The state of Georgia has adopted two different types of speeding laws. Absolute speeding limits and a basic speeding law both come into play when an officer of the law determines whether or not to ticket a driver for speeding. Here’s what you should know.

Basic Georgia Speeding Laws

Basic speeding laws state that all drivers must operate their vehicles at a safe speed considering the conditions and potential hazards around them. For example, on a warm summer day, driving the posted speed limit on a straight highway may be completely safe.

However, after a winter storm while the roads are still in poor condition, driving that same speed limit on that same road may not be considered safe and therefore could constitute speeding. Unfortunately, the way Georgia laws are written, this leaves a lot of room for interpretation on the part of the police officer making the stop as to what is and isn’t speeding.

Absolute Speeding Laws

Georgia also has some absolute speeding laws. They are usually posted, however, this may not always be the case. For example, the speed limit in school zones is always 20 mph unless the sign posting says different — e.g., during certain times of the day where children are loading or unloading from school, signs may flash and vehicles may need to reduce their speed to 15 mph.

Unpaved country roads are unlikely to be marked, but the absolute speed limit for them is no greater than 35 mph. Residential roads have an absolute speed limit of 30 mph, and 70 mph on interstate highways. Other roadways that may be unmarked are 55 mph, except in the case of physically divided highways, which are 65 mph. It’s important to know what the absolute speed limits are for the type of road you are driving on, because signs may not always be posted. Regardless, you can still be stopped for speeding and issued a ticket if you were going over the absolute speeding limit even without a sign posted.

When to Contact an Attorney

Georgia’s speeding laws can be complex and they often seem like they box you into a corner of pleading guilty. If you were stopped for speeding and you want to protect your record and your driving privileges, it’s best to contact an experienced traffic ticket lawyer. Contact the Kimbrel Law Firm today to learn more about your legal options after being issued a speeding ticket. Call now for a consultation at (770) 349-9219.