If you're searching for a speeding ticket lawyer free consultation near me, you're not alone.
Many drivers in Santa Barbara County, CA, find themselves in this position after receiving a ticket on Highway 101.
As anyone who has driven along Highway 101 or Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) through Santa Barbara, Summerland, and Carpinteria knows, it seems like it has been under construction for 25 to 30 years. Many construction zone tickets are written in these areas.
The local stretch, also known as the, is notorious for speed traps and construction zones. Santa Claus Lane is a CHP’s favorite spot for a pullover.
Why Is the PCH a Hotspot for Speeding Tickets
In Santa Barbara County, PCH is a scenic but heavily traveled road. CHP loves issuing tickets on the PCH!
From Ventura to the north of Santa Barbara, officers monitor traffic daily—the ongoing construction makes this a frequent hotspot for citations.
Construction Zone Speeding Can Double Your Fine, But the Rise in Insurance Premium Can Be Brutal
Speeding through a construction zone in California can result in steep fines.
Under the CA Vehicle Code (VC) Section 22362, if you're caught exceeding the limit where workers are present and signs are posted properly, you could be fined around $648. That includes penalties and assessments.
What’s more, CA VC Section 22350, the California basic speed law states that:
“No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
Consequently, even going the speed limit could open you up to a speeding ticket when road conditions, such as construction, “endangers the safety of persons or property,” particularly the people working on the road.
Let’s examine the language in CA VC Section 22362.
“It is prima facie a violation of the basic speed law for any person to operate a vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit upon any portion of a highway where officers or employees of the agency having jurisdiction of the same, or any contractor of the agency or his employees, are at work on the roadway or within the right-of-way so close thereto as to be endangered by passing traffic.
However, this section applies only when appropriate signs, indicating the limits of the restricted zone, and the speed limit applicable therein, are placed by such agency within 400 feet of each end of such zone. The signs shall display the figures indicating the applicable limit, which shall not be less than 25 miles per hour, and shall indicate the purpose of the speed restriction.”
However, just because the police issued you a ticket doesn’t mean you are guilty. That is up to a judge to decide unless you plead guilty and pay the fine. If any of the elements listed above are not met, your ticket could be dismissed.
If there are no workers present, is it a construction zone?
The Expense Doesn’t Stop with the Fine
It doesn’t stop there. Your insurance rates may increase by $850 annually over the next three years. That’s a hefty price to pay.
The average driver in Santa Maria pays $2,494, and drivers in Santa Barbara pay $2,641 annually, for full coverage insurance annually in 2025, according to Bankrate.com.
Of course, that is the average. You could pay less, or you could pay much more, especially if you have a teen driver on your policy.
One paid fine for a speeding ticket could cause you to lose your 20% “good driver’s discount” for up to three years, and the insurance company will add another 10 to 15% for speeding in a construction zone.
That could mean a 35% raise or $872.90 yearly in Santa Maria or $924.35 in Santa Barbara. Imagine how much that would be with a teen on your policy.
Speeding Ticket Lawyer Free Consultation Near Me
Before paying your fine or accepting Traffic Violator School (TVS), talk to us.
A speeding ticket lawyer free consultation allows you to understand your options. Many clients don’t realize that by paying the fine, they’re pleading guilty.
Once you choose TVS, you must plead guilty, pay the full fine amount plus tuition and the County admin fee, and complete the course before the deadline.
If you miss it, the conviction becomes a part of your public record, impacting your insurance and DMV points. We help our clients weigh these risks and often save them from needless costs.
What a Speeding Ticket Lawyer Can Do
We tell our Santa Barbara clients: court is just one part of it. We prepare your defense thoroughly.
The following are a few of the areas we will provide legal assistance:
We submit all the necessary court documents on your behalf.
We subpoena patrol officer records and device calibration logs.
We can challenge RADAR, LIDAR, and pacing accuracy.
We identify procedural errors that could result in your ticket being dismissed.
If we can’t get a dismissal, we often can negotiate lower penalties or request TVS even when your speed normally disqualifies you.
, you won't need to appear in court. We handle it all. Therefore, you won’t need to inform your boss.
Know Your Rights Before Accepting TVS
TVS isn’t always the answer.
You could be accepting guilt for a ticket that might be dismissed. That’s why it’s crucial to get a speeding ticket lawyer free consultation near me in Santa Barbara County.
We’ve seen many drivers choose TVS only to regret it later. Once you plead guilty and accept attendance, there's no turning back. Let us guide you through your options.
Whether you were pulled over in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Summerland, or near Carpinteria, CA, we will work hard to get you a great result that saves your record.
Contact One of Bigger & Harman’s Santa Barbara County Speeding Ticket Lawyers
If you need a speeding ticket lawyer in Santa Barbara or Santa Maria, we’re here.
Bigger & Harman has been defending California drivers for more than a decade. Our local experience and knowledge of court procedures help us to achieve results.
Don't face this alone. Let us review your ticket, explain your options, and possibly save you thousands. The consultation is free.
Consult Bigger & Harman, the Traffic Ticket Law Firm for a Free Consultation About Your Santa Barbara County Ticket
Construction zone tickets are complex.
For a speeding ticket lawyer free consultation near me in Santa Barbara County, CA, call Bigger & Harman at (661) 349-9300—se habla Español 349-9755.
We represent drivers in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
If you have a ticket pending for speeding in a construction zone, it could cost you more than $3,000 over the next three years if you just pay the fine. Contact one of our speeding ticket lawyers for a free consultation today.
Use our convenient contact form or email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Section
Q: Is it worth hiring a speeding ticket lawyer for one ticket?
A: Yes. You may not be eligible for Traffic Violator School, which could result in an increase of up to $2,500 in your insurance premiums over the three years it remains on your record. Additionally, there are many technicalities involved with speeding in a construction zone where the fines are nearly double.
Q: Is Bigger & Harman a speeding ticket lawyer with free consultation near me in Santa Barbara County?
A: Yes, Bigger & Harman, APC explicitly advertises free consultations for traffic ticket cases. While their primary office is in Bakersfield, they do represent clients in other areas, including Santa Barbara County. They are experienced in traffic ticket defense and are members of the CA Traffic Defense Bar Association.
Q: What if the officer used pacing instead of RADAR or LIDAR?
A: In many cases, LIDAR and RADAR are highly accurate, but if the device was not recently calibrated or the law enforcement officer (LEO) was not fully trained, errors could occur. Likewise, pacing can be subjective, and an experienced speeding ticket lawyer can challenge an inexperienced LEO’s capability to match speeds accurately, particularly over short distances.
Q: How does a free consultation help me?
A: It provides you with insight into your legal options before you commit to paying the fine or disputing your ticket in court.
References:
CA Vehicle Code (VC) Section 22350 & 22362.
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
The Bankrate.com article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2025.