Super Speeder Fees Have Been Very Lucrative for Georgia
Most people only learn about the Georgia Super Speeder fee when they have the misfortune to get convicted of a qualifying speeding ticket. In addition to court fines and fees for your speeding ticket you get hit with a $200 Super Speeder fee if you are convicted of going 85 mph or more on a four-lane highway or 75 mph or more on any other roads on Georgia. You can be convicted by either just paying the fine and not coming to court or by pleading guilty or nolo contendere in court to those speeds. The fee went into effect in 2012. Since then, the revenue to the state has been growing pretty significantly.
The total revenue have grown pretty steadily even during COVID. Although the funds go into the general funds from the state, it appears that most of the funds are allocated to the Georgia Trauma Commission (the red line above).
At $23 million in 2023, that is a lot of $200 fees being collected.
I am not saying that the Georgia Trauma Commission is not a worthy recipient, but I am sure that most drivers would prefer not to make those contributions to its operation.
The best way to avoid paying a super speeder fee is not to speed, followed closely by don't go 85 mph or more on four-lane highways or 75 mph or more on other roads in Georgia.
If you can't help yourself and do get cited for that level of speed, you should consult with a traffic defense lawyer familiar with the court that your ticket is going to. There is often an opportunity to negotiate the disposition to lower the speed or change the offense or divert the case so as to avoid that guilty finding for that speed. If your speed is in the nineties or above, be prepared that you may have to pay more, do a defensive driving or traffic violators impact program or community service or a combination of those in order to get any relief. Your attorney will be able to advise you on that. Be aware that for out-of-state drivers, your license consequences are determined by your home state laws.
If you can't afford an attorney, you should attend court and try to get the speed lowered or other relief to avoid super speeder, points and other issues that can flow from the ticket.
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