"What can I do about this speeding ticket?" is a question commercial drivers often ask us.
If you're facing a commercial speeding ticket after a traffic stop, you need legal help. You should consult a commercial speeding ticket lawyer immediately.
Ignoring the problem puts your CDL and your entire career at risk. We at Bigger & Harman are here to protect your livelihood.
Understanding the California Commercial Speed Differential
Novice commercial drivers coming across I-10 from Phoenix to the Long Beach or Los Angeles Port are often caught unaware of the California speed differential.
If ticketed, commercial drivers must consult a commercial speeding ticket lawyer about disputing the charge.
CA Vehicle Code (CVC) 22406 restricts most commercial vehicles to a statewide 55-mph limit, including the following:
“(a) A motortruck or truck tractor having three or more axles or any motortruck or truck tractor drawing any other vehicle.
(b) A passenger vehicle or bus drawing any other vehicle.
(c) A school bus transporting any school pupil.
(d) A farm labor vehicle when transporting passengers.
(e) A vehicle transporting explosives.
(f) A trailer bus.”
Likewise, CVC 22406.1 makes it a misdemeanor offense to exceed that restriction by 15 mph or more.
“(a) A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 15210, upon a highway at a speed exceeding a posted speed limit established under this code by 15 miles per hour or more, is guilty of a misdemeanor.”
FMCSA “Serious Offense” & Driver Disqualifications
What’s more, the FMCSA considers “excessive speeding,” 15 or more mph over the speed limit, a serious offense that results in a minimum 60-day driver disqualification after a second conviction within 3 years.
An infraction for commercial speeding is typically $238 to $800 and 1.5 NOTS points, depending on your speed, but a misdemeanor could cost thousands of dollars and include jail time or probation. Plus, the possible FMCSA driver disqualification.
🏛️ Local Defense in Riverside County, CA
According to the Cornell Law School LII WEX Definitions:
“A misdemeanor is a type of offensepunishable under criminal law. A misdemeanor is typically a crime punishable by less than 12 months in jail.”
Commercial drivers often use I-10, the major east–west route from Arizona, through Riverside County, California, to the Ports in Los Angeles or Long Beach.
The high volume of commercial traffic means more citations are issued.
Judges in Riverside County do not typically want to jail commercial drivers. They prefer to negotiate a lesser charge or probation for convictions. You need a commercial speeding ticket lawyer to represent you effectively.
We can often keep a commercial driver out of traffic court and on the road.
Consult a Commercial Speeding Ticket Lawyer for a Personalized Defense Strategy
If you received a commercial speeding ticket, call Bigger & Harman, APC, the commercial speeding ticket lawyers at (661) 349-9300 or marque 859-1177 (se habla Español).
You can also email us at mailto:attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com or use our website contact form.
Bigger & Harman regularly defends clients in Riverside County Courthouses in Blythe, Corona, Banning, Moreno Valley, Indio, Murrieta, and Riverside, CA. Call for a free, no-obligation consultation. We have assisted more than 20,000 California drivers in resolving traffic tickets. Many were CDL holders.
Download our e-book, Protecting Your Commercial Driver License.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Section
Q: What is the 55-mph speed restriction for commercial vehicles in CA?
A: CA Vehicle Code 22406 restricts motortrucks with three or more axles, school buses with pupils, and most vehicles drawing a trailer to a maximum speed of 55 mph in California.
Q: What is the difference between an infraction and a misdemeanor offense for speeding?
A: An infraction results in a fine and points. A misdemeanor offense is a criminal charge that carries higher fines, potential jail time, and a criminal record if convicted.
Q: Why is a commercial speeding ticket lawyer essential for a misdemeanor charge?
A: A commercial speeding ticket lawyer can argue for a reduced charge, prevent an incorrect misdemeanor offense designation, and work to avoid the long-term FMCSA disqualification.
References:
CA VC Sections 22406 & 22406.1, Speed Laws.
The DOT FMCSA 49 CFR Part 383.51, Paragraph 6.2.5, Disqualification of Drivers.
The Cornell Law School LII WEX Definitions: Misdemeanor.