Q: I was caught going 38 over the speed limit. I got a $2000 speeding ticket. Will I get jail time?
The officer returned my license and I also have to appear in court. I'm not sure if the law requires a class A misdemeanor a fine or jail time or both.
A:
Hello Asker,
First, take a deep breath. You do not owe $2,000. That $2,000 is a bond amount on your individual bond (also called an I-Bond). That's a fancy word for a bond where you are allowed to go free without giving up your license in exchange for a promise to return to court. In the event that you fail to return to court, the court is empowered to issue a judgment for that amount against you. So long as you go to court, that number is meaningless.
Second, yes, you are charged with a Class A Misdemeanor offense and it is punishable by up to a year in jail and/or $2,500 fine. In practice, jail is rare but it is not unusual to have higher than ordinary fines for speeding tickets. Due to the serious nature of these tickets, it is recommended that you retain an attorney to help avoid the prospect of a criminal misdemeanor on your record and protect your drivers license and insurance rates from the impact that this ticket may have on your record.
At a bare minimum, I would schedule a consultation with an attorney to discuss your driving record so you at least know what can be done about your situation.
Hope that helps and let me know if you have any additional questions.
Sincerely,
Jason A. Wilkins
Traffic Attorney
(630) 445-2293
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