The first thing that flies through most people’s minds when they get pulled over is the financial implications of the ticket. California speeding ticket costs are some of the highest in the nation. Unless you are on the lam, you’re more than likely thinking about how you can afford to pay an outrageous amount of money when you are just trying to get by as it is.
It is hard to accurately quantify how much you will end up paying when everything is said and done. There are too many variables. You could end up hiring a lawyer. The Judge could lower the fine a bit in court if you make an ok but not great argument. It is also hard to determine how much your insurance company is going to raise your rates , which is the true cost of a california speeding ticket.
Regardless here is some examples of how much a typical speeding ticket might cost if you didn’t try to fight it and (just for fun) if you did try to beat the ticket and lost.
1-15 MPH Over The Speed Limit
Well first we are going to have to start you out with the base fine of:
$35
Does that seem a little low to you? Watch as the state of california uses the magic of fees to get more money out of you because next you are going to be hit with a state penalty assessment of 40 dollars.
$75
Then the county needs to assess your penalty for $28…
$103
Then the DNA penality assement…
$111
Then the court facility construction…
$131
Your going to need a 20% surcharge , as well …
$138
and finally the EMS penalty assessment..
$146
TOTAL $ 266
26 and greater MPH Over The Speed Limit
Base Fine-$100
State PA-$200
County PA-$270
DNA PA-$290
Court Facility Construction PA-$340
20% Surcharge -$360
EMS PA- $380
Total: $380
As you can see the fine itself is doesn’t even constitute half of the average cost of the ticket. After every state run organization in California evaluates your penalty you will be forking over a lot more than you originally expected to.
If you find the case serious enough to hire a lawyer and the lawyer loses the case you are looking at another $500 increasing your California speeding ticket cost to…
Total $ 880
And it is still possible that the lawyer might lose! Then there is traffic school which your going to want to do if you can to protect your insurance rates. Traffic school is going to cost an extra 200 dollars:
Total $1080
Unless you do online traffic school (you would have to be a glutton for punishment to not) its only $ 25.
Total 1080
and you could consider your total California speeding ticket cost to be…
Total $ 905
If you don’t have an extra grand lying around to fight your california speeding ticket you might be interested in fighting your ticket.
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