Traffic Ticket Lawyer for a Georgia Speeding Ticket and License Points

By: Cory Yager, Ex-Cop and Criminal Defense Lawyer Near Me

Georgia speeding laws are both complex and potentially punitive. While some states have made a traffic citation an infraction, Georgia never has. All Georgia speeding tickets and other moving violations create points on your driving record and are misdemeanor crimes. Reducing or eliminating those points is the whole job. A traffic attorney who knows Georgia traffic laws can work to cut the points, hold down the fine, and protect the license. An attorney can also help you avoid the Super Speeder fee and find a better outcome. This applies to out-of-state drivers and Georgia license holders alike. Get your answers for "how much is a speeding ticket in Georgia" from the information posted below.

Points for a Speeding Violation in Georgia

A speeding conviction under Georgia's speed limit statute adds points to your driver's license. The number of points depends on how far over the limit you were cited. The Georgia Department of Driver Services assigns demerit points on a sliding scale. More speed means more points and a higher risk of license suspension. Georgia's point system reaches every traffic citation that reports a moving violation, and the points land on the driving record the Department of Driver Services keeps for you.

Here is the point breakdown for speeding under Georgia law:

• 15 to 18 mph over the speed limit – 2 points
• 19 to 23 mph over the speed limit – 3 points
• 24 to 33 mph over the speed limit – 4 points
• 34 mph or more over the speed limit – 6 points

For comparison, other Georgia traffic violations carry these demerit points:

• Aggressive driving – 6 points
• Reckless driving – 4 points
• Unlawful passing of a stopped school bus – 6 points
• Disobeying a traffic-control device or a traffic officer – 3 points
• Improper passing on a hill or a curve – 4 points

If your ticket can be reduced to a speed less than 15 mph over the posted speed limit, you avoid all points. A skilled traffic attorney may use this strategy on your behalf. Points also matter over time, because the Department of Driver Services can suspend the license of a driver who accumulates too many of them.

Drivers under 21 face stricter rules. A driver under 21 who is convicted of any offense carrying four or more points loses the license by operation of law. A single speeding conviction of 24 mph or more over the limit reaches that threshold on its own. A 6-hour defensive driving course can reduce a point total by seven points, but Georgia allows that credit only once every five years. For young drivers, early legal help can prevent a suspension that disrupts school, work, and daily life.

A commercial driver has even more at stake. A speeding conviction reaches the commercial driver record as well as the personal driving record, and an employer normally sees it. Any moving violation counts as a traffic offense on that record. Anyone who drives for a living should treat a traffic citation as a job issue, not just a fine.

Other Georgia Convictions That Put Points on a License

Speeding is not the only traffic offense that reaches your driving record. Several related charges carry heavier consequences, and each one is worth understanding before you decide how to handle a citation:

• When Is a DUI a Felony in Georgia explains the aggravating facts that turn an impaired driving charge into a felony.
• Georgia Hit and Run Laws covers the duty to stop and the penalties for leaving the scene.
• DUI License Suspension walks through the license process that runs alongside the criminal case. A charge of driving under the influence carries its own suspension track, separate from the point system.
• Our Georgia DUI charges section covers arrest, bond, warrants, and jail exposure in impaired driving cases.

How Much Is a Speeding Ticket in GA?

Almost every potential client who calls our law firm asks about the cost of a Georgia speeding ticket. Some also ask about points. The main concern is the fine. Every speeding conviction is a misdemeanor in Georgia. Misdemeanor offenses are punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and/or a maximum of 12 months in jail. However, speeding convictions rarely result in jail time. Georgia gives first-time offenders a break by capping the possible fines. Those with prior speeding convictions do not get this break.

