Learn How a Florida Super Speeding in a School Zone Defense Attorney Can Help You Avoid License Suspension, Fines, and a Criminal Record

As a Florida criminal defense attorney, I've spent years protecting people who find themselves facing serious charges for what started as a simple traffic stop. One of the most aggressively prosecuted traffic offenses in Florida is speeding in a designated school zone. If you're accused of "super speeding," often defined as driving 30 mph or more over the posted limit, in a school zone, you're facing more than a traffic ticket. You're looking at steep fines, points on your license, possible criminal charges, and long-term consequences that affect your insurance, employment, and driving privileges.

Let me be clear: you should not attempt to handle these charges alone or treat them lightly. Florida law treats school zone speeding violations seriously, especially when they involve excessive speeds. The penalties can be crushing, but there are ways to fight the charges, protect your record, and in many cases, reduce or even eliminate the penalties.

Understanding the Law: Florida Statutes Governing School Zone Speeding

Under Florida Statute § 316.1895(5), speed limits in school zones are clearly established:

“During the times when a school zone is in effect, the speed limit shall be 20 miles per hour in a school zone and shall be posted with fixed signs or electronic signs.”

What makes these charges more serious is when the driver is going well beyond that limit. Florida Statute § 316.183(2) defines penalties for excessive speeding:

“No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent… Speeding in excess of 50 miles per hour over the limit is a moving violation punishable as a criminal traffic offense.”

When this occurs in a school zone — where children are present, crossing guards are active, and posted signs are highly visible and you can be ticketed under both statutes. Prosecutors often pursue maximum penalties due to the perceived risk to children.

To make matters worse, the fines are automatically doubled in school zones. If the posted limit is 20 mph and you’re clocked doing 50 or more, you’re looking at:

  • $1,000 or more in fines

  • License suspension

  • 6 points on your license

  • Mandatory court appearance

  • Criminal charges if it exceeds certain thresholds

  • Required traffic school

  • Skyrocketing insurance rates

If you're not represented, your chances of receiving the maximum punishment increase dramatically.

What Counts as "Super Speeding" in a School Zone?

Florida law does not define "super speeding" as a separate offense, but in practice, law enforcement and prosecutors use the term to describe drivers who exceed posted school zone limits by:

  • 30 mph or more

  • Or exceed 50 mph in total

Let’s say you’re traveling at 55 mph in a 20 mph school zone during restricted hours. You are now 35 mph over the posted limit, in a school safety zone, and subject to enhanced penalties. That is exactly the kind of case that gets aggressive prosecution.

With a private defense attorney, we can often get the charge reduced to a civil infraction or even dismissed, depending on the circumstances and the evidence.

Defenses to Super Speeding in a Florida School Zone

There are several legal defenses available that we can assert based on the facts of your case:

1. Improper or Inadequate Signage:
The statute requires school zones to have clear and specific signage. If the signs were missing, damaged, or improperly placed, we can raise this as a valid defense.

2. Speed Zone Not Legally Active:
School zones have specific active hours. If your citation occurred outside those hours or during a school holiday, the increased penalty may not apply.

3. Faulty Radar or Lidar Equipment:
Radar and laser speed measurements must be properly calibrated and operated by certified officers. If we uncover equipment errors or lack of officer certification, that can undermine the state’s case.

4. Insufficient Evidence of Vehicle Identification:
Sometimes multiple cars are present, and it is unclear which vehicle the officer clocked. We challenge vague or unreliable identification.

5. Necessity or Emergency:
If you were responding to an emergency situation, that may provide justification or mitigation for the alleged speed.

Each case is different, and that’s why a private attorney is critical. I dig into the officer’s report, calibration logs, sign placement, and any bodycam footage or dash cam evidence. Often, the state assumes you’ll just pay the fine and move on — but if we contest it properly, we can put you in a far better position.

Real Case Example: School Zone Citation Dismissed

A client came to me after receiving a ticket for going 52 mph in a 20 mph school zone in Miami-Dade County. She was a nurse on her way to work during what she believed were non-enforced hours. The officer claimed the zone was active due to a delayed opening that day.

After reviewing the school calendar, I discovered the school was closed for a teacher planning day. The flashing signs were still operating due to a timer malfunction, but no students were present.

I filed a motion to dismiss based on improper school zone activation and lack of clear enforcement notice. The judge agreed that the prosecution failed to establish a legally enforceable school zone under the statute. The ticket was dismissed, and no points were assessed.

