As a lifetime speeder, some would call me an aggressive driver, I understand the desire to get to your destination as quickly as possible, even if there is no excuse other than the self-indulgence of getting things done. My real excuse, although not a defense, is the fact that I have an aversion to being in a pack of vehicles. I want to be in front of those packs (certainly not in the back). However, when I contemplate the pros and cons of speeding, I have come to realize that speeding is just not worth it. And I’m not just talking about the cost of receiving a ticket for speeding.
Stay with me on this. There’s actually a lot more to it.
So, you get caught speeding. What happens?
There is the cost of the citation which increases the faster you were traveling over the posted speed, or where you were speeding, such as if you were speeding in a school zone or a construction zone. There are also extra fees tacked on if you are a CDL driver. In Tennessee that applies regardless of whether you were driving a commercial vehicle or your own personal vehicle.
There are also points assessed against your driver’s license. Also, more points can be assessed depending on your speed and if any of those other factors (school zone, construction zone, commercial driver) were noted on the citation. Tennessee law suspends a person’s right to operate a motor vehicle if they accumulate 12 points in 12 months. There are levels of points that depend on the amount of speed over the limit, such as in Tennessee where a non-commercial driver receives 3 points for speeds 6 through 15 over the posted limit. The “points” that are tacked onto your driving record which follow you around for at least a year, in Tennessee. Some jurisdictions tack on more points than others and some leave them on your history longer than others.
Appearing in court to challenge a citation
Depending on the jurisdiction where you are caught speeding and the degree of the offense for your speeding citation, you may be required to appear in court. Sometimes that might be the local government court or sometimes state court for the more egregious offenses, which in Tennessee would be speeding in a construction zone with workers present.
Attending driving school
Some jurisdictions will allow first offenders to attend driving school and will dismiss the citation on completion of the school (and perhaps other conditions). Some jurisdictions have additional criteria or conditions before approving driving school as a condition of dismissal, such as probation or abeyance periods.
If you are so lucky, you also need to determine if you will be allowed to attend the school online, or if you must attend in person. Driving schools vary from 12-hour classes to 4-hour classes, so make sure you attend the one that is required. The costs of driving schools also vary, so shop around. Also, make sure you attend a school that is accredited by the court or the state in the jurisdiction where you received the citation.
Some states, like Tennessee, only approve certain certifications. Additionally, some jurisdictions restrict driving school within a certain period of time. In Tennessee, a person is only allowed to be given credit for completing a driving school every five (5) years.
CDL holders face an even greater challenge
It’s bad enough that a commercial driver is almost always faced with higher penalty fees and points for violating traffic laws, but there are even fewer available means for a commercial driver to get help with a speeding citation than other drivers. There is a federal law that prohibits state and local governments from “masking” convictions of commercial drivers who violate traffic laws. This very strict law is applicable whether you are driving a commercial vehicle or your own private vehicle.
Believe it or not, this law falls under the Homeland Security Act which states that a government entity that dismisses a citation of a commercial driver without it being on the merits of the case faces the possibility of losing federal funding for its roads and highways. In other words, commercial drivers are not supposed to have their citations dismissed even if they attend driving school.
Not all government entities abide by this restriction, but numerous jurisdictions in Tennessee do. And perhaps the worst-case scenario for commercial drivers is the possibility of losing their jobs for having a driving record if convicted or adjudged guilty of speeding.
Juveniles
The court can suspend your license altogether or, depending on the circumstances can require you to retest or both. This typically depends on the age of the driver, the driving history, the type of offense, and the attitude of the driver. Some jurisdictions allow the local city court judges to handle speeding citations, while others require a juvenile to address a speeding citation in juvenile court.
Elderly drivers
Courts can require you to retest, either by taking a written test or a driving test, and depending on the offense or your driving history, can suspend your driving privileges if you appear unable to control your vehicle or make decisions while under control of your vehicle.
Insurance Rates
Finally, don’t forget the increased insurance rates if you are convicted or adjudged guilty of speeding. Although not all insurance companies increase the auto insurance rate for a single conviction, you can’t rely on that and should know your insurance company’s policy in that regard.
The bottom line, the consequences of speeding are just not worth it.
