What To Do After A Connecticut Speeding Ticket

A Connecticut speeding ticket can raise your insurance rates by 20% on average, but you may plead not guilty and potentially get the ticket dismissed in court.
Written by Max Werner
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
If you receive a
Connecticut
speeding ticket, you can plead no contest and pay the fine—which could raise your
auto insurance
rates by a potential 20%—plead not guilty and fight the ticket using Connecticut’s online ticket review program, or fight the ticket in court.

How to deal with your speeding ticket in Connecticut

Connecticut traffic laws outline three types of speeding penalties, including traveling unreasonably fast, speeding, and reckless speeding. The fines vary for each level of speeding, and more serious moving violations incur a “notice to appear” in court. You’ll need to check your ticket to be clear about your specific citation type.
You can plead no contest and pay your ticket—which doesn’t mean you’re admitting guilt, but you will face penalties—use Connecticut’s online ticket review program to plead not guilty and have your ticket reviewed online, or plead not guilty in court and have the ticket dismissed.
Your car insurance provider won’t find out about your speeding ticket until your policy is due to renew. Your rates will increase by an average of 20% after a speeding violation, so it’s wise to shop around and compare quotes to find the best rate after your citation.

How to pay your speeding ticket

Connecticut offers two ways to pay your speeding citation. 
  • Online: Use the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Centralized Infractions Bureau
    online payment portal
    to pay your ticket using a credit card. You will need your ticket number, check digit, and the first three letters of the last name or company name on the ticket.  
  • Mail: You can mail a check or money order made payable to the Clerk of Superior Court to the Centralized Infractions Bureau, P.O. Box 5044, Hartford, CT 06102-5044. You will need to include your ticket or the “failure to respond” notice. 
Your ticket will outline an answer date deadline, which is assigned by the police officer who issued your citation. You must respond to the ticket by paying it or pleading not guilty by the deadline, or your case will be transferred to the court, and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will
suspend your driver’s license
. Additionally, you will face a $60 Clerk of the Court reopening fee, and a fee to have your
driver’s license reinstated
.
Keep in mind that if you pay your ticket, it will be deemed a Nolo Contendere plea. Paying your speeding ticket in Connecticut does not serve as an admission of guilt—you are neither admitting or denying the charges.

How to get your speeding ticket dismissed in Connecticut 

There are two ways to get your speeding ticket dismissed in Connecticut.
  • Online ticket review program: You may be eligible to use Connecticut’s online ticket review program to plead not guilty and have a prosecutor review your ticket online. You can use the
    Centralized Infractions Bureau application page
    to submit documents, and you’ll be notified of a decision within four to five weeks. Your ticket may be disposed of, transferred to court, or you may receive an offer to reduce your fines and fees. 
  • Plead not guilty in court: The Centralized Infractions Bureau will transfer your Connecticut traffic ticket case to a Superior Court based on the ticketing location. You can plead guilty online through the Centralized Infractions Bureau website, by mail according to the instructions on your ticket, or by contacting the Centralized Infractions Bureau by phone at 860-263-2750. In some cases, it may be wise to employ a traffic ticket lawyer to support your plea at your court appearance.
Drivers with
clean driving records
have a better chance of getting a speeding ticket dismissed, so if this is your first traffic violation, you may have luck with fighting your ticket.
If you were issued a Connecticut speeding ticket but you live out of state, the violation will be treated the same as if you lived in CT. You will receive a mailed notice with your court hearing details, and you must respond to the ticket or face a driver’s license suspension in your home state.
Pro Tip: Common successful speeding ticket defenses include medical emergencies, a defective speedometer in your vehicle, a malfunctioning radar or LiDAR gun, or misuse of speed measurement technology by law enforcement. Ignorance to Connecticut’s speeding laws is not a viable defense.

What are the fines and penalties for speeding in Connecticut?

As per Connecticut’s point system, drivers are typically assigned one point after a speeding infraction or speeding violation. 
The Connecticut fines vary based on the type of ticket.1
  • Unreasonable speed: The base fee for traveling unreasonably fast ranges from $35 to $90.
  • Speeding and special zones: Speeding violations incur a base fee of $213, although this fee increases to $313 if you speed in a construction zone or school zone. Multiple special zone speeding violations can lead to a base fine of $413.
  • Reckless speed: Traveling over the posted speed limit by 85 miles per hour or more can result in a $600 and up to one year in jail after multiple offenses. 
  • Other circumstances: Fees may also increase if you have been found guilty of previous convictions, were driving a truck with a commercial driver’s license, or endangered an “uninformed” occupant.
Violation
Violation type
Base penalty
Normal circumstances
Special zone
Multiple special zones
Traveling unreasonably fast above a posted limit but under 55 mph 
Infraction
$35 to $90
$103 to $191
$138 to $281
$173 to $371
Traveling too fast for conditions
Infraction
$35 to $90
$103
N/A
N/A
Speeding 56 mph to 70 mph on limited access highways or 56 mph to 60 mph on all other highways
Infraction
$35 to $90
$123 to $211
$158 to $301
$193 to $319
Speeding between 71 mph to 85 mph over the speed limit
Violation
$213
$213 for 71 mph to 75 mph over the limit, $254 for 76 mph to 80 mph over the limit, $294 for 81 mph to 85 mph over the limit
$313 for 71 mph to 75 mph over the limit, $379 for 76 mph to 80 mph over the limit, $444 for 81 mph to 85 mph over the limit
N/A
Driving to endanger occupant
Violation
$213
$213
$313
$413
Reckless speed driving 85 mph or more over the limit
N/A
$100 to $300, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both for a first offense
Up to $600, up to one year imprisonment, or both for subsequent offenses
N/A
N/A
N/A
You can also be given the following surcharges based on the circumstance.
  • A surcharge equal to 50% of the assessed fine
  • An additional $1 fee for every $8 fine
  • A $15 cost for those pleading no contest in any speeding infraction
  • A $35 surcharge for an infraction carrying a fine of $35 or more
  • A $5 charge for those convicted of drunk driving,
    reckless driving
    , or speeding
  • An additional $10 fee to be paid to the county in which the offense occurs

