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Each year, police officers issue nearly 200,000 speeding tickets in New Jersey. In 2018, the exact number of New Jersey speeding tickets issued was 170,060.
New Jersey speeding tickets come with a long list of other penalties as well, including points, fees, surcharges, and insurance increases.
This article will give you the tools you need to avoid points on your license from a New Jersey speeding ticket.
But first lets understand how the NJ point system works.
How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in New Jersey?
New Jersey uses what we call a “points schedule.” The New Jersey points schedule lists how many points each violation is worth, ranging from zero to eight. The least severe violations have the lowest number of points and the most severe violations have the highest number of points.
In New Jersey, speeding tickets are worth between two and five points. Here’s a quick table that shows which speeding tickets are worth how many points:
| Description | Points |
| Speeding by 1-14 miles per hour over the limit. | 2 |
| Speeding by 15-29 miles per hour over the limit. | 4 |
| Speeding by 30 or more miles per hour over the limit. | 5 |
| A New Jersey driver getting any speeding ticket in another state. | 2 |
These points can have serious consequences, including the potential suspension of your driver license if you accrue more than 11 points within two years. These points—and the penalties they bring—can stay on your record for quite some time.
How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay On Your Record in New Jersey?
New Jersey speeding tickets stay on your record for a minimum of one year. After one year, the state will remove three points from your driving record. But that’s only if you can go a full year without committing any more violations.
If you are convicted of any kind of traffic infraction, misdemeanor, or felony; the state will not reduce your points for that year. That means the points on your license will last at least one more year.
Theoretically, points can remain on your record forever. In reality, many people find that they’re able to clear their record in a matter of a couple years—faster if they take a defensive driving course.
Each year that any points remain on your record is another year of paying quite a bit out of pocket.
How Much Does a New Jersey Speeding Ticket Cost?
New Jersey speeding ticket fines range from $85 to $260, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. You also have to pay fines, surcharges, and court costs, all of which vary by case. Here’s a list of speeding violations and how much you can expect to pay in fines:
| Description | Fine |
| Speeding by 1-9 miles per hour over the posted limit. | $85 |
| Speeding by 10-14 miles per hour over the posted limit. | $95 |
| Speeding by 15-19 miles per hour over the posted limit. | $105 |
| Speeding by 20-24 miles per hour over the posted limit. | $200 |
| Speeding by 25-29 miles per hour over the posted limit. | $220 |
| Speeding by 30-34 miles per hour over the posted limit. | $240 |
| Speeding by 35-39 miles per hour over the posted limit. | $260. |
In addition to these fines, you may have to pay a state surcharge if you go over five points on your license (i.e., if you get six or more points in total). Also, insurance premiums tend to increase by 23.2% after a speeding ticket. To find out how much your insurance premiums might increase, multiply your premiums by 0.232.
Using the Unsafe Driving Statute to Avoid Points on Your License
New Jersey has what’s called the Unsafe Driving Statute (39:4-97.2), which lists unsafe driving as a crime punishable by a smaller fine than speeding. It becomes relevant to speeding tickets when you consider plea bargaining.
Plea bargaining is the process of negotiating an agreement with the prosecution in which you agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge. Unsafe driving can be such a lesser charge.
How Much Are the Fines, Surcharges, and Court Costs for Using This Plea?
The fine for unsafe driving varies by the number of violations for which you have been convicted. Here’s a small table to help you visualize the fines:
| Description | Fine |
| First violation | $50-150 |
| Second violation | $100-150 |
| Third violation | $200-500 |
As with ordinary speeding tickets, you will also have to pay a $250 surcharge, which can sometimes be five times as expensive as the fine itself. What makes this plea better than a speeding ticket conviction is that it is a zero-point violation. You cannot get points on your license for your first or second unsafe driving convictions.
How Many Times Can You Use It?
You can use the unsafe driving plea three times in your entire life. Once you’ve used it three times, that’s it. No more unsafe driving pleas for you.
To make matters worse, you’re only allowed to use this plea twice within a five-year period. If you plead guilty to two unsafe driving charges, you will have to wait a whopping five years before you can do so again. If you get another speeding ticket between now and then, you won’t be able to plead it down to an unsafe driving charge.
Are There Ever Times That You Cannot Use This Plea?
This is not a “get out of jail free card.” You cannot use this plea option in every case. Like we said earlier, you can’t use this plea more than two times within a five-year period. Moreover, you can never use it again after your third time.
When you can use this plea option also depends on the severity of your charge. For example, if you’re charged with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury, the judge will likely not grant your request for this plea.
Other Ways to Reduce Points Rather Than Pleading to Unsafe Driving
There are three common ways to reduce the number of points on your license in New Jersey: take a defensive driving course, complete the Driver Improvement Program (DIP), and simply wait it out.
Defensive Driving Courses
Sometimes, courts in New Jersey will offer defensive driving courses in lieu of a conviction. However, if you’ve already been convicted, you may still be able to take a defensive driving course to have three points removed from your driving record.
New Jersey Driver Improvement Program
The New Jersey Driver Improvement Program is offered in lieu of a suspension for drivers who accumulate between 12 and 14 points on their license within two years. Successful completion of this course can result in three points being removed from your license.
Don’t Get Any More Tickets
New Jersey automatically deducts three points off of your license and driving record each year, provided you have no subsequent violations or suspensions. If you can avoid getting any more tickets, three points will be removed from your record each year.
Why Hire an Attorney If I Can Use the Unsafe Driving Plea?
If you plead guilty to an unsafe driving charge, you will still have to pay hundreds of dollars in fines, fees, and surcharges. Zero-point violations can still increase your insurance premiums, as well, since insurance providers often use their own point systems.
A conviction is still a conviction and convictions are B-A-D. By hiring a lawyer, you increase your chances of getting off scot free, not having to pay a penny in fines, fees, or surcharges. Since a dismissal prevents the ticket from appearing on your license in the first place, you also won’t have to worry about insurance increases. No ticket, no problem.
Even if you believe that you did commit the violation, you should still plead not guilty for a number of reasons:
- The officer may have been mistaken.
- The charge might not be for the right violation.
- You may have a good reason or excuse for why you broke the law.
- You might be able to reduce the penalties.
Whether you’re guilty or not, hiring a lawyer can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You can also avoid points on your license for speeding tickets and other kinds of non-criminal traffic violations—all at an affordable rate. Just download the WinIt app, find a lawyer, and let WinIt win it for you.