Generally, the maximum fines for a first speeding offense in Georgia are:

• $0 for exceeding the limit by 5 mph or less
• $25 for exceeding the limit by more than 5 but not more than 10 mph
• $100 for exceeding the limit by more than 10 but not more than 14 mph
• $125 for exceeding the limit by more than 14 but less than 19 mph
• $150 for exceeding the limit by at least 19 but less than 24 mph
• $500 for exceeding the limit by at least 24 but less than 34 mph

Speeding violations in designated highway work zones are misdemeanors of a "high and aggravated nature." These carry $100 to $2,000 in fines and/or up to 12 months in jail. That classification also changes how jail time is served, because a high and aggravated misdemeanor earns only 4 days of good time credit for every 30 days served.

For all speeding violations, the judge will impose various Georgia and local surcharges. These surcharges were enacted to raise tax money for the state. They substantially increase your final cost.

After paying a Georgia speeding ticket, out-of-state drivers often think the matter is over. High-speed tickets are different. A Super Speeder fee of $200 is assessed after your traffic court conviction. This comes on top of your fines, surcharges, and other punishments. Ignoring it has caused thousands of drivers to have their Georgia license suspended. Simply paying the fine is not enough.

Read the fine chart above as a ceiling, not as a price list. The capped amounts apply only to a first speeding offense, and only to the base fine. Statutory surcharges, local add-ons, and the Super Speeder fee all sit on top of that number, so the real cost of a ticket is usually far higher than the figure written on the citation. A driver with a prior speeding conviction loses the cap altogether, which is why a second ticket in a short window is worth fighting even when the first one seemed cheap enough to pay and forget. The chart is also silent on the part that costs the most over time, which is the demerit points that ride along with the conviction and follow the driver from court to insurer to the Department of Driver Services.

Because every Georgia speeding charge is a misdemeanor rather than a civil infraction, a police officer has the authority to make a custodial arrest on a traffic stop, and a conviction lands on a criminal record as well as a driving record. Most drivers are released with a citation and a court date. Extreme speeds, an expired license, or an outstanding warrant can change that quickly. Treating a speeding case as a criminal case from day one is the safest approach, and it is the reason a court appearance often matters more than the size of the fine. Mailing in a payment is also a plea of guilty, with every point and every added cost that follows from one.

Typical Fine Ranges by County

Actual fines vary by county and court. In metro Atlanta municipal courts, a 15-18 mph over citation often results in $150 to $300 after surcharges. Citations of 24 mph or more over the limit can run $600 to $1,000 or more after surcharges. This applies in Fulton, DeKalb, and Cobb County courts. Rural courts may assess lower base fines. Yet surcharges still apply.

The Super Speeder Fee

Georgia's Super Speeder law adds a $200 state fee on top of all other fines and surcharges. This fee applies to any driver convicted of traveling 75 mph or faster on a two-lane road. It also applies to drivers traveling 85 mph or faster on any road or highway. The Department of Driver Services mails the $200 notice within 30 days after it receives the ticket and the notice of conviction. Drivers who fail to pay within 90 days of receiving that notice face an automatic license suspension. A $50 reinstatement fee also applies.

Insurance Rate Increases Compound the True Cost

The fine on your citation is only the start. Insurers commonly surcharge a speeding conviction for several years, and the size of that insurance premium increase varies by carrier, by driving history, and by how many points the conviction carried. As an illustration, a driver paying $1,800 a year who absorbs a 25 percent increase pays about $450 more each year, or roughly $1,350 over three years. Add court fines, surcharges, and the Super Speeder fee, and a single ticket can cost well over $2,000. Ask your own insurer what a conviction would do to your premium before you decide to simply pay a ticket.

Reckless Driving GA Charges

Depending on how fast someone is driving over the speed limit, high-speed driving can rise to reckless driving. A reckless driving conviction suspends the license of any driver under 21, no matter how few points that driver has. Reckless driving is a four-point offense on the driving record. A 6-hour defensive driving course can reduce a point total by seven points. Drivers over 21 typically do not suffer a license suspension for a single reckless driving conviction. They will have the 4 demerit points added to their driving record. Young drivers and their families should expect higher car insurance rates. The insurance company may even cancel the standard policy. The family will then pay more for substandard coverage.

