How many points is a speeding ticket in Pennsylvania?

6–10 mph over = 2 points. 11–15 = 3 points. 16–25 = 4 points. 26–30 = 5 points. 31+ = 5 points plus a mandatory PennDOT departmental hearing under § 1538(a), where the examiner may impose up to a 15-day suspension. An automatic 15-day suspension under § 1535(e) is reserved for speeding convictions in an active work zone (§ 3326.1); school-zone and work-zone speeding also carry doubled fines.

Will a PA speeding ticket raise my insurance?

Almost always — even a single 3-point citation typically raises rates for 3 years. That's often more than the ticket itself. Fighting the ticket down to a non-point offense usually prevents the surcharge from ever hitting.

Can I beat a radar speeding ticket in PA?

Yes, and often. Pennsylvania only allows radar and lidar operated by the State Police (municipalities are stuck with VASCAR, ENRADD, and pacing). Calibration certificates, officer training records, and the exact equipment used are all discoverable — and mistakes are common.

Do I have to appear in court for a PA speeding ticket?

You can plead not guilty and request a summary trial in front of the magisterial district judge. In many cases we can appear on your behalf, negotiate with the officer before the hearing, or resolve the case entirely by mail.

I'm a Shippensburg University student facing a traffic citation — should I fight it?

Yes. A guilty plea adds points to your license and can raise insurance rates for years. For students, a clean driving record matters for jobs, graduate school, and background checks. Many citations can be reduced or dismissed.

Speeding & Radar Defense · Shippensburg, PA

Speeding Ticket Lawyer in Shippensburg.

A speeding citation in Shippensburg is not just a fine — points on your PA record, insurance surcharges, and, for 26+ mph over, a PennDOT suspension and CDL disqualification. We defend speeding tickets in every Shippensburg-area magisterial district court.

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Shippensburg · Speeding Ticket

Why Shippensburg speeding ticket cases are different.

Shippensburg sits at the western edge of Cumberland County on I-81 and US-11. Shippensburg Borough Police, Shippensburg Township, Southampton Township, and PA State Police Troop H Carlisle station patrol the King Street corridor, the I-81 Exit 29 ramps, and the Shippensburg University zone.

Expect enforcement around the SU campus, on King Street and Earl Street, and I-81 corridor patrols by State Police. Student-driver citations make up a significant share of Shippensburg traffic cases during the school year.

Statute: 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 3361–3368. Points, insurance surcharges, and — for 26+ mph over — a possible suspension and CDL disqualification.

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Court & jurisdiction

Shippensburg traffic citations on the Cumberland County side are filed in the local MDJ and summary appeals go to the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle. The southern edge of Shippensburg crosses into Franklin County — those cases go to Chambersburg instead.

From Shippensburg

Shippensburg is a 40-minute drive west of our Camp Hill office on I-81. We appear at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle weekly and represent Shippensburg students and residents constantly.

3425 Simpson Ferry Rd, Suite 100, Camp Hill, PA 17011

How we defend speeding ticket cases in Shippensburg.

Challenge radar & lidar calibration
PA law requires station-approved radar/lidar with current calibration certificates. Missing or stale calibration = motion to dismiss.
Attack VASCAR & pacing
VASCAR requires officer certification and a measured course. Pacing needs a documented pacing distance — often not in the citation packet.
Reduce 6-point speeds to non-point
31+ mph over is 5 points; 26–30 is 4 points; 16–25 is 3. We routinely negotiate reductions to §3111 obedience to traffic control (2 points) or a non-point equipment offense.
Protect CDL holders
15+ mph over is a federal 'serious traffic violation' under 49 CFR §383.51. Two in 3 years = 60-day CDL disqualification even in a personal vehicle.
Fight construction & school-zone doublers
Fines double in active work zones (§3365) and school zones. Prosecution must prove the zone was active — that fails more often than you'd expect.
Trial by MDJ, not plea by mail
Officers don't always show. When they do, cross-examination on training records and equipment logs often shifts the negotiation.

Related reading for Shippensburg drivers

More Cumberland County traffic defense.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Common questions about speeding ticket in Shippensburg, PA — courts, points, penalties, and defense.

Shippensburg traffic citations on the Cumberland County side are filed in the local MDJ and summary appeals go to the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle. The southern edge of Shippensburg crosses into Franklin County — those cases go to Chambersburg instead.
6–10 mph over = 2 points. 11–15 = 3 points. 16–25 = 4 points. 26–30 = 5 points. 31+ = 5 points plus a mandatory PennDOT departmental hearing under § 1538(a), where the examiner may impose up to a 15-day suspension. An automatic 15-day suspension under § 1535(e) is reserved for speeding convictions in an active work zone (§ 3326.1); school-zone and work-zone speeding also carry doubled fines.
Almost always — even a single 3-point citation typically raises rates for 3 years. That's often more than the ticket itself. Fighting the ticket down to a non-point offense usually prevents the surcharge from ever hitting.
Yes, and often. Pennsylvania only allows radar and lidar operated by the State Police (municipalities are stuck with VASCAR, ENRADD, and pacing). Calibration certificates, officer training records, and the exact equipment used are all discoverable — and mistakes are common.
You can plead not guilty and request a summary trial in front of the magisterial district judge. In many cases we can appear on your behalf, negotiate with the officer before the hearing, or resolve the case entirely by mail.
Yes. A guilty plea adds points to your license and can raise insurance rates for years. For students, a clean driving record matters for jobs, graduate school, and background checks. Many citations can be reduced or dismissed.

Shippensburg case review

Request a consultation for your Shippensburg speeding ticket case.

Tell us what happened — the officer, the court, the charge. Attorney Quinlan personally reviews every Cumberland County traffic inquiry and usually calls back the same day.

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