Seminole County Speeding Ticket for Driving Thirty Miles or More Above the Speed Limit
It is especially important that you handle your Seminole County speeding ticket properly if you were ticketed for driving thirty miles or more above the speed limit. There are specific rules which apply for speeds over thirty miles above the speed limit, which are not the same as those for lower speeds. In Seminole County in 2013, there were 436 tickets given out for driving thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit.
That number was up in 2014, when 552 tickets were given to those driving thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit, and the number was down in 2015 when only 379 people were given tickets for driving thirty miles or more over the speed limit. What should you know about your ticket for driving thirty miles or more over the speed limit in Seminole County? The following may help you determine your best course of action:
• It is mandatory that you appear in court for a ticket thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit—you cannot simply mail in a check and forget that you ever received a ticket.
• If you received a speeding ticket for traveling thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit, and you do not live in Seminole County—or even live out of state—you can have a Florida traffic ticket attorney appear on your behalf.
• Even if you do live in Seminole County, having an attorney by your side when you appear before the judge, can help you present a professional appearance, and show the judge you take your charges very seriously.
• Your fine can vary, depending on a number of factors, including your prior driving history, input from the police officer, and the facts of your case. Your fine will likely be between $276 and $500.
• If you received a ticket for traveling fifty miles or more above the posted speed limit, your fine will be a minimum of $1,000.
• You will receive four points if you are found guilty of the offense of speeding thirty miles or more above the speed limit, and six points if there was an accident as a result of your speed.
• Your speeding ticket was written under Florida statutes 316.183, 316.187 and 316.189.
• The judge can choose to suspend your driver’s license if you are found guilty of driving thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit even if you have not accrued the requisite number of points to trigger such a suspension.
• In the state of Florida, twelve points within twelve months will result in a one-month suspension, eighteen points within eighteen months will result in a three-months suspension, and twenty-four points within thirty-six months will result in a one-year suspension.
• Your traffic ticket attorney will check to ensure the original ticket, filed with the clerk of the court, was properly signed by you and the ticketing officer.
• Should your attorney be able to negotiate a deferred adjudication on your behalf, you will not receive points on your driving record, however you will still be required to pay the fines and fees. You will have to go for a certain length of time with no further traffic offenses, in order to avoid the points.
• Your speed could have been measured through laser, radar or pace clock, all of which are at least somewhat open to challenges.
• If you received your speeding ticket in a construction zone or school zone, you could find your fines doubled.
• If you have a motorcycle endorsement, you could lose that endorsement if found guilty of driving thirty miles or more over the speed limit.
Potential Defenses Used in Your Case
Your attorney will tailor your defense to the specific facts of your speeding ticket, however could implement any of the following defenses:
• Actual innocence—you were not speeding;
• You were speeding, but you were not going too fast for the road and weather conditions (unlikely to work at speeds of thirty miles and more over the speed limit);
• You truly had an emergency situation;
• The radar gun picked up a larger vehicle close to you rather than your vehicle;
• The radar or laser gun were not calibrated;
• The officer did not follow proper procedure in your traffic stop;
• The officer was not properly trained or certified to use the laser or radar gun, or
• There were metal traffic signs, power stations or utility signs which skewered the results of the speed detection device.
Why You Should Hire an Attorney from The Law Place
Our attorneys specialize in traffic ticket defense and dismissals. If we cannot secure an outright dismissal for your speeding ticket, we will work hard to negotiate some type of probation or deferment to avoid having points placed on your driving record. We have extensive knowledge of the laws and rules governing Florida speeding tickets and have more than thirty years’ experience between our attorneys. Don’t wait—call an attorney from The Law Place.
Seminole County Courthouse
301 North Park Avenue
Sanford, Florida 32771
(407) 665-4330