How Speeding Tickets Can Spiral Into Bigger Problems
Speeding might seem like a minor infraction, or an expensive inconvenience when you’re stuck paying tickets, but the consequences can extend much further. From increased insurance premiums to a suspended license, the impact of speeding can affect several aspects of your life.
Understanding these consequences is crucial for avoiding harsh penalties you may not recover from. Here’s a look at the true cost of speeding.
Criminal charges
Excessive speeding frequently causes accidents, and whether or not you hurt anyone, you might find yourself facing criminal charges. In some jurisdictions, driving significantly over the speed limit can result in reckless driving charges, which carry penalties that include fines and jail time. Worse, if you kill someone in a speeding accident, you can be charged with vehicular manslaughter or vehicular homicide, depending on your state. These charges can result in a year or more in prison, substantial fines, and lost driving privileges (temporarily or permanently).
Inability to drive
If you’re speeding excessively and cause an accident, there’s a good chance your car will be impounded. This risk increases if you committed other traffic offenses while speeding or if you’re caught driving on a suspended license. You’ll be charged a daily fee for storage, and it will cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to get your car out of the impound lot.
Once you go to court and a judgment is issued, you could end up having your license suspended or even revoked. If it’s suspended, you’ll get it back eventually, as long as you follow the rules you’re given. But if it’s revoked, there’s little chance you’ll get it back.
Carrying the burden of causing an accident
Whether you cause property damage, injuries, or death, you don’t want to carry the burden of causing an accident. Not only will a criminal record follow you for the rest of your life, but you’ll have to deal with the guilt and shame.
Employment challenges
Although a single speeding ticket may not show up on a basic background check, multiple violations or severe infractions can appear on more in-depth background reports and will raise red flags for potential employers. If you’re applying for a job that requires driving – even just to manage multiple locations – having a tainted driving record can disqualify you for certain positions. Maintaining a clean driving record is essential for anyone who plans to drive commercially, including working as a delivery driver or working part-time for companies like Uber and Lyft.
Escalating fines and penalties
Your first speeding ticket isn’t going to feel like a big deal, but for repeat offenders, the cost of speeding tickets increases with each infraction. Penalties already increase based on how much over the limit you were driving, so getting multiple tickets is just going to be a wallet drain. Not to mention, you’ll have to pay court fees each time you get a ticket.
Mandatory defensive driving courses
Sometimes a judge will give you mandatory driving courses in exchange for reducing points on your license, but they take time and money. However, in many states, completing a court-ordered driving course is a condition for reinstating a suspended license.
Impacted personal relationships
Unfortunately, speeding can put a strain on personal relationships in addition to everything else. If your license gets suspended, you wont’ be able to drive to the store, share the driving on road trips, or pick your kids up from school. You’ll have to rely on public transportation and other people to get around. The stress of this situation can lead to tension in your household, especially when it disrupts other people’s schedules.
You could get fired
In some industries, getting just one speeding ticket will result in termination. This is common for businesses that employ delivery drivers and service professionals who drive to various locations to perform work.
Increased insurance premiums
Speeding makes you more likely to cause an accident, and insurance companies will see you as a higher risk. After you pay the initial fines for every speeding ticket you get, and manage court costs, you can expect your car insurance premiums to rise significantly. On average, rates increase by 25% after a single speeding ticket. Multiple tickets will increase your rates even higher. This higher rate can last for several years, and some insurance companies won’t insure drivers at all if they have a certain number of traffic infractions.
Speeding comes with hidden costs
Speeding tickets might seem like a slight annoyance you can pay for and be done with, but that’s not the whole story. Between fines, potential jail time, and professional setbacks, the cost of a speeding ticket can snowball. Drive safely and stick to posted speed limits to protect your wallet and your future.
