Defeating a Georgia Super Speeder Citation: Timelines, Hidden Fees, and Court Strategies

Receiving a speeding ticket in Georgia is stressful, but the situation becomes significantly more expensive if you are classified as a Super Speeder. This classification is not a separate ticket you receive on the side of the road; rather, it is an additional state-level penalty triggered by your speed. Many drivers unknowingly pay their local traffic ticket, thinking the ordeal is over, only to receive a surprise bill in the mail weeks later. Understanding how this law works and how to negotiate your speed down can save you hundreds of dollars. If you find yourself facing these severe penalties, we highly recommend finding a local lawyer in our US Attorneys directory to help you navigate the system.

Step-by-Step Process in Georgia

Whether you were pulled over in Atlanta, Savannah, or Macon, the procedural steps for handling a high-speed citation generally remain the same across the state. The process starts at the local court level and potentially ends up at the state level if a conviction is reported.

Step 1: Identifying a Super Speeder Violation

According to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-189, a driver is classified as a Super Speeder if convicted of driving 75 mph or faster on a two-lane road, or 85 mph or faster on any road or highway in the state. The officer writing the citation does not collect the Super Speeder fee; they only issue the underlying speeding ticket. Your first step is to check the speed recorded on your citation to see if it meets these thresholds.

Step 2: Negotiating Speeds Down to 84 mph to Avoid the Status

The most effective strategy to defeat the state fee is to prevent the conviction from reaching the qualifying speed. You or your lawyer can appear at the local court, such as the Municipal Court of Atlanta, Atlanta or the State Court of Cobb County, Marietta, to speak with the prosecutor. The goal is to negotiate a plea deal that reduces your recorded speed to 84 mph on the highway or 74 mph on a two-lane road. If the prosecutor agrees and the judge approves, the conviction reported to the state will fall below the threshold, and you will completely avoid the extra state fee.

Step 3: Paying the Local Fine

If you cannot negotiate the speed down, or if you simply pay the ticket online (which counts as a guilty plea), the local court will process your conviction. You will pay the standard speeding fine set by that specific county or city. Once paid, the clerk at the Municipal Court of Savannah, Savannah (or whichever court has jurisdiction) will automatically forward your conviction data to the state.

Step 4: The State Notification Process

Once the state receives the conviction, the Georgia Department of Driver Services, Conyers will mail you an official notice. This letter informs you that you have been classified as a Super Speeder and owe a $200 fee directly to the state. This is entirely separate from what you already paid to the local court.

Step 5: What Happens if You Ignore the DDS Fee Letter?

Ignoring this notice is a massive mistake. Under Georgia law, you have 120 days from the date of the notice to pay the $200 fee. If you fail to pay it within this window, the Georgia Department of Driver Services, Conyers will automatically suspend your driving privileges. To resolve this suspension, you would then have to pay the original $200 fee plus an additional $50 reinstatement fee. We will not cover the lengthy license reinstatement process here, but knowing the financial penalty for ignoring the letter is crucial.

Impact on Non-Residents Driving Through Georgia

Many people assume that if they have an out-of-state driver license, Georgia laws do not apply to them. This is false. If a driver from Florida or Tennessee gets caught speeding in Georgia, the local court still reports the violation to the state. The Georgia Department of Driver Services, Conyers will mail the $200 fee notice to your out-of-state address. If you fail to pay, Georgia suspends your non-resident driving privileges and typically reports the suspension to your home state through the Nonresident Violator Compact, which can lead to your home state suspending your license as well.

How Much Does it Cost in Georgia?

The financial impact of a high-speed ticket is essentially a two-part bill. Generally, you can expect the following costs:

• Local Court Fine: Varies heavily by county and speed, often ranging from $150 to $500.
• Super Speeder Fee: A flat $200 mandated by state law.
• Late Fee (if ignored): An extra $50 if the 120-day window is missed.
• Attorney Fees: Hiring a local traffic lawyer typically costs between $200 and $600, but this can easily pay for itself if they successfully negotiate the speed down and save you from the $200 state fee and massive insurance rate hikes.

How Long Does the Process Take?

The timeline for a Super Speeder case can take several months. A local court date is usually set 30 to 60 days after the traffic stop. If you are convicted at that hearing, it typically takes 10 to 14 days for the court to notify the state. Once the state mails the fee notice, you are granted exactly 120 days to pay the $200 balance before any suspension actions take effect.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)