Georgia has two types of speeding laws: “absolute limits” and a “basic speeding law.” This article explains the differences between the two and the consequences of a speeding violation.

Absolute Speed Limits

There is no trick to how Georgia’s absolute speed limits work: If the absolute speed limit is 50 miles per hour and you drive faster than that, you’ve violated the law. Unless otherwise posted, the absolute speed limits are:

• 20 miles per hour in school zones
• 30 miles per hour in urban and residential districts
• 35 miles per hour on unpaved country roads
• 65 miles per hour on sections of physically divided highways without full access control on the state highway system
• 70 miles per hour on interstate highways, and
• 55 miles per hour on other roadways.

Basic Speeding Law

Notwithstanding the absolute limits, Georgia’s basic speeding law prohibits driving at a speed greater than is “reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing.” In other words, a driver must always drive at a safe speed. What a safe speed is will depend on the circumstances. For instance, 55 miles per hour might be safe on a bright, sunny day. But if it’s dark and the road is icy, going 55 miles per hour could be dangerous and a violation of the basic speeding law.

Penalties for a Speeding Ticket

Most speeding violations are misdemeanors in Georgia. Generally, a misdemeanor is punishable by up to $1000 in fines and/or a maximum 12 months in jail. However, speeding offenses typically don’t result in any jail time.

The cost of a speeding ticket in Georgia depends on where the violation occurred, the amount by which the motorist exceeded the speed limit, and the motorist’s driving record. Generally, the maximum fines for a first speeding violation are:

• $0 for exceeding the limit by five miles per hour or less
• $25 for exceeding the limit by more than five but not more than ten miles per hour
• $100 for exceeding the limit by more than ten but not more than 14 miles per hour
• $125 for exceeding the limit by more than 14 but less than 19 miles per hour
• $150 for exceeding the limit by at least 19 but less than 24 miles per hour, and
• $500 for exceeding the limit by at least 24 but less than 34 miles per hour.

Speeding violations in highway work zones—which are misdemeanors of a “high and aggravated nature”—carry $100 to $2000 in fines and/or up to 12 months in jail.

For all speeding violations, the judge will impose various fees—in addition to the fine—that will substantially increase the final cost of the citation. And for anyone caught going at least 85 miles per hour (or at least 75 miles per hour on a two-lane roadway) there’s a “super speeder” fee of $200 that’s tacked onto the fine and other fees. Judges also have the option of ordering convicted motorists to complete a defensive driving course in addition to or in lieu of fines.

A speeding ticket involving driving at least 15 miles per hour over the limit will add two to six demerit points (depending on the amount by which the driver exceeded the limit) to the motorist’s driving record.

But instead of admitting guilt and paying the fines, you may decide to fight your ticket. If you win, you won't have any of the consequences of a conviction.

Reckless Driving and Vehicular Homicide

Depending on the circumstances, a speeding violation can lead to a “reckless driving” conviction. And if a speeding violation results in the death of another person, it’s possible to be convicted of “vehicular homicide.”