During the summer months when snow and ice aren’t covering the roadways, it’s easy to get the itch to put the pedal to the metal and cruise fast down the highway. This is especially true as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to more people working from home and fewer vehicles on the road as potential obstacles. This perfect storm of conditions has led to a massive spike in excessive speed violations and traffic fatalities, even though fewer people are on the road.
It’s imperative that you understand what’s at stake if you are caught speeding over 100 miles per hour, and how to best contest the citation. In today’s blog, we take a look at what happens if you are stopped for speeding over 100 miles per hour and how a defense attorney can be your best friend in this situation.
Speeding Over 100 MPH
When people learn that a citation for driving over 100 miles per hour is only considered a petty misdemeanor offense, they assume that the penalties won’t be all that bad. Think again. Even though many excessive speeding violations are classified as petty misdemeanors, there will still be plenty of fallout if you are convicted.
The most severe penalty for most motorists is that they will face a driver’s license revocation for at least six months. It doesn’t matter if you’ve had a squeaky clean record up to this point. Regardless of your driving record, if you are caught going over 100 miles per hour on the road, your license will be revoked for at least six months, and that revocation can increase if that citation was issued alongside another traffic offense, like DUI or reckless driving.
Additionally, there will be a significant fine for traveling at such high speeds. The fine amount it typically double the standard fine amount. Many cities and municipalities have speeding fines between $100 and $200, which means an excessive speed fine will likely land in the $300-$400 range. So not only are you unable to drive for half a year, you’re also out a couple hundred bucks on the fine alone.
And expenses don’t stop there. Once your insurance company gets wind of your dangerous driving behavior, expect a sharp increase in your monthly premium. After all, if you are high-risk for a claim, they are going to require that you pay a much higher premium to protect their interests. Over time, this will add up to thousands of dollars in added expenses. The increased cost of insurance premiums is often more costly than the initial fine, so know that you’ll need to budget for this long after your case has concluded.
And finally, it’s worth noting that a police officer has the right to upgrade your criminal charge in the event you endangered others or caused property damage. This could lead to a misdemeanor charge, which is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000 in addition to the license revocation. All this because you decided to hit the gas a little harder.
So if you are facing a speeding over 100 mph charge, it’s imperative that you at least consult with an attorney before moving forward with your case. They’ll go over your options and explain what they can do for you. Even if it seems like an open and shut case, your lawyer may be able to work a deal so that you can face reduced charges and avoid huge insurance premium increases or retain your license. With so much on the line, you need to at least cover the basics of your case with an attorney.
We allow new prospective clients to do that with a free case evaluation. You can set up that meeting in minutes by giving us a call and mentioning that you’d like to learn more about the free strategy session we offer. To set that up, give us a call today at (952) 224-2277.
