Speeding Tickets By Camera: Impact On Georgia Insurance Rates

Speeding tickets in Georgia can have several consequences, including fines, points on your driving record, and a license suspension. The cost of car insurance in Georgia increases by an average of 21% after a speeding ticket, but this varies depending on how fast a driver was going over the speed limit and their insurance company. In Georgia, a speeding ticket will not raise your insurance rates unless it puts points on your license or is added to your driving record.

Fines for camera speeding tickets

In Georgia, fines for speeding tickets vary depending on the location of the violation and the severity of the speeding. Typically, fines for a first speeding ticket are:

• $0 for driving 5 mph or less over the speed limit
• $25 for driving above 5 mph but below 10 mph over the speed limit
• $100 for driving above 10 mph but below 14 mph over the speed limit
• $125 for driving above 14 mph but below 19 mph over the speed limit
• $150 for driving above 19 mph but below 24 mph over the speed limit
• $500 for driving above 24 mph but below 34 mph over the speed limit

There are also "super speeder" fines for drivers caught speeding at a rate that is more than 75 mph over the posted limit on a two-lane road or 85 mph over on a Georgia highway. This results in an additional $200 fine on top of the regular fine.

In addition to these base fines, there are several "aggravating" circumstances that can further increase the financial penalty. For example, speeding in a highway construction zone can result in a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 12 months of jail time.

It is important to note that the financial consequences of a speeding ticket in Georgia can extend beyond the initial fine. Speeding tickets can also result in points being added to your driving record, which can lead to increased auto insurance rates and even license suspension if enough points are accumulated.

To encourage safe driving, the Georgia Department of Revenue has a system that assigns drivers' license points for certain traffic violations. These points can directly impact insurance rates, with higher points leading to higher insurance premiums. Additionally, accumulating 15 points within a 24-month period can result in a suspended license.

While the financial impact of a speeding ticket can be significant, there are ways to mitigate the costs. For example, completing a certified driver improvement course can help remove points from your record and lower your insurance premium. Additionally, shopping around and comparing quotes from different insurance companies can help you find the most affordable coverage options.

The impact of points on your license

Points on your license can have a significant impact on your driving privileges and financial situation. In most states, points are assigned based on the severity of the traffic violation. For example, in Florida, leaving the scene of an accident without providing information can result in points, as can speeding, failing to obey traffic signals, or failing to yield to pedestrians. These points can stay on your record for at least five years.

Accumulating too many points within a set time frame can lead to license suspension or revocation. In Florida, for instance, accumulating 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 18 months, or 24 points within 36 months will result in a suspension. Similarly, in Georgia, accumulating 15 points in a 24-month period is one of the reasons for a license suspension.

Points on your license can also affect your car insurance rates. In Georgia, a speeding ticket can increase your insurance premium by an average of 21%, and in some cases, the increase can be as high as 35%. Additionally, points can lead to fines and even license suspension, especially if you accumulate a certain number of points.

How to fight a camera speeding ticket

Examine Your Ticket

Check the date, time, and location of the ticket. Because camera tickets are sent to the owner of the car, not the driver, make sure you were driving the car when the ticket was issued. The prosecutor must prove that you were driving in that location at that date and time. If someone else borrowed your car, you can't be prosecuted.

Plead Not Guilty

You must plead not guilty if you want to dispute the ticket. You can do this by mail, online, or in person. Check your citation and make sure you plead not guilty before the deadline, which is typically within 30 days.

Request a Formal Hearing

When you plead not guilty, demand a full formal hearing or trial. You may also be required to attend other hearings such as a pre-trial hearing or mediation. Do not accept anything less than a full dismissal of your ticket.

Request Production of Documents

Call the local police department or law enforcement agency in charge of the camera used to issue your citation. Request copies of any photos included with your citation, as well as full maintenance records for the camera and the traffic light or speed monitoring system. If their accuracy wasn't tested within a short period before your ticket was issued, the photo may be unreliable as evidence.

