Pennsylvania Speeding Ticket Lawyer

The state strictly enforces all traffic laws related to speed to promote safety on Pennsylvania roads and highways. A conviction on a speeding ticket can result in high fines, traffic school attendance, increased insurance rates, and loss of your driving privileges. As a result, it may be essential to contact a Pennsylvania speeding ticket lawyer for advice if you have received a speeding ticket.

A knowledgeable traffic lawyer could negotiate more favorable terms on your behalf and reach a better outcome in your case. With the help of legal counsel, you may be able to avoid or minimize some of the potentially harmful effects of a speeding ticket on your record.

The Hidden Costs of Speeding Tickets

Speeding ticket fines vary across the state, but a single speeding ticket can cost you an estimated fine of between $45 and $100 in most cases. Penalties also may include surcharges and other fees, in addition to twice the fines if drivers are caught speeding in active work zones. These are not the only fines that drivers can face for speeding; there are hidden costs of receiving speeding tickets, as well.

Even one speeding ticket can result in hundreds of dollars of increased insurance rates that may stay in place for years. Plus, as points from speeding tickets and other traffic violations add up, drivers can face suspension of their licenses, which can result in job loss and an inability to attend school.

A speeding ticket lawyer in Pennsylvania may be able to help drivers better understand the real financial consequences of receiving speeding tickets.

The Point System and Speeding Tickets

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) assesses certain points to drivers when they commit moving violations. Once drivers receive six or more points, PennDOT begins to take action against those drivers, up to and including license suspension. PennDOT assesses the following points for speeding:

• Six to ten miles per hour over the speed limit – two points
• 11 to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit – three points
• 16 to 25 miles per hour over the speed limit – four points
• 26 or more miles per hour over the speed limit – five points (plus a 15-day license suspension if speeding 31 or more miles per hour over the speed limit)

The first time that drivers accumulate six or more points, they are required to take a special written exam that they must pass within 30 days or face an indefinite license suspension until they can pass the exam. Passage of the exam results in PennDOT removing two points from their driving records.

If drivers accrue six points a second time, they must attend a PennDOT hearing, take a driving test on the road, and may be subject to a 15-day license suspension. A diligent attorney in Pennsylvania can advise just how crucial it is to appear at this hearing. Drivers who fail to appear at the PennDOT hearing can face an automatic 60-day license suspension.

If drivers reach six points a third time, then they must face a hearing before PennDOT to address a potential 30-day license suspension. If drivers do not appear at this hearing, their licenses will be and remain suspended until they attend a future hearing.

Furthermore, if a driver accumulates 11 points, they may be subject to an automatic license suspension, depending upon the number of prior license suspensions that they have had, which can last for as much as one year.

Consult a Pennsylvania Speeding Ticket Attorney for Advice

A speeding ticket can have financial implications that go far beyond a mere one-time fine. You can experience costly increases in vehicle insurance rates, points on your license, and an eventual suspension of your license in some circumstances. If you are in this situation, a Pennsylvania speeding ticket lawyer may be able to help.

Keeping your driving record clear may be a requirement for your job. You also may need to drive on a regular basis to attend school, transport family members to medical appointments, and otherwise care for the needs of you and your family. Obtaining legal advice when you need it may prevent some or all of these damaging consequences.