Georgia speeding tickets may be a minor inconvenience in some cases, and a major financial setback in others. In addition to the embarrassment and delay caused by a traffic stop, they also have to pay the fine associated with the ticket.
The fine could start as low as $25 but could cost as much as $500, with the potential for a $200 Super Speeder fee in special cases. Most people think nothing of paying the ticket, even if they are subject to large surcharges. They may not realize that doing so is the equivalent of pleading guilty to a traffic offense and that they could face several significant secondary costs as a result of pleading guilty to a traffic violation.
Tickets affect insurance rates
Insurance is mandatory for drivers in Georgia. Carrying liability coverage protects people from financial hardship if they are at fault for a crash and reduces the likelihood of others taking legal action against them if they cause losses for others.
What people have to pay for insurance depends on various details about the vehicle and even their driving record. Insurance companies tend to charge more for those with recent citations on their record.
Drivers can expect a roughly 26% increase in their insurance rates after a single speeding ticket. Multiple speeding tickets or particularly serious speeding tickets could increase rates more than that. Drivers can expect to pay those higher rates for three years after a citation in most cases.
Tickets can cost a driver their license
The other issue with pleading guilty to a traffic citation is the potential to accumulate points. The state tracks traffic violations and assesses points for each offense. If a driver accumulates 15 points within 24 months, the state could suspend their driver’s license.
Citations issued when professional drivers are in their own vehicles could also impact their eligibility for a commercial driver’s license. They could be at risk of losing their job because of a speeding ticket issued while they were off duty.
Drivers have the right to defend their interests against citations. Fighting a speeding ticket in court with the assistance of a skilled legal team may actually be more cost-effective than paying it. Motorists who understand the secondary consequences of paying a ticket can make better decisions about their traffic citations.
