Speeding ticket fines in Florida are expensive. In fact, Florida ranked number eight on a 2020 list of the most expensive states to get a speeding ticket.
Heavy fines can act as a good deterrent from risky driving behaviors like speeding. But if you accidentally exceed the speed limit, you might be looking for a way to reduce the cost of your speeding ticket fines.
If you’re wondering how much speeding tickets cost in Florida, or if there’s a way to reduce the cost of your Florida speeding ticket fines, we have answers!
How Much Are Speeding Tickets in Florida?
The cost of a speeding ticket in Florida depends on several factors like:
Which county you were in
If you were in a school, construction, or toll zone
How soon you pay your ticket
How fast you were going
Let’s look at Miami-Dade, Florida’s largest county by population, as an example. Here’s how much a speeding ticket costs in Miami-Dade:
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Can You Reduce the Cost of a Florida Speeding Ticket?
Eligible drivers can reduce the cost of a Florida speeding ticket by enrolling in a driver improvement course. You are eligible if:
The violation was not a criminal charge
You do not have a commercial driver’s license
You have not taken a driver improvement course in the past 12 months or taken the course more than four times in total
By enrolling in a Florida driver improvement course, you can have the cost of your speeding ticket reduced by 18%.
The driver improvement course can also save you money on your auto insurance. If you take the driver improvement course, your auto insurance provider cannot raise your rates or cancel your service because of a speeding ticket. This assumes that you weren’t speeding more than 15 mph over the limit and you don’t have multiple violations in an 18-month period.
Can You Get a Speeding Ticket Dismissed in Florida?
You may hear people say that they used the Florida driver improvement course to “dismiss a speeding ticket.” While the driver improvement course doesn’t technically dismiss the ticket, it does prevent you from being convicted of the violation and adding points to your license. Points are negative marks on your driving record, and too many points can result in driver’s license suspension. So it’s important to keep the points on your license as low as possible.
Since the driver improvement course helps you avoid the conviction and the points, it effectively dismisses your speeding ticket. You still have to pay the ticket, but the fee will be reduced and there won’t be any long-term impact from the ticket.
How to Enroll in a Florida Driver Improvement Course to Reduce Speeding Ticket Fines
To reduce your speeding ticket fines in Florida by taking a driver improvement course, simply follow this four-step process:
Make sure you’re eligible for the course and notify your county clerk of your intention to take a driver improvement course by following the instructions on your ticket.
Enroll in a state-approved driver improvement course.
Complete your course and get your certificate.
Provide your certificate of completion to your court or county clerk before the deadline (typically 60-90 days, depending on your county).
Speeding ticket fines in Florida can be expensive, but they don’t have to ruin your driving record. Enroll in a driver improvement course today!