California Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator
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The cost of a speeding ticket in California will depend on a variety of factors including how fast you were going. If you are operating a non-commercial vehicle then most speeding tickets have three fine tiers depending on how fast you were going compared to the speed limit. Each ticket will also add at least 1 more point onto your driving record if it is not eliminated.
How Much Does A California Speeding Ticket Typically Cost?
The fines for different speeding levels include:
- $238 + 1 DMV point – 1-15 MPH over limit
- $367 + 1 DMV point – 16-25 MPH over limit
- $490 + 1 DMB point – 26+ MPH over limit
Do note that if your speed is over 100 MPH then this will result in a $900 fine as well as 2 DMV points being added to your license.
Fines For Different Zones
The fines are increased if you are caught speeding in certain zones and locations. This includes both construction zones as well as safety enhancement zones.
For construction zones you could be hit with fines of:
- $367 + 1 DMV point – 1-15 MPH over limit
- $525 + 1 DMV point – 16-25 MPH over limit
- $648 + 1 DMB point – 26+ MPH over limit
If you are caught speeding in safety enhancement zones will be:
- $280 + 1 DMV point – 1-15 MPH over limit
- $409 + 1 DMV point – 16-25 MPH over limit
- $532 + 1 DMB point – 26+ MPH over limit
What Should You Expect If You Are Caught Speeding?
If you are caught speeding you may receive a courtesy notice approximately two to four weeks before the citation is issued. Do note that these courtesy notices are not mandatory. You must take action regardless of whether or not you receive one.
Why Is It Difficult To Use A Calculator To Work Out The Cost Of Your Speeding Ticket?
It can be quite difficult to work out the exact cost of your speeding ticket in California. The reason for this is that each jurisdiction or city and county can add their own fees on top of the typical speeding amount. So, you might be fined $367 but a county could add $100 on top of this if they believe the situation permits it.
That’s why the best way to determine the specific amount you will need to pay is to contact the court. You can typically find contact information or details on the specific court at the bottom of the ticket. Some counties will also provide you with the option of accessing information on your speeding ticket online.
However, do note all counties provide this option. So, you might either need to call or take a trip to the traffic court to find out the specific fine amount. Your exact amount will also typically be noted in the courtesy notice. However, as we have mentioned, notices like this will not always be sent out as the courts are under no requirement to do so. If you don’t hear from the court after a couple of weeks, you should contact the court office a few weeks prior to your appearance for the speeding ticket.
Are There Other Factors That Can Add To The Cost?
It’s largely well known that the cost of speeding tickets have been on the rise in California over the last few years. While base fines have remained the same, additional costs have caused the rise.
There are several additional penalty assessments that can cause the cost to increase. This includes emergency medical services as well as construction assessments. Due to penalty assessments like this, the cost of speeding tickets has now quadrupled since 1993. That’s why it’s important to understand the right steps that you should take if you are hit with a speeding ticket.
Why Should You Fight A Speeding Ticket?
The main cost of a speeding ticket is not actually the initial charge that you will pay. Instead, the main cost is often going to be the change to your insurance premium. Depending on how fast you were traveling, a speeding ticket can cause your speeding ticket to rise significantly. To deal with this, you should think about fighting your speeding ticket.
If you are unsuccessful in fighting your speeding ticket, then you can also apply for traffic school. By applying for traffic school you can avoid points being added onto your license. However do note that in California you can only attend traffic school once every 18 months. This is why it is recommended that you do fight the speeding ticket first before you explore the option of traffic school.
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Photograph your ticket & license.
*If you don’t have your ticket handy, it’s okay — you can still start the process and just add it later!
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Provide info through guided questions.
*Be sure to quickly add as many notes about the stop as you can so you don’t leave out any important details!
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Sign & send your defense to court.
*We will send you a completed packet for the court that just needs your signature and a stamp!
What Types of Tickets Do We Help With?
GetDismissed produces results in fighting all kinds of tickets. Unfortunately, this list does not include exhibition of speed citations. Your best bet in fighting one of these infractions, is to contact an attorney. An attorney can negotiate on your behalf to try and reduce fines, or even to reduce the charges to a lesser infraction which could possibly qualify for traffic school.
We do however, contest infractions revolving around speeding, red lights, red light cameras, cell phones, signs (primarily stop signs), carpool violations, U-turns, out of lane violations, and commercial violations. If you receive a citation and have questions, contact us today.
