A speeding ticket can be a blemish on your permanent record. When you are driving on the road, you are required to abide by traffic laws and regulations. Any traffic infractions can earn you penalties which are meant to deter you from repeating these infractions. Traffic violations are also considered a kind of negligence when they result in crashes. If you have been involved in a crash caused by the negligence of another driver, you can seek compensatory damages with the help of an Augusta car accident lawyer.
When a traffic infraction doesn’t result in a crash or isn’t too serious in nature, it may still end up earning points on your driver’s license. The more points you have, the more you are likely to have your license suspended. Here is a look at how speeding tickets impact your licensing privileges in Georgia, and how you can get a speeding ticket off of your record.
What is a Speeding Ticket?
A speeding ticket is a kind of penalty you receive for exceeding the designated speed limits on the road. A small amount of fine has to be paid for the ticket. You also earn points on your license for the traffic violation. If you exceed a specified limit by 15 mph to 34 mph in Georgia, you get a speeding ticket. The number of points you receive for the violation range from 2 to 6, depending on how far you were exceeding the speed limit when penalized.
Impact of Speeding Tickets on Driving Record
Speeding tickets may apparently incur minor penalties but these penalties can really add up over time. The points you get on your driving license as a result of speeding tickets can result in:
- Suspension of your driving license. If you earn too many speeding tickets and penalty points within a defined time period, you face imminent license suspension. As per Georgia laws, if you earn 15 points within a 24-month period, your license will be revoked.
- Hefty Fines. The fines for speeding tickets increase exponentially with the degree of your speeding. The actual fines may vary from one place to another within Georgia. The minimum fine for speeding is $100, and the maximum can go up to $600 and more. You may also need to pay court fees and other surcharges depending on the nature of your conviction.
- Increase in Insurance Premiums. Speeding tickets result in an increase in your insurance premiums. This is because a speeding ticket shows that you are a potentially high-risk driver who may cause a crash. The premium on your auto insurance may not increase after a first ticket but a second or third ticket can result in a significant increase in your insurance rates.
Getting a Speeding Ticket Off Your Record
When you get a speeding ticket, you have the option of contesting the ticket in court. If you are able to contest it successfully, the ticket does not go on your record and you don’t have to pay any fines.
However, if you have accumulated points on your driving record due to multiple speeding tickets, there are other ways to have these points removed.
Georgia Code Section 40-5-86 stipulates that you can apply to have a maximum of 7 points reduced from your record within a 5-year period. This means that you can utilize this option only once in 5 years.
However, you must meet certain requirements to qualify for this. These include enrolling in a certified driver improvement course and providing proof of completion. Once you have the certificate, you must provide it to the Department of Driver Services (DDS).
If you have committed a minor moving violation, a judge may even allow you the option of avoiding a ticket altogether. This is typically allowed in exchange for completing a 6-hour defensive driving program. The great thing about this is that it keeps your driving record clean and saves you from possibly higher insurance rates.
Get Help from an Augusta Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been suffered a car crash while another driver was committing a traffic violation, you may have a valid claim for damages. The violation itself can be used in proving the fault of the other driver. Here at Ted Greve & Associates, we help you seek maximum compensation for your losses caused by an at-fault party. Our lawyers work with you to recover damages in lieu of property damage, injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Get in touch today to discuss your case in detail in a free consultation.