Special Situations: Georgia Speeding Laws and Penalties

Georgia ticket fines are more punitive when a driver is speeding in a designated road construction zone. Jail time may also apply. Knowing where Georgia speeding fines are boosted can help you avoid a ticket and the related insurance rate hike. Below are other situations and locations where maximum speed limits are strictly imposed. An officer can cite you if you exceed the posted limit by even a single mile per hour.

The statutory maximum speed limits are as follows:

• 30 mph in any urban area or residential district, unless signs say otherwise
• 35 mph on an unpaved county road, unless signs say otherwise
• 70 mph on federal interstate highways, where that limit is posted
• 65 mph on divided highways without full access control on the state highway system, where that limit is posted
• 55 mph in all other locations

Two settings carry lower posted limits that the statute itself does not fix. School zones are reduced by the local authority and are enforced strictly during the posted hours. Highway work zones are designated by the Department of Transportation, a county, or a city, and the reduced limit must be signed. A special hazard, such as ice, fog, or heavy rain, can also require a slower speed than the posted number.

Speeding Laws in Georgia Follow Common Sense Rules

Georgia's basic speeding law bars driving "at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing." The same statute requires a reasonable and prudent speed when approaching an intersection or a railroad crossing, when going around a curve, when crossing a hill crest, and when the roadway is narrow or winding.

A driver must always choose a safe speed for each situation. Ice and snow storms show the worst-case scenario for this rule. The 2014 Atlanta ice storm is one example.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services oversees driver licensing. It also determines how many points are assessed for traffic violations, including speeding. This agency also oversees traffic school operators, which are private businesses.

Common Defenses to a Georgia Speeding Charge

A traffic attorney evaluates several defense angles when fighting a speeding citation. The right approach depends on the facts of each case, the officer's methods, and the court where the charge was filed.

Radar and lidar calibration challenges. Georgia law requires that speed detection devices be properly calibrated. The police officer running the device must also hold a valid operator certification. A defense attorney may request calibration records and training documentation. If either is missing, incomplete, or expired, the speed reading may be subject to challenge.

Pacing methodology issues. When an officer uses pacing instead of a device, the accuracy depends on factors like distance maintained, terrain, and traffic conditions. Inconsistencies in the officer's testimony about pacing distance may weaken the prosecution's case.

Speed detection permit requirements. Georgia municipalities must hold a valid speed detection permit to use radar or lidar. If the permit was expired or improperly obtained at the time of the stop, a defense attorney may raise this issue.

Driver identification concerns. In some cases, the officer may not have clearly identified the driver. This can occur when vehicles are close together on a multi-lane highway. It may also occur when the stop happens well after the alleged violation.

Negotiated reductions. Depending on the court and the driver's record, an attorney may negotiate a nolo contendere plea. An attorney may also negotiate a reduction to a non-reporting offense that avoids points on the driving record. These options vary by jurisdiction. No outcome can be guaranteed.

Speak With an Atlanta Traffic Ticket Lawyer About Your Speeding Citation

If you were cited for speeding, the court date on your ticket is a firm deadline. Waiting too long to act can limit your options for a point reduction or a dismissal. Early consultation gives an attorney time to request calibration records. An attorney can also review the officer's speed detection permit. An attorney can identify the strongest defense strategy for your situation.

Our Atlanta traffic attorneys handle cases in metro counties near the Georgia State Capitol. We also maintain a statewide network of Georgia speeding ticket attorneys for cases outside the metro Atlanta area. We can help locate a proven traffic lawyer for your jurisdiction. This applies whether your citation was filed in a probate court, municipal court, recorder's court, or state court.

Call 404-567-5515 for a free consultation with ex-cop Cory Yager, Larry Kohn, or Bubba Head. Every case is different and results depend on the specific facts.

