable added charges.
And then there’s your car insurance
Most drivers do not pay attention to this factor as it usually comes up later. On average, a single speeding ticket will raise your insurance at least $200 a year. With some insurers, a 40-year-old driver can expect a 42% insurance hike after just one speeding ticket.
Call Us
An experienced traffic attorney may get those additional costs reduced, and even get you out of paying entirely. If you have been given a speeding ticket and live in Barstow, San Bernardino County, or Mojave, call David Leicht, Esq @ 760-256-3104 for a free case evaluation.
