A conviction under California Vehicle Code 22348(b) for driving over 100 MPH carries a maximum $500 base fine on a first offense that reaches roughly $2,100 once state penalty assessments are added, plus two points on your DMV record, a possible 30-day license suspension, and no eligibility for traffic school. A second offense within three years and a third within five years raise the base fine ceilings and trigger mandatory license suspensions of six months and one year, respectively. The 22348(b) VC penalty is treated far more harshly than an ordinary speeding ticket, even though the violation is classified as an infraction rather than a misdemeanor.
What the Fine Actually Costs
The $500 figure you’ll see quoted is the base fine. California adds a stack of surcharges to every traffic fine: a state penalty assessment, a county penalty assessment, a court construction fee, a DNA identification fund surcharge, an emergency medical services assessment, a 20% state surcharge, and several fixed per-conviction fees.1Judicial Branch of California. Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules Run a $500 base fine through that formula and the total comes to about $2,100. Even at the standard bail schedule’s $200 base fine, you’ll pay around $900 after assessments.
Repeat convictions raise the ceiling. A second offense within three years of a prior allows a base fine up to $750. A third offense within five years of two or more priors allows a base fine up to $1,000.2Santa Clara County Superior Court. California Judges Benchguide – Section: Specific Infractions With assessments applied, a third offense at the maximum base can exceed $4,000. Budget for multiples of the base fine, not the base fine itself.
License Suspension
On a first conviction, the court has discretion to suspend your license for up to 30 days under Vehicle Code 13200.5.3California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code VEH 13200.5 Not every judge imposes it, but judges handling triple-digit cases tend to use the authority. In place of a full suspension, the court can issue restricted driving privileges limiting you to trips between home and work, school, or medical appointments.
The second and third convictions remove that discretion. A second within three years of a prior triggers a mandatory six-month suspension or restriction through the DMV. A third within five years of two or more priors triggers a mandatory one-year suspension or restriction.2Santa Clara County Superior Court. California Judges Benchguide – Section: Specific Infractions These are automatic DMV actions once the conviction posts to your record.
Two Points and What They Do to Your Insurance
Every VC 22348(b) conviction adds two points to your driving record.4California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code 12810 Most speeding tickets carry one.5California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver Negligence Picking up two from a single incident puts you halfway to the DMV’s negligent-operator threshold, which is four points in 12 months, six in 24 months, or eight in 36 months. Hit any of those marks and the DMV issues a one-year probation that includes a six-month suspension, effective 34 days after the order is mailed.6California Department of Motor Vehicles. Negligent Operator Actions
Insurers treat a two-point violation as a serious red flag. Premiums typically rise sharply and stay elevated for three to five years. The exact increase depends on the carrier, but drivers with clean records who pick up a 100+ MPH ticket often see their rates double.
Traffic School Is Off the Table
California court rules bar traffic school for any violation carrying more than one negligent operator point.7Judicial Branch of California. Rule 4.104 Procedures and Eligibility Criteria for Attending Traffic Violator School Since this is a two-point offense, the clerk cannot approve a traffic school request even if you ask. The same rule separately bars traffic school for any speeding violation involving speeds more than 25 MPH over the limit, and a 100+ MPH ticket fails both tests. The conviction stays visible on your record, and your insurer will see it at renewal.
You Have To Appear in Court
A citation for driving over 100 MPH cannot be resolved by mailing in a payment. You must appear before a judge on the date printed on your citation. Skipping that date is itself a misdemeanor under Vehicle Code 40508, which brings additional fines and possible jail time on top of the speeding penalties, and the court can issue a bench warrant.8California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code VEH 40508 If you can’t make the date, contact the court beforehand to request a continuance.
If You Hold a Commercial Driver’s License
CDL holders face an extra layer of consequences. Driving 15 MPH or more above any posted limit is a “serious traffic violation” for CDL purposes under federal motor carrier rules, and a 100+ MPH conviction clears that bar easily. A first serious violation doesn’t automatically disqualify you. A second within three years brings a 60-day disqualification from operating any commercial motor vehicle. A third or subsequent within three years extends that to 120 days. These disqualifications apply even when the speeding happened in your personal car, as long as the conviction led to a suspension or revocation.9eCFR. 49 CFR 383.51 Disqualification of Drivers
Fighting the Charge or Reducing It
Because the case requires a court appearance, there’s room to contest it or negotiate. Common approaches include:
- Challenging the speed measurement. Radar and LIDAR devices require proper calibration and operator training. If the equipment wasn’t recently calibrated, or if the officer can’t lay a proper foundation for the reading, the speed evidence may be excludable.
- Negotiating a plea to a lesser speed violation such as exceeding 70 MPH under VC 22348(a), which carries one point and preserves traffic school eligibility.
- Questioning the officer’s visual estimate. Officers often estimate speed visually before confirming with equipment, and inconsistencies between the estimate and the device reading can create reasonable doubt.
An attorney who regularly handles California traffic cases can appear in court on your behalf, which may spare you from taking time off work for each hearing. When you add the fine, the insurance increase, and a possible suspension, total exposure from a single 100+ MPH conviction can run past $10,000 over a few years. That math is why the stakes on this particular ticket justify treating it as more than a routine traffic matter.