Research Applicable Law

Look for cases in your city or county about traffic cameras, and see if any appellate court decisions have ruled on the legality of traffic camera tickets. Some states have specific rules about where warning signs must be posted for traffic lights, or they may recognize a necessity defense for speeding.

Appear at Your Hearing

Arrive at the courthouse on the day of your hearing with copies of any documents you intend to use as evidence. Make sure to dress professionally and treat the judge and courthouse staff with respect.

Listen to the Prosecutor's Case

The prosecutor will have the first opportunity to speak. Listen quietly and make notes on anything you want to bring up later.

Challenge the Admissibility of the Photograph

In some jurisdictions, a red light camera photo is considered hearsay, which is an out-of-court statement presented in court to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Hearsay evidence is generally inadmissible, and you can object to its use.

Assert Your Right to Confront Witnesses

The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution guarantees you the right to cross-examine witnesses. Unless a witness appears who maintains the record and system associated with the camera, you do not have this opportunity.

Dispute the Authenticity of the Photograph

If no one from the company that maintains the camera shows up to testify, object to the use of the photographs for lack of foundation. The prosecution must present evidence that the camera, the system that connected it to the traffic light, and the traffic light itself were functioning properly.

Attack the Lack of Evidence

If the photos are clear and admitted as evidence, but none of them show you driving, you have a defense that the prosecution cannot prove it was you. The photo also provides no proof that the traffic light was functioning properly.

Raise Any Other Defenses

If your other arguments fail and the photos are admitted as evidence, use any other defenses you may have. For example, if you were speeding to avoid harm to yourself or others, you're saying that you committed the violation but for a good reason.

Whether camera speeding tickets go on your driving record

In Georgia, camera speeding tickets can affect your insurance if the charges are from a law enforcement agency that employs at least one full-time certified peace officer. If the local law enforcement agency doesn’t employ at least one full-time certified peace officer, it is not considered a moving violation and will not go on your record.

In most states, camera speeding tickets are treated like non-moving violations, such as parking tickets or tickets for an expired registration. They are considered civil or administrative violations that do not result in points and are not added to the driver's record. However, there are a few states that treat camera speeding tickets as moving violations, which can result in points on your license and increases in your insurance rates. These states include Arizona, California, and Oregon.

In Arizona, camera speeding tickets result in three points on your license, while in California, one point is assigned. In Oregon, a camera speeding ticket is considered a Class B traffic violation.

It's important to note that even if a camera speeding ticket doesn't directly impact your insurance, it's crucial to stay safe and drive within the speed limit to avoid putting yourself and others at risk.

How camera speeding tickets affect your insurance rates

Speeding tickets from cameras can affect insurance rates in Georgia, but only under certain conditions. According to Georgia Code § 40-14-21, speeding tickets from cameras will only impact insurance if the charges are issued by a law enforcement agency that employs at least one full-time certified peace officer. If the local law enforcement agency does not meet this criterion, the violation is not considered a moving violation and will not be added to the driver's record, and therefore will not affect insurance rates.

In most states, camera tickets are treated as non-moving violations, similar to parking tickets or tickets for expired registration. These types of violations typically do not result in increased insurance rates. However, there are a few exceptions. In Arizona, California, and Oregon, camera tickets are treated as moving violations, and can lead to points on your driver's license and increases in insurance rates.

In Georgia, speeding tickets that are not captured by cameras can result in fines, points on your driving record, and a license suspension. The cost of car insurance in Georgia increases by an average of 21% after a speeding ticket, but this percentage can vary depending on the number of miles per hour over the speed limit and the insurance company. Additionally, drivers in Georgia who accumulate 15 points within a 24-month period may have their licenses suspended.

While a single speeding ticket for exceeding the speed limit by 5 to 10 miles per hour may not affect insurance rates, multiple tickets or more serious violations can lead to significant increases. Insurance companies consider drivers with multiple speeding tickets or serious violations to be high-risk, and may raise their rates or even cancel their coverage.

Frequently asked questions