The grand old state of Texas features wide open spaces and flat roadways. Bumping up the speedometer a few miles an hour may seem harmless enough, but Texas State Troopers will write you a ticket for speeding. Here’s what you can expect if you’ve been hit with a speeding ticket in the Lone Star State.
The Fine
The speeding fines are set by the local municipality that wrote the ticket, but you can expect any ticket to be at least $120.00. Driving a mere five miles over the posted limit will earn you that minimum amount with the price going steadily up from there. You may also face surcharges if you have other traffic offenses.
School Zones
Expect any ticket received in a school zone to be at least $25 higher than it would otherwise be. Drivers must be aware of when they are nearing a school zone and should always slow down to avoid high fines and help keep the kids in that area safe.
Traffic School
The biggest cost of any ticket isn’t the actual fine but the potential increase to your insurance premiums. Texas will allow you to go to a Texas online traffic school in order to keep the information from being posted to your driving record. Traffic school isn’t free, however. You will still have to pay the fine that is associated with your ticket and you can expect to pay another $25 or more for the traffic class.
Probation
Known as deferment in Texas, this option is only open to drivers who have a clean record. If you manage to go at least one year without getting another ticket then the offense will not appear on your record. As with the traffic school alternative, you can expect to still have to pay the fine that is attached to your ticket.
Primary Seat Belt Law
Like many other states, Texas has enacted a seat belt law. All adult passengers must have their seat belts on, even if they are in the back seat. Kids must also have their seat belt on and are subject to car seat regulations. Children who are younger than 8 years old must be in a child safety seat unless they are over 4’9” in height. The fine for children who are not properly secured can range between $25 and $250 plus any associated court costs. Adults who do not have their seat belts on can be fined anywhere from $50 to $200.
Driving violations in Texas can be costly. If you are going to speed, be prepared to pay the piper should you be pulled over. If the offense is only speeding, you can expect to pay a minimum of $120, plus the related increase to your insurance premium. This amount can quickly start to rise if you incur court costs, decide to go to traffic school or are also handed a ticket for a seat belt violation. While Texas does provide you with some ways to keep a ticket off your record, the best way to avoid the high costs of speeding in this state is to watch the posted limits and obey them. To learn more about speeding tickets costs in Texas or to sign up for a defensive driving course be sure to visit Defensive Driving Solutions at www.defensivedrivingsolutions.com today!
