Uh-oh. You knew you were going too fast, and now you see the flashing lights of a police vehicle signaling you to pull over. As you comply, one of the things running through your mind is what this will mean in fines and penalties. Here’s what you need to know.
Speeding Tickets and Points
How many points accumulate on your license depends on how fast you were traveling and whether you got in an accident. When you go 15 miles per hour or less over the speed limit, you'll get three points on your record. The good news is that such minor violations may only require going to online traffic school and completing a four-hour basic driver improvement course. This will keep points off your license and lower any fines.
The bad news is that if you receive several minor violations, basic traffic school isn’t an option. You may have the opportunity to complete an eight-hour defensive driving course instead.
More drastic speeding penalties are as follows:
If you were going faster than 15 mph over the speed limit, you'll get four points on your license.
If the speeding resulted in an accident, that is six points.
If you were texting while you got into an accident, that's an additional three points added to the primary offense.
Twelve points of any kind in a 12-month period means a 30-day license suspension. If a minor receives six or more points in a one-year period, they'll receive an automatic license restriction.
If you do have a suspended license, you may need to take a 12-hour advanced driver improvement course to get back on the road.
High-Speed Speeding
High-speed speeding, or going 50 mph or more over the speed limit, is in a category of its own when it comes to this type of moving violation. You can go to jail for driving this fast if it is combined with other offenses. A police officer can easily charge you with reckless driving.
Those charged a third time for driving 50 mph or more over the speed limit can end up facing third-degree felony charges. Any kind of felony in Florida involves an arrest. A third-degree felony can mean up to five years in prison, license revocation for 10 years, and up to $5,000 in fines.
Speeding Ticket Fines
As with points, how much you will pay in fines for a Florida speeding ticket depends on how fast you were moving as well as the county you were traveling in. Using the city of Haleah in Miami-Dade County as an example, here's what you might expect to pay for your Florida speeding ticket.
Even traveling just a few miles over the speed limit — 6 to 9 mph — will cost you $144.
If you were going between 10 and 14 mph over the limit, expect to pay a $219 fine.
Zoom 15 to 19 mph over the posted speed limit, and the ticket will set you back $269.
20 to 29 mph over the limit brings a $294 penalty.
Going more than 30 mph over the speed limit means you face a mandatory court hearing. Prepare yourself for a reckless driving charge, which is a criminal misdemeanor, and a fine of at least $369. For such a hearing, it is wise to obtain legal representation.
If you're going 50 mph or more over the speed limit, your fine is $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for the second.
Speeding Tickets and Insurance Rates
Bob Adams, the eponymous owner of the Bob Adams Insurance Agency in Sarasota, Florida, explains how speeding violations affect auto insurance premiums.
“Speeding tickets in Florida will affect your rate based on the severity of the speeding tickets,” said Adams. “We have a minor and a major classification. Minors are 15 mph and less over the speed limit and have a very negligible impact, if at all. A major speeding ticket is 15 mph plus over the speed limit and can count as a chargeable violation against your insurance premiums.”
Adams notes that speeding violations will remain on the insurance for the next three years or 35 months, based on the individual carrier.
Get Points off Your License With I Drive Safely
Though we can't help you avoid speeding fines in Florida, we can help you get those points off your license so you can get back on the road. Learn more about our Florida online traffic school so you can find the course that meets your needs.
