Duval County Speeding Ticket for Driving Thirty Miles or More Above the Speed Limit

There are four tiers of speeding tickets in the state of Florida. If you were ticketed in Florida for driving thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit, you have graduated from a simple traffic infraction to a more serious traffic offense. The potential fines and criminal penalties associated with a speeding ticket for thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit require a strong, smart defense, and an experienced attorney who routinely challenges these types of tickets with positive results. Whether you were driving 60-something in a residential zone, or sailing down the freeway at thirty miles or more over the speed limit, it is a serious matter if you are found guilty of the offense, and one which will be punished as severely as if you had been ticketed for reckless driving.

Penalties Associated with a Conviction for Driving Thirty Miles or More Over the Limit
Although normally a driver’s license suspension is dependent on how many points you have accrued on your driving record (12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 18 months or 24 points in 36 months), in the case of a conviction for driving thirty miles or more above the speed limit, the judge could choose to suspend your license.

You will receive four points on your driving record—six if an accident occurred because of your speeding—and could pay a fine as large as $500. If you have a motorcycle endorsement on your license, that endorsement could be revoked. You could see a significant increase in your auto insurance premiums—that is, if your insurance company doesn’t drop your coverage altogether.

For speeds of thirty and more above the speed limit, you do not have the option of simply dropping a check in the mail and getting on with your life. In fact, there is a mandatory appearance at your hearing (unless you hire a Florida attorney to appear on your behalf). You also do not have the option of attending traffic school to avoid point on your driving record as you do for tickets at lesser speeds.

Duval County Speeding Tickets
In Duval County, there were 828 tickets issued to those who were driving thirty or more miles above the speed limit in 2013. In 2014, that number rose to 970, and in 2015, there were far fewer, with only 772. While Florida police officers may occasionally give a person caught speeding a break, by lowering the miles per hour over the speed limit the person was driving, it is much more unlikely when a driver is traveling thirty miles or more above the speed limit. In other words, there may not be much sympathy coming your way if you are driving that fast.

If you are found guilty of the offense of driving thirty or more miles over the posted speed limit, and you lose your driver’s license, the repercussions from that loss can be severe. After all, if you are like most Americans, you use your vehicle on a daily basis. You drive to and from work, you take your children to school—or go to school yourself—and you run errands on a daily basis. You drive to the grocery store, to the bank, to see a movie, to visit a friend, to attend church, or to go on vacation. As you can see, having your driving privileges removed could change your life in ways you do not want it to change.

Other Important Information Regarding Your Duval County Speeding Ticket
Other information you could find helpful regarding the Duval County speeding ticket you received for driving thirty miles or more above the posted speed limit include:

• If you are an out-of-towner who was just traveling through the state, hiring an attorney to appear in court on your behalf could save you significantly, both in time and money, by saving you from having to travel back to Florida and appear before a judge.
• If you are found guilty, the actual amount of your fine could vary greatly depending on your past driving record, information from the ticketing officer and the facts surrounding your current violation.
• Your signature, as well as the signature of the ticketing officer must be on the original ticket which is filed with the court clerk.
• If you received your ticket in a school zone or construction zone, your fines could be doubled.
• If you are caught driving 30 miles or more over the posted speed limit, you will be charged under speeding statutes 316.187, 316.189 and 316.183, which discuss unlawful speed, establishment of municipal and county speed zones and establishment of enhanced penalty zones.

Why You Need a Florida Attorney
Depending on which type of speed measurement device was used to record your speed, your Florida traffic ticket attorney may be able to challenge the officer on how he or she determined your speed. If pacing was used, your attorney will question the officer as to how long the officer followed you and what distance he or she was from you. Hills, stop signs, traffic and curves can also affect the accuracy of pacing. Other methods of determining speed are aircraft speed detection, radar and laser, although aircraft speed detection is rare. Each of these types of speed detection has potential accuracy challenges.

Your Florida attorney from The Law Place can work on your behalf to convince the judge to withhold adjudication in your case. This could allow you to potentially have no points placed on your driving record if you do not receive any more tickets during a specified period of time. Your attorney may also be able to have your ticket dismissed altogether, or negotiate a dispensation of the ticket which will result in fewer points being placed on your record. While your defense will depend heavily upon the circumstances in your specific case, our attorney will work aggressively on your behalf for the best outcome available.

Duval County Courthouse
501 W Adams Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 255-2000