I got a ticket in Georgia after driving 85 mph. What do I do if I can't afford my fines?

Speeding ticket fines are no laughing matter. If you found yourself driving 85 mph on a Georgia road, and you landed a speeding ticket as a result, you’ve probably got a good reason to be nervous. Going into court isn’t going to be a fun experience. With the legal system all over America cracking down ever-harder on speeding motorists, fines have only increased over the past several years, and they show no signs of slowing down. In fact, under the Georgia super speeder law, you may face even more stringent fines and penalties... but what if you can't afford them?

Your odds of having a judge go easy on you are more than likely not very good, either. Attempting to ask a judge to reduce a speeding ticket fine is basically an exercise in futility; after all, as the judge will probably point out to you, you can afford to own and maintain a car, and pay for gas and insurance, therefore you should be able to pay for the consequences of operating it improperly, too.

At most, a traffic judge might grant you some extra time to come up with the cash for an especially-steep speeding ticket fine. Don’t expect a reduction in the amount, though. If you ask for one, you might even need to be prepared for the judge to get angry with you; the laws are in place for a reason. Your best bet is to keep your mouth shut, ask for an extension of time if you absolutely need it (and be prepared to explain why), pay the ticket as soon as possible, and don’t do it again. You should also consider speaking with a lawyer who may be able to help you explore what options, if any, you have for plea bargaining or otherwise reducing the fines and severity of the charges.