In California, the message from law enforcement and state officials is clearer than ever: our public roadways are not a racetrack. While speeding has always been a primary concern for road safety, a new enforcement measure by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is significantly raising the stakes for those caught driving at extreme speeds.
If you are caught driving over 100 mph, you are no longer just facing a hefty fine and points on your license – you are now at immediate risk of losing your driving privileges entirely with The DMV’s New “Negligent Operator” Referral Program. Traditionally, speeding tickets are handled through the judicial system. However, the DMV is now taking independent, administrative action. Under a new program, drivers cited for speeds exceeding 100 mph are automatically placed into a Negligent Operator Referral Program.
This process bypasses the slow-moving court system to address dangerous driving immediately. Drivers flagged by this program are required to attend a video conference hearing with a DMV hearing officer. During this examination, the officer reviews the facts of the citation and determines whether the individual is fit to retain their California driving privilege.
The consequences of a triple-digit speeding ticket have become much more severe:
- License Suspension: Depending on the severity and context of the violation, a license suspension can start at 30 days and extend for several years.
- Immediate Action: DMV Director Steve Gordon has emphasized that “driving is a privilege, not a right,” and the department will not wait for court dates to remove dangerous drivers from the road.
- Stealth Enforcement: To catch these drivers, the CHP is utilizing new low-profile, gray patrol cars designed to blend into traffic and identify speeders before they realize they are being watched.
The statistics driving this change are sobering. Approximately 18,000 tickets are issued annually in California for speeds over 100 mph. Furthermore, speeding is a factor in one-third of all fatal collisions in the state and this initiative aims to curb reckless behavior – such as weaving through traffic or driving on shoulders – before it results in a tragedy.
We represent people injured as a result of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. Insurance companies have paid our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation because we uncover the facts. When insurance companies fail to offer full compensation, we are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 916-714-7672 or visit www.gblegal.com