This result wouldn’t have been possible without deep legal analysis and aggressive motion practice. A public defender or just “showing up” wouldn’t have protected her license.

Why You Need a Florida Super Speeding in a School Zone Defense Attorney

Florida prosecutors are trained to push maximum penalties in school zone speeding cases. They believe this serves as a deterrent, especially when children’s safety is involved. But not every case deserves maximum punishment, and not every driver is guilty of reckless conduct.

A private attorney gives you an advantage. I make sure the officer followed every required procedure. I check the maintenance records on their radar. I file motions, appear in court on your behalf, and challenge weak evidence. Most of all, I protect your license and your record.

If you just plead guilty or pay the ticket:

  • Your insurance rates may double or triple

  • You could lose your license

  • You could face a permanent mark on your driving record

When you hire me, I look at every way we can keep this off your record, reduce the fine, or in some cases, get it dismissed entirely.

Additional Charges That May Be Filed With School Zone Speeding

It’s common for officers to file additional citations alongside a school zone speeding charge:

  • Reckless Driving (Florida Statute § 316.192)

  • Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device (§ 316.074)

  • Careless Driving (§ 316.1925)

These stack up quickly and can turn a citation into a misdemeanor charge. That’s even more reason why you need personalized legal representation.

School Zone Locations and Enhanced Patrols

If you were pulled over in areas like Tampa, Miami, Orlando, or Jacksonville, you may have been caught in what officers call a “zero-tolerance corridor.” These are areas where law enforcement concentrates their enforcement efforts around schools — often during the first month of the school year, holidays, or high-traffic times.

They use fixed cameras, handheld laser devices, and sometimes unmarked vehicles. Mistakes happen, and innocent people are caught in the dragnet. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept the consequences without a fight.

Florida Super Speeding in a School Zone Defense FAQs

What are the penalties for speeding in a school zone in Florida?
If you're ticketed for speeding in a school zone, the fines are automatically doubled. If you're going more than 30 mph over the limit, you may face a $1,000 fine, 6 points on your license, and a mandatory court appearance. If the speed exceeds 50 mph, it could be charged as a criminal traffic violation.

Is speeding in a school zone a misdemeanor?
It depends on the speed. Speeds of 50+ mph over the limit may be prosecuted as criminal traffic offenses under Florida law. However, most school zone speeding cases remain civil infractions unless aggravating factors exist.

Can I go to jail for speeding in a school zone?
Yes, in extreme cases where you're charged with reckless driving or criminal speeding, jail time can be imposed. However, with the right legal strategy, jail can usually be avoided.

Do I have to go to court for a school zone speeding ticket?
Yes, if the speed is excessive enough (typically 30+ mph over the limit), the court requires a mandatory appearance. With legal counsel, we may be able to appear on your behalf or negotiate the case before the hearing date.

What if the school zone sign wasn’t flashing?
Flashing signs are one method of activation, but not the only one. However, if the school was closed or there’s no evidence the zone was active, we may challenge the charge on those grounds.

How many points will I get on my license?
Speeding 30 mph or more over the limit results in 4 points. In a school zone, it jumps to 6 points. Accumulating 12 points in 12 months may trigger a suspension.

Can I just pay the ticket and be done with it?
You can, but you shouldn’t. Paying the ticket is the same as pleading guilty. That conviction stays on your record, increases your insurance, and may lead to license suspension. Once it’s there, it can’t be undone.

Can a private attorney get my ticket dismissed or reduced?
Absolutely. I routinely get these charges reduced to lesser offenses or dismissed based on legal errors, procedural violations, or lack of evidence. Each case is different, but hiring a private attorney gives you a real fighting chance.

Call a Florida Super Speeding in a School Zone Defense Attorney Today

Don’t gamble with your license, your job, or your insurance. If you’ve been charged with speeding in a school zone — especially super speeding — get serious legal help from the start.

Contact Musca Law 24/7/365 at 1-888-484-5057 For Your FREE Consultation
Musca Law, P.A. has a team of experienced criminal defense attorneys dedicated to defending people charged with a criminal or traffic offense. We are available 24/7/365 at 1-888-484-5057 for your FREE consultation. We have over 30 office locations throughout all of the state of Florida and serve all counties in Florida including Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Hialeah, Port St. Lucie, Cape Coral, Tallahassee, Fort Lauderdale, and the Florida Panhandle.