Be Wise with Speed…

When it comes to issuing speeding tickets, Florida is fourth in the nation. In fact, this is the most commonly issued traffic citation, and the funds generated by speeding tickets or any other type of traffic ticket is big business. The income that speeding tickets generate benefits not only the city police departments that write the tickets, but also the county in which they are written. Even the State of Florida gets its share of this “cash cow.” Although local governments try to argue that enforcing speed limits saves lives, speed limits actually cause more accidents than they prevent. In analyzing the number of traffic-related deaths in relation to the number of miles driven over the last several decades, there is a much smaller percentage of people dying in traffic accidents. This is not due to imposed speed limits, as some would have you believe, but more the result of well-engineered, wider streets and cars that are designed with countless safety features in mind.

The Florida Department of Transportation published a book entitled Speed Zoning for Highways, Roads, and Streets in Florida. This book explains, in great detail, how to properly set speed limits. Unfortunately, it is not followed because cities and counties have become too dependent upon what I call the traffic ticket tax. Speed traps are one very popular method that municipalities use to generate revenue. Although many legislators will state that speed limits are set to keep people safe, or because they have gotten complaints about speeding in particular area, but the driving force behind speed traps is money. Not only does this cost drivers a great deal of money in fines and insurance hikes, but local businesses also suffer. People tend to avoid areas where there are speed traps set up, which can severely impact the amount of sales for the businesses in that area.

Anyone who drives is likely to get a speeding ticket sooner or later, and I am no exception. A couple of years ago, I got two speeding tickets while in Palm Beach County. Yes, I was guilty, so I did exactly what I advise others to do – I hired the Traffic Ticket Team and they got me off. One of tickets was dismissed, and I only had to pay a small court cost for the other citation. That’s right; no driving school and no points against my license. This is a true story that I chose to share with you so you can learn from my mistakes. Hiring the Traffic Ticket Team to fight my speeding tickets was the smartest thing I could do.
The ramifications of getting a speeding ticket fall into four categories with varying punishments. These are:

15 Miles Per Hour or Less Over the Lawful Speed

A speeding ticket in the State of Florida that ranges from 1 to 15 miles per hour above the posted speed limit will result in being fined and three points will be assessed against your driver’s license. These points remain against your license for three years, but the speeding ticket remains on your record forever. A speeding ticket of this nature does not require you to attend court, but you can do so if you choose to dispute the citation. You can pay the ticket, which is an admission of guilt, and then live with the consequences of a guilty conviction on your driving record. If you are eligible to do so, you can choose to attend driving school to avoid the points on your driver’s license. You will, however, still have the guilty conviction on your driving record. If you choose to dispute your speeding ticket in court, your best bet is to hire a traffic ticket attorney to represent you.

16 to 29 Miles Per Hour Over the Lawful Speed

If you are cited in the State of Florida for driving 16 miles per hour or more over the speed limit, you will still receive a fine and four points on your driver’s license. These points will stay on your driver’s license for three years and the traffic ticket will stay on your driving record forever. Again, this can cause your insurance rates to increase, depending on your insurance company. It is not required for you to appear in court for this type of speeding ticket.

30 to 49 Miles Per Hour or More Over the Lawful Speed

This is the second most serious type of speeding ticket you can receive in the State of Florida. If you receive a traffic ticket for exceeding the speed limit by 30 miles or more per hour over the posted limit, a fine is mandatory, and there is a the possibility of four points on your license, there is even a chance that your license may be suspended, and there will be a mandatory court date. This means that you have no choice but to appear in court or have an attorney present to represent you. The amount of the fine is assessed by the Judge at the court hearing. The points will stay on your driver’s license for three years and the ticket will stay on your record forever if you are found guilty. If you fail to appear at your mandatory court date, your license can be suspended.

50 Miles Per Hour or More Over the Speed Limit

Finally, there is what I call the “king” of Florida speeding tickets. The State of Florida considers this to be the most severe type of speeding ticket. If you receive a speeding ticket for 50 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit, you can expect a fine of $1,000. If this is not the first time you have committed this offense, you could be looking at a penalty of $2,500, and the third time can result in a third degree felony charge, the possibility of a $5,000 fine, and the revocation of your driver’s license for 10 years.

Although it may seem like a small difference between the first and second categories, unlike the television show Whose Line is it Anyway?, the points DO matter. If your insurance company is like most others, the more points you have on your license, the higher your insurance rates. A speeding ticket will always result in points against your license unless you successfully dispute the traffic citation in court. The best way to do so it by hiring a traffic ticket attorney.

Often when someone receives a speeding ticket in Florida, they are simply trying to keep up with traffic or they are running late. No matter the reason for your speeding, the outcome can certainly complicate your life. There is little malicious intent involved, but when pulled over for speeding, the cops are usually tougher than they need to be. Remember, that the cop doesn’t know you; he has no idea if you are a car thief, an escaped prisoner, or a traffic ticket attorney. You may cry, plead, or argue, but they are doing their job and those tactics generally don’t work. Your best bet is to just follow his directions, sign the citation, and then call the Traffic Ticket Team for your free case evaluation or visit our website at trafficticketteam.com.