by Speeding Over 100 MPH in California Can Cost Drivers Their Licenses Even Before Court
Speeding is a common occurrence for many drivers, even if they do it rarely. However, significantly fewer are those who accelerate to triple-digit numbers on the speedometer. In California, the consequences of such driving over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) become immediate and more severe.
Drivers caught at such speeds can now lose their licenses even before their case is heard in court. The possibility of negotiating with the prosecution to maintain a clean driving record can be forgotten. The new program may mark the beginning of a new wave in police approaches to dealing with violators.
How the System of Penalties for Speeding is Changing
The FAST (Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets) program, a joint initiative of the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), has been presented to the public. It automatically flags every driver who receives a ticket for speeding over 100 miles per hour.
Instead of waiting for a court verdict, such tickets are immediately forwarded to the DMV’s Driver Safety Division for administrative review. Following this, officials can decide on a temporary or full suspension of the driver’s license, regardless of how the court case concludes.
We believe early intervention is key to saving lives. We want to take immediate action against dangerous drivers before their recklessness leads to a fatal accident. We are acting proactively and together with our partners at CHP are ready to put the brakes on such irresponsible behavior.
This is a radical change compared to the typical national practice, where consequences for the license depend solely on a court verdict. Now, under the FAST program, the DMV can intervene quickly to determine the need for measures even before court.
Statistics and Methods of Combating Excessive Speeding
The necessity of such a program is supported by statistics. According to CHP data, officers issue approximately 1,600 tickets monthly to drivers exceeding speeds of 100 miles per hour. In 2024 alone, over 18,000 drivers have received such tickets.
#CADMV and @CHP_HQ are joining forces to more quickly remove drivers caught speeding over 100 mph from California’s roads.
Earlier this year, CHP deployed 100 low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles designed to blend in with traffic and detect what they call a “video game” style of driving.
In the first six months, these vehicles contributed to the issuance of nearly 33,000 speeding tickets, including over 1,100 for speeds exceeding 100 mph. The pilot project will be closely monitored, and the DMV will compare ticket outcomes with data from previous years to determine if this approach truly reduces the number of accidents.
To ensure the safety of travelers, CHP is launching the first of two statewide Holiday Enforcement Periods (HEP) this month to reduce traffic incidents. The Christmas HEP will begin tomorrow, December 24, at 6:00 PM and last until 11:59 PM on December 25.
Similar initiatives in other states, such as Florida’s so-called “super speeder law,” also demonstrate a trend towards increasing accountability for extreme speeding. In California, the emphasis is on administrative intervention that is independent of the often slow judicial system. The effectiveness of this approach remains to be evaluated, but it is clear that authorities are trying to find new mechanisms to influence drivers whose behavior poses the greatest risk on the roads. The question of balance between safety and drivers’ rights will likely be the subject of public debate, especially once the first results of the FAST program’s work are known.
