Speeding in a School Zone

Speeding has become an increasingly dangerous problem across the country these days and state and local law enforcement officers are doing their best to catch violators and issue traffic tickets. Many townships are enforcing a zero tolerance policy when it comes to speeders in school zones, which means that fighting the traffic ticket will not help a motorist in any way. Speeders through school zones risk causing accidents involving school buses, pedestrians, students, crossing guards, teachers, and parents in the area. Children and senior citizens are the two most common categories of people involved in motor vehicle-pedestrian accidents.

Fines and Penalties

Traffic tickets for speeding through school zones vary from state to state and township to township but most fines will range from $80-$200 depending on the speed of the vehicle during the offense. Violators can also expect to see their fines doubled if there were children present at the time of the violation. This means that if children were in the parking lot of the school or waiting to cross the street when you were pulled over then your fine will be doubled along with your points.

Traffic Points and Impact on Driving Record / License

The points assessed to a driver’s license from speeding in a school zone vary from state to state and depending on the type of license, the motorist is using to operate their vehicle. Points can range from one to seven and typically do not exceed seven points at one time on the license for this type of violation. Speeding through a school zone will have a negative effect on the motorist’s driving record as well. The motorist’s insurance rates will increase because the insurance company will view the motorist as a dangerous driver or view him or her as a liability on the roads.

Hiring a Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been issued a traffic ticket for speeding in a school zone, contact an experienced traffic tickets attorney immediately for expert legal counsel regarding your case. The attorney will examine your situation, look at your prior driving record, and determine what defense is best for your case. In most instances, it will be difficult to defend against speeding through a school zone, unless school was not in session that day, or the hours posted for a 25 MPH limit were no violated.