Helpful external resources:

• Georgia speeding points and the point system
• Online services for paying ticket costs
• Suspension information for license suspension questions

What Georgia's Speed Limit Statute Actually Says

Georgia's speed limit statute sits in the state's motor vehicles and traffic laws, and it sets maximum speed limits on all Georgia roads and highways. A citation under that statute means the officer alleges you drove faster than the posted or statutory speed limit for the road you were traveling.

The statute sets a default limit of 30 mph in urban and residential districts and 35 mph on unpaved county roads, and those apply unless a sign says otherwise. It sets 55 mph as the catch-all limit in all other locations. The higher tiers work the other way: 65 mph on divided highways without full access control, and 70 mph on federal interstate highways, apply where that limit is posted with appropriate signs.

Unlike many other states, a speeding citation in Georgia is a misdemeanor criminal offense, not a civil infraction. A conviction creates a criminal record and adds points to your driving record through the Department of Driver Services. Georgia municipal courts, state courts, and probate courts all handle these cases depending on the jurisdiction where the stop occurred.

Because this is a misdemeanor, drivers have the right to a trial. Drivers also have the right to legal counsel. Drivers have the right to enter a nolo contendere plea where permitted. At arraignment, the court will read the charge and ask for a plea. Many drivers do not realize they can request a continuance to consult an attorney before entering any plea.

Georgia Speed Limit Categories

Georgia's speed limit statute defines several speed limit tiers based on road type and location. Understanding which tier applies to the road where you were cited is critical to evaluating your case.

• Residential and urban districts – 30 mph. This applies to streets within city limits and residential neighborhoods unless a different limit is posted.
• Unpaved county roads – 35 mph. Gravel and dirt county roads carry this default limit unless a different limit is posted.
• All other locations – 55 mph. This is the catch-all tier, and it covers most two-lane state routes and paved county roads in rural areas.
• Divided highways without full access control – 65 mph, where posted. These are state highway system roads with a median or barrier separating opposing traffic but with at-grade intersections or driveways.
• Federal interstate highways – 70 mph, where posted. This is Georgia's highest speed limit.

Note that Georgia's lane usage statute is often cited alongside the speed limit statute during traffic stops. That statute requires a driver to stay as nearly as practicable entirely within a single marked lane, and to move out of the lane only after making sure the movement can be made safely. Officers sometimes issue both a speeding citation and a failure to maintain lane citation when a driver was changing lanes at high speed. A lane violation adds points to your driving record.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Points Does a Speeding Conviction Add to My Georgia License?

The points depend on how far over the limit you were driving. Speeds of 15 to 18 mph over add 2 points. Speeds of 19 to 23 mph over add 3 points. Speeds of 24 to 33 mph over add 4 points. Speeds of 34 or more mph over add 6 points. Speeds less than 15 mph over carry zero points.

How Do I Get Points Off My Georgia Driver's License?

Two routes exist. A defensive driving course approved by the Department of Driver Services reduces a point total by seven points, and Georgia allows that credit only once in any five-year period. The stronger route is to keep the points off in the first place, by having the charge reduced to a speed below 15 mph over the limit or to a non-reporting offense.

Is a Speeding Ticket a Misdemeanor in Georgia?

Yes, every speeding ticket in Georgia is classified as a misdemeanor criminal offense, not a civil infraction. A conviction creates a criminal record and adds demerit points to your driving record through the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Can a Georgia Speeding Ticket Be Reduced or Dismissed?

A Georgia speeding ticket may be reduced or dismissed depending on the facts. A traffic attorney may challenge radar calibration, officer certification, or the municipality's speed detection permit. Negotiated reductions to a non-reporting offense or a nolo contendere plea are also options in many courts. Every case is different and results depend on the specific circumstances.

What Is the Maximum Speed Limit Under Georgia Law?

The highest speed limit Georgia's statute allows is 70 mph, and it applies on federal interstate highways where that limit is posted. Divided highways without full access control top out at 65 mph where posted. Every other location defaults to 55 mph unless a sign sets a lower limit.