What Is the Super Speeder Law in Georgia?
If you receive a speeding ticket in Georgia, the state’s super speeder law imposes an additional $200 fine on top of the other fines and penalties, if you are convicted of exceeding 85 mph on a major highway or 75 mph on a two-lane road. Failure to pay the super speeder fine may result in license suspension. If you receive notification of a super speeder violation, you should talk with a knowledgeable traffic defense attorney to make sure you understand the full implications and consequences.
Provisions of the Georgia Super Speeder Law
Section 40-6-189 of the Georgia Code establishes a special classification of super speeder for a driver convicted of driving at a speed of 85 miles per hour or more on any road or highway, or 75 miles per hour or more on a two-lane road. (Pleading guilty and paying a ticket constitutes a conviction.) Under the law, a convicted driver must pay an additional super speeder fee of $200.
The super speeder fee is in addition to other fines, costs, and penalties resulting from the speeding conviction. Since Georgia cities and counties set their own speeding fines, the total cost for a ticket (whether or not it qualifies for the super speeder classification) varies by location in the state. Ticket costs also depend on the extent to which the driver exceeded the speed limit and their driving record.
The super speeder fee is always an additional $200 fee, regardless of other fines and costs. A super speeder classification does not carry any additional or separate point penalties on the driver’s driving record, beyond those attributable to the original speeding violation. However, failure to pay the super speeder fine within 90 days may result in suspension of the driver’s license.
Notification of a super speeding violation is separate from the original traffic ticket. A law enforcement officer who issues a speeding ticket may not even mention the super speeder law and fee. Instead, the Department of Driver Services (DDS) mails the super speeder notification to the driver via first-class mail within 30 days of the original speeding conviction, to the address on the original ticket. Even if the driver does not receive the notice, due to a change of address or another reason, the driver is still responsible for paying the super speeder fee. If 90 days pass after the notification was mailed and the super speeder fee is not paid, the driver’s license could be suspended. The suspension results in an additional $50 fee for license reinstatement, after payment of all other fines, costs, and fees.
The super speeder law applies equally to Georgia residents and out-of-state residents convicted of a qualifying speeding violation. Since the state has reciprocity with many other states for driving violations, an out-of-state visitor may even risk license suspension for failure to pay a super speeder fee.
Defending Against a Super Speeder Violation
If you receive a speeding ticket that is subject to the super speeder law and fee, the only way to defend against the super speeder fee is to defend against the underlying speeding offense. Most speeding violations in Georgia are misdemeanors. Depending on the circumstances and specific violation, pleading guilty to a speeding charge can carry significant fines and other fees, as well as driver’s license point assessments. A misdemeanor may also carry a potential jail sentence of up to 12 months, although speeding does not typically result in a jail penalty.
Talking with a knowledgeable criminal/traffic defense lawyer is the best way to evaluate your situation and fully understand the implications and consequences of a guilty plea or court conviction for a speeding ticket. Your lawyer can explain the options for defending against the charge, which in some cases may result in negotiation of a reduced charge (thereby reducing the penalties, fine, and other consequences) or even dismissal of the charges, and help you weigh your options for proceeding.
The nature of viable defenses to a specific speeding violation depends entirely on the circumstances surrounding the violation, including the conduct of the police officer who issued the ticket. Evaluating whether to pursue an aggressive defense also includes assessing all of the potential consequences, including fines and other costs or penalties, driver’s license points, effect of having a conviction on the driver’s criminal record, and even possible insurance rate increases. Your lawyer helps you make that evaluation and navigate the traffic offense process as necessary based on your decision.
Talk With an Experienced Georgia Speeding and Traffic Defense Lawyer
The criminal defense attorneys at The McCoy Law Firm, LLC have decades of experience representing clients in all types of misdemeanor and felony cases, including traffic offenses. Based in Cartersville, we represent defendants in state courts throughout northwest Georgia. If you face any type of charge, please contact Criminal & DUI Law of Georgia as soon as possible, so we can begin working on your case right away.