California Speeding Tickets: Points, Cost, and Your Options
Speeding is the most common moving violation in California and the most common reason drivers end up in traffic school. Most speeding citations are straightforward one-point infractions with a clear path to keeping them off your record — but there are two thresholds that change the answer completely.
The two laws you were probably cited under
| Code | What it means | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VC 22350 — Basic Speed Law | Driving faster than is safe for conditions, regardless of the posted limit | The most commonly cited speeding section. Speed alone is not the whole offense; conditions matter. |
| VC 22349 — Maximum Speed Limit | Exceeding 65 mph (or 55 on an undivided two-lane highway) | An absolute limit rather than a conditions-based one. |
| VC 22348(b) — Over 100 mph | Driving faster than 100 mph | Two points, higher fines, and possible license suspension. Not routine. |
Check which section is written on your citation before you assume anything about your options — the difference between them is the difference between a routine traffic school case and a serious one.
What it costs you beyond the fine
The fine on your courtesy notice is the smaller half of the story. A routine speeding conviction adds one point to your DMV record, where it generally sits for about three years and is visible to any insurer that pulls your record.
California's good driver discount — worth at least 20% by law — requires no more than one violation point in the past three years. So a visible speeding conviction either uses up your allowance or, if you already have a point, can cost you the discount. That mechanism is laid out in will a ticket raise my insurance in California.
The 25 mph rule — the threshold that decides your options
Under California Rules of Court, rule 4.104, a court clerk may not grant traffic school when the alleged speed is more than 25 miles per hour over the limit. This is the single most important line for speeding tickets.
| Alleged speed over the limit | Traffic school at the clerk level |
|---|---|
| 1–25 mph over | Available if you meet the other eligibility criteria |
| More than 25 mph over | Not available from the clerk — only a judge may allow it |
| Over 100 mph (VC 22348(b)) | Two-point violation; not a routine traffic school case |
If you're above the line, you're not automatically out of options — a judicial officer retains discretion to order traffic school in an individual case. That request goes in front of a judge rather than being handled at the counter, and a clean record helps.
Your realistic options
- Pay and elect traffic school. For an eligible one-point speeding ticket, this is what most drivers do — see the cost comparison.
- Pay only. Fastest, but the conviction posts publicly and the point counts.
- Contest it. Worth considering where the basic speed law is charged and conditions were genuinely safe, or where you dispute the measurement. You may still be able to request traffic school if you lose.
- Ask a judge if you're over the 25 mph line and otherwise have a clean record.
Whichever you choose, the deadline on your courtesy notice governs. Missing it can add a civil assessment and a hold on your license renewal — the timeline is in what to do after a traffic ticket in California.
If you go the traffic school route
Confirm eligibility with the court, pay the bail and administrative fee by the due date, then enroll with any DMV-licensed school. The course takes about five to six hours and you have until the court's completion deadline — commonly 60 to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a speeding ticket in California?
One point for a routine speeding conviction. Speeding over 100 mph is a two-point violation. Commercial licensees have violations counted at 1.5 times the usual value.
Can I take traffic school for a speeding ticket?
Usually yes, if the alleged speed was not more than 25 mph over the limit, you had a valid license, no drugs or alcohol were involved, you weren't in a commercial vehicle, and you haven't used traffic school for a violation in the previous 18 months.
How much is a speeding ticket in California?
There is no single amount. The base fine is set by the county bail schedule for the speed alleged and is then increased by mandatory assessments, which is why totals commonly reach several hundred dollars. Your courtesy notice has the amount that applies to you.
How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in California?
A one-point speeding conviction generally remains on your driving record for about 36 months from the violation date. Completing traffic school for an eligible citation keeps it off the public version of that record.
Is the basic speed law worth fighting?
It can be, because VC 22350 requires the speed to be unsafe for conditions rather than simply over a posted number. Whether that's worth your time depends on the facts and on how much a conviction would cost you.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Your court has the final say on your citation.