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September 25, 2013

What To Do About a Speeding Ticket

Florida Speeding Ticket Fines

pinellas speeding fines8If you have recently received a speeding ticket in Pinellas county, chances are fairly good that you were shocked by the amount of the fine. Just like red light cameras, the mandatory fine increase assessed for “unlawful speed’  violations has promulgated by Tallahassee politicians based on their argument of “public safety.” However, truth be told, that the extra revenue was needed to supplement the recessionary economy. Of course, if you were stopped in a school zone F.S 316.1895 or construction zone F.S. 316.183(6), things only get worse since the statutory fines are doubled.

Points on Your Florida Driving RecordFloridaDrivingRecord

Typically a speeding ticket carries three points, unless you are 15 mph or more over the posted speed limit... then it jumps to four points. 

Twelve points within twelve months will get you a thirty day drivers license suspension. Eighteen points within eighteen months will result in a ninety day suspension.

From a financial standpoint, getting a speeding ticket doesn’t mean the Clerk’s Office Office is the only one with their hand out. That’s because if points are assessed, your automobile insurance carrier will use the violation as an excuse to increase your premium rates.

How Did the Police Measure Your Speed?

Speed_TrapBoth the St. Petersburg and Clearwater Police Departments use use modern day Laser Speed Measuring devices. In fact, all Pinellas law enforcement agencies use laser with the exception of Kenneth City, Tarpon Springs and the Pinellas Park Police Department. These three jurisdictions are still relying on radar.

Radar: Has the advantage of being used when the police cruiser is either moving or in a stationary position. However, the radar beam, or radio wave signal is more scattered than a laser beam device. For that reason, it is sometimes criticized for the possibility that the speed reading was obtained from an unintended vehicle and not the particular motorist the police officer targeted.

Laser: Is known to be more accurate then conventional radar, but can only be used in a stationary mode. LaLIDARser is more formally referred to as LIDAR.  This method of speed detection is more sophisticated then radar since it uses laser light technology. However, its accuracy could be compromised if the target vehicle is a great distance away. Nevertheless, laser technology is most accurate in part because of its ability to quickly “lock onto” a specific vehicle. If you were ticketed for speeding, chances are the police officer using the laser device aimed for or targeted your license plate.

Pace: This method of speed detection is the least understood by the public.  The law enforcement officer attempts to maintain the same speed as the suspected law violator and then uses his speedometer to calculate the other vehicle’s speed. For example, if the police officer is following his target and the cruiser’s speedometer is registering 70 mph, yet the motorist’s vehicle is still widening the gap between the two vehicles, then the officer will conclude that the motorist is doing at least 70 mph or better. Pacing a vehicle is of course subject to human error as the officer is required to multitask. In addition, this traffic enforcement tactic requires the police vehicle to have a properly calibrated speedometer.

Don’t Just pay the ticket!

Each year, in excess of thirty-four million motorists across the United States receive speeding tickets. Because most people are uninformed and lead a hectic lifestyle, they typically do not invest the time to research all their options.  They simply pay the ticket.  The legal system makes this revenue collection method very convenient by having the police officer supply you with a pre-addressed envelope at the time he issues your uniform traffic citation. The Pinellas County Clerk of Court has taken it a step further by offering an easy “online payment center” that accepts both credit and debit cards. 

Although paying the ticket may be your easiest path, it is not the most prudent. Simply paying the Pinellas county Clerk of Court for your speeding ticket means that you will be automatically “convicted,” receive points on your driving record and play into the hands of your automobile insurance carrier who can use your violation as an excuse to raise your premium. Visit our Pinellas County Traffic Ticket Lawyer website

What Should I do if I Receive a Speeding Ticket?

Watch Our Video to Learn About Alternative Options to Simply Paying The Ticket

Posted at 03:38 PM |

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