Your insurance will go up after a speeding ticket—here’s how to lower it 

Connecticut drivers see an average car insurance rate increase of 20% after a single speeding ticket. Here are a few ways you can lower your auto insurance expenses after a Connecticut speeding violation.

1. Compare car insurance quotes before your renewal date

When your car insurance policy is due to renew, your insurer will check your updated
motor vehicle report (MVR)
for any recent violations, misdemeanors, or infractions. With a speeding ticket on your MVR, you’ll see a surcharge for your speeding ticket on your renewal notice rate. 
app screenshot
You can accept your new and higher rate, or you can compare quotes from other insurance companies to find opportunities to save with a lower rate. The
Jerry
app is a great tool for comparing personalized quotes from multiple carriers at once.
Once you secure a better rate, be sure to reshop and continue comparing quotes as your Connecticut driving record changes. Your speeding ticket will remain on your record for three years, but reshopping for insurance may help you find a lower rate in advance.
app screenshot
If you purchase a car insurance policy through the Jerry app, you’ll have access to automatic reshops that will show you new quotes when your policy is up for renewal, or if lower rates are available in your area.

2. Attend traffic school or take a defensive driving course

If you were issued a speeding ticket for driving over 75 miles per hour on a highway work zone, you will be required to take a defensive driving course in Connecticut. Otherwise, a driving safety course may be able to help you earn a discount on your car insurance premiums following a speeding ticket. 

3. Take advantage of discounts 

Beside defensive driving course discount, there are other
car insurance discounts
that could lower your insurance expenses, including:
  • Telematics discounts (i.e. tracking your driving)
  • Paid-in-full discounts
  • Responsible payer discounts
  • Vehicle safety discounts
  • Low-mileage discounts

When are insurance companies notified about speeding tickets?

Your insurance provider will learn about your recent speeding ticket when
your policy is up for renewal
. Insurers routinely check your motor vehicle report before your policy renews, which will show your speeding ticket as well as any other traffic offenses issued by a law enforcement officer. 
Your insurance rate will not increase until your policy renews.

Cheapest car insurance companies after a speeding ticket in Connecticut

Each insurance provider handles traffic offenses differently. Here’s how popular insurers typically handle rate renewals after a speeding citation:
Insurance company
Average rate increase after a speeding ticket
Allstate
15%
USAA
17%
American Family
22%
Nationwide
26%
State Farm
26%
Farmers
31%
Auto-Owners
36%
Travelers
37%
GEICO
38%
Progressive
43%
Remember: Various factors impact your rate increase following a speeding ticket. Your existing record, whether you plead not guilty to the ticket, and the number of years you’ve been with your current provider can all influence your post-offense premiums.
Highlighticon
Where’d we get these numbers? Jerry’s editorial team researched the average rate increase after a speeding ticket for these 10 insurance companies using expert sources from Forbes, NerdWallet, ValuePenguin, WalletHub, Liberty Mutual, The Zebra, and CarInsurance.com. Our data shows the average of the data shared by these sources.
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FAQs

Will I lose my license if I don’t fight a speeding ticket?

If you refuse to fight or pay your ticket, a court will usually revoke your license. While this isn’t permanent, reinstatement can mean paying hefty fees.  
In Connecticut, accumulating ten or more points will result in the temporary license suspension, and more severe violations can result in permanent consequences. Consider your options—and situation—carefully when deciding how to handle a ticket.

Should I fight or pay my Connecticut speeding ticket?

Whether or not you fight a speeding ticket is mainly dependent on the situation. If you think you have a good chance of getting the charges dropped—you should consider going through a court or online review program to plead not guilty. But if you do not have solid evidence to support your not guilty plea, you're usually better off paying the fine to avoid the hassle.

How much is a speeding ticket in Connecticut?

Speeding ticket fines in Connecticut vary based on the type of speeding offense. Base fines can be as low as $35, but some tickets can reach as high as $600 for reckless speed. Additionally, if you are charged for reckless driving, driving under the influence (DUI), or failing to abide by traffic signs while speeding, your fines can get much higher. 

What speed is considered a felony in Connecticut?

Driving over the speed limit by 85 miles per hour or more is considered reckless speeding in Connecticut and may be considered a criminal charge depending on the circumstances.

How many miles per hour over is reckless driving in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, reckless driving is applied to a motorist who exceeds the speed limit by 85 miles per hour while endangering the lives of others.

How many points is speeding in Connecticut?

Drivers are typically penalized one point for speeding. Extra points may be assigned for speeding and passing a stopped school bus, driving through a stop sign, using your cell phone while driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

How long does it take for points to come off your license in Connecticut?

Points will remain on your Connecticut driving record for 24 months.
SOURCES
1.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/rpt/2008-r-0027.htm&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1701370853147089&usg=AOvVaw1ewpd5-M3SC7XUrInXYH3a

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