How Much Will My Virginia Speeding Ticket Cost Me?
Like many of my clients with speeding tickets, you are probably asking, how much is a speeding ticket in Virginia?
A speeding ticket can be very serious in Virginia. You can end up paying hefty fines in addition to other things like court fees.
Whether a lawyer represents you can also affect the cost of your speeding ticket.
An experienced traffic lawyer can help protect you from unnecessary negative consequences of your speeding ticket.
Virginia Speeding Ticket Costs
Jump-to the information you need:
Determining the Code Section of Your Ticket
Fines for speeding are predetermined and set out in the traffic code. The summons will contain a section titled “Law Section.” You will find the section of the relevant traffic code listed here. For example, you will see section 46.2-870 for a general speeding violation. Then, look below to see the fine attached to the law violated.
Determining the Court Costs of Your Ticket
You may have to pay court costs for your speeding violation. Court costs are separate from the fines associated with a speeding ticket. This means that the total cost of your speeding ticket will include court costs on top of the fine.
Court costs vary somewhat depending on the jurisdiction. However, court costs are often between $61 and $67.
Determining Your Fine
The Virginia Code defines traffic and speeding laws. Each section contains a different speeding law, and violating that law then corresponds to a fine amount.
The fine is either $6, $7, or $8 for each mile per hour over the speed limit you were driving. For example, if you were driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and the associated fine is $6 for each mile, your fine will be $60.
Below are the fines for various code violations. One of these code sections should match the code listed on your summons.
A fine of $6 for every mile per hour of the speed limit applies to:
- General speeding (§46.2-870),
- Speeding in a school bus (§46.2-871),
- Speeding in a special permit vehicle (§46.2-872),
- Speeding in business or residential districts (§46.2-874),
- Speeding on a bridge (§46.2-881), and
- Exceeding speed limits set by the Department of Transportation (§46.2-878).
A fine of $7 for every mile per hour of the speed limit applies to the following violations:
- Speeding in a school zone (§46.2-873) and
- Speeding in a highway work zone (§46.2-878.1).
The fine for speeding in certain residential areas is $200 plus $8 per mile over the speed limit (§46.2-878.2).
Speeding on a highway can come with a maximum fine of $500. This fine will double if you do not appear in court (§46.2-947).
You should always speak with a traffic defense lawyer about your case. I may be able to get your charges reduced, even if you know you were speeding.
Potential Additional Costs
Court Fees
The average court fee is around $64 for speeding. If you are facing several charges, you will need to pay an additional fee for each. Also, the court will charge you a 4% convenience fee if you pay the court with a credit or debit card.
Note that a judge may waive court costs. I try to minimize court costs for clients when at all possible.
Attorney Fees
An attorney’s fees depend upon each individual lawyer, the complexity of the case, and your goals for the case. For example, if you are charged with a high-speed reckless driving offense that could result in jail time, you will likely pay a higher attorney’s fee than if you have a simple pre-payable speeding ticket.
Because every lawyer and firm uses different billing practices, you should speak directly with the attorney for more information on fees.
Failure to Appear Fees
If you do not appear in court, the court will charge you a $35 fee. You can request a hearing to explain your absence. The court may decide not to charge this fee if you have a good reason for failing to appear.
Contact Attorney Andrew Flusche to Discuss the Cost of Your Virginia Speeding Ticket
If you were caught speeding in Virginia, your best option is to speak with an experienced traffic lawyer. I have years of experience representing clients cited for speeding in Virginia. I handle each case myself and provide every client with personal representation.
Contact my office today to set up your free initial consultation.
