So How Much Is That Speeding Ticket Going to Cost Me?

It's a natural question to ask, but until you get the notice in the mail it can be difficult to find out just how much they are going to soak you for. For me, this is still the type of Google search that is going to give you a bunch of crap. Everybody is trying to sell you something: be it legal services to fight the ticket or traffic school. Pretty much all the info, except for what you were looking for, is what shows up in your search.

Here's what you need to do to get a reasonable idea of how much you just cost yourself: find your state's "UNIFORM BAIL AND PENALTY SCHEDULES." For California residents, you can click here to read the 2011 edition. In my wife's case, she was in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 22349 (a) Speeding 1–15 MPH Over 65 MPH Limit which has a total bail of $154. Add on a traffic school administrative fee plus the cost of traffic school and your are around $200 or so. Keep in mind that there might be a few other fees tacked on to your bail, but you get the idea.