Can I Go to Jail for a Speeding Ticket?

Posted on June 3, 2025
  • Criminal Defense

    • If you are ticketed for speeding, you may wonder about the consequences. Can you face jail time for speeding? An experienced traffic and criminal defense lawyer in Indianapolis can review your situation and explain your legal options so you can make informed decisions about how your case is handled, hoping to avoid jail time. 

    What Is Speeding?

    If you drive above the posted speed limit, you can be ticketed for speeding. Even if you drive within the posted speed limit, you can be ticketed if your driving is unsafe for the road or weather conditions. Speeding is typically considered a moving violation.

    Typical Penalties for Speeding

    As a moving violation, you are generally subject to points being added to your driving record. The number of points you receive depends on how fast you were speeding over the posted speed limit, as follows:

    • 1-15 mph over the speed limit: 2 points
    • 16-25 mph over the speed limit: 4 points
    • More than 25 mph over the speed limit: 6 points

    Points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date. If you accumulate 20 points within 24 months, your driver’s license can be suspended. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles can set an administrative hearing if you have three or more moving violations within a one-year period.

    How You Could Wind Up in Jail After Speeding

    Even though speeding is typically considered a traffic infraction and not a misdemeanor or felony, speeding could be tied to crimes that involve the operation of a vehicle, such as reckless driving or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you are charged with a crime in which speeding was involved, you could face jail time if you are convicted. 

    Another way you could wind up in jail after speeding is if you don’t pay the ticket, evade the cops or show up in court to contest it. In that situation, you can be charged with failure to appear, have a bench warrant issued against you, and be picked up by police. 

    If your driver’s license is suspended and you are caught driving while on a suspended license, you can face additional criminal charges, the loss of your driver’s loss, and the prospect of jail time.

    What Should You Do After Obtaining a Speeding Ticket or an Arrest?

    Whether you’re ultimately arrested or just ticketed, the first thing to do is to get a better understanding of the allegations against you and the legal options available to you. You may be able to contest the ticket, receive a favorable plea agreement, or have criminal charges dismissed against you, as just a few possible outcomes. An experienced criminal trial lawyer can help you better assess your situation.

    Contact Our Criminal Defense Lawyers for Legal Assistance

    If you have been arrested following speeding or want to explore your legal options after obtaining a speeding ticket, you should reach out to The Criminal Defense Team for a free and confidential case evaluation. Call us today to learn more.