A 16 yr old girl got a ticket for speeding 30 MPH over the limit. Her friends are swearing it's a felony.

Question

I told her I think that if she committed a felony they'd arrest her on the spot. Her court date is March 22 and she's a nervous wreck. I think she may lose her license since she also had a friend in the car before her year trial period was up...but a felony? We're in CA.

Answer 1

Some states will charge you with reckless driving or even attempted suicide (attempted manslaughter if you have passengers) for driving over a certain speed (i.e. over 100mph). For a felony, your'e right, she would have been apprehended on the spot. What she needs to realize is that speed limits exist for a reason, and if someone had pulled out in front of her, say on the other side of a hill, or on a blind turn, where at the speed limit she could've stopped or avoided a collision, she could have caused a wreck. She could have killed someone, like say, a baby, someone's Mom or Dad, brother, sister, daughter, son....your 16 yr old friend has a lot of learning and growing up to do....she's lucky she isn't being charged with a felony....like vehicular manslaughter.

Answer 2

There are two infractions here: Speeding and having a friend under 20 in the car with her. She'll get a small fine and have to do community service (like 8 hours or so) for having the friend in the car. She'll also get a larger fine for speeding. We are talking in the low hundreds total and not anywhere near $1000.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FELONY HERE. Anyone who says it's a felony doesn't know what they are talking about. It's not even a misdemeanor.

The worst that will happen is some community service and a fine and a lot of embarrassment. I was 16 a while ago myself and had to go to traffic court a couple times, too, and the worst thing about it was facing my step-father, because the insurance went up. As such, don't worry. There will be some inconveniences in the next couple months, but your friend will look back on this and laugh in a year or so and won't remember it 5 years from now.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Felony? Not likely. But almost certainly a different moving violation. In WI, up to 20 mph over is speeding, 20 mph and more is speeding excess. It's a stiffer violation and pretty much guaranteed to double the cost of your car insurance.
I'm sure this 16 year old will hear some choice words from her parents if they're footing the insurance bill...

Answer 4

Sorry but the excuse for the balance of traffic doing 80 is not a valid defense. Your wallet is going to get very thin very quickly. Check the ticket and see how many violations are on it. Your driving record is really going to suffer on this one. You were probably cited for at least one violation of speeding. (2 points. You may also have been cited for reckless driving (3 points), and exibition of speed (3 points). In California you would have been taken to jail and your car impounded. I am not certain about Tenn. but in California you would have had an 8 point ticket and a total fine exceeding $1500. Oh and also you may be required to go to traffic school. That would usually be charged at 1/2 the amount of the fine for your cost to go to the school. Total potential fine and school $2250. at least in California that would be a close approximation. You better get a second job now to pay for the ticket. OH and one more thing. If all three of the charges are on the ticket, your automobile insurance is going to go through the roof. Have a nice day.

Answer 5

she will have a fine, might lose her license, might have to go to driving education class with her county. When I was a teen I got a ticket like that, and had to do all that and write a 500 word essay on the effects and dangers of speeding. I was in Ohio of course, and I did lose my license for 2 months. But it definitly isn't a felony. 30 mph over though is a lot.

Answer 6

It is not a felony , reckless driving will cost her points ,and the insurance will go up....here in my state that charge would carry 6 points ,plus a $500.00 or more fine , plus insurance penalties (and most insurance companies average about a 100 dollars increase per point), My insurance went up to 850.00 every six months because of mine several years back..the charge is off my record now but my insurance is still $240 .00 every six months which is double than what I am used to paying..........it is going to cost , but I do not believe it is a felony , a ticket is an arrest , but if it were felony public endangerment or another felony involving a car I believe they would book her in at the local jail , I am not sure about California......

Answer 7

It is not a felony it is a misdermenor, she will have to pay a fine, the amount of the fine should be on the ticket, and it will be on her record for next 3 years, she shouldnt have to appear in court at all as long as she pays the fine. If it states that she must appear then she might lose her license and have to pay a fine but that will be all, she might have to attend a class and pay another fine to get her license back.

Answer 8

I don't know about a felony, but definitely a hefty fine and probably loss of license. 30 over may be considered reckless operation. Not sure about the friend thing, that doesn't apply where I live.

Answer 9

Not a felony .. A bad moving violation ... With the age as a consideration there may be some driving classes with a hefty fine ... No need for a layer though

Answer 10

Shes under 18 so speeding is a bad charge for them period. If I were the judge I would suspend her license until she turns 18 and have her complete driving school. Shes not looking at a fine and a slap on the wrist here, she needs to get a trafic lawyer to help her get the charge reduced or dismissed.