Dauphin County
Seat: Harrisburg
I-83, I-81, Route 22/322, and the South Bridge produce most Dauphin speeding cases. State Police Troop H handles radar/lidar; municipalities like Harrisburg, Susquehanna Twp., and Lower Paxton run VASCAR and ENRADD.
Traffic Defense
Speeding ticket lawyer for Central Pennsylvania.
Speeding citations in PA cost you points, insurance surcharges for years, and — at 31+ mph over — a mandatory PennDOT departmental hearing that can add up to 15 days of suspension (automatic in active work zones under § 1535(e)). We defend speeding tickets in Adams, York, Cumberland, and Dauphin Counties.
What a speeding ticket actually costs.
A $150 speeding fine is the small number. Three points on your PA record means an insurance surcharge for 3 years — often $600–$2,000 total. 31+ mph over triggers a mandatory PennDOT departmental hearing[3] that can add up to 15 days of suspension; an automatic 15-day suspension under § 1535(e)[2] is reserved for active work-zone convictions[4]. For CDL holders, 15+ mph over is a federal "serious traffic violation"[6] — two in 3 years disqualifies your commercial license.
For reckless-driving-level speeds and companion charges, see reckless driving in PA. For citations that led to suspension, see driving on a suspended license.
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.
Speeding defense by county.
We appear regularly in the four Central PA counties below. Each has its own enforcement patterns, MDJ preferences, and prosecutor practices.
Cumberland County
Seat: Carlisle
I-81 through Carlisle and the Carlisle Pike (Route 11) are the highest-volume corridors. Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Hampden, and Silver Spring municipal patrols write most of the local speeding tickets.
York County
Seat: York
I-83, Route 30, and I-283 approaches account for the bulk of York County speeding citations. State Police Troop H York and York City / West Manchester enforce heavily during rush hours and events.
Adams County
Seat: Gettysburg
US-15, US-30, and Route 116 are the primary Adams enforcement corridors. Tourism season around Gettysburg drives a spike in out-of-state citations we defend regularly.
Watch · PennDOT points explained
A speeding ticket is really a points problem.
The fine is small — the points behind it are what actually cost you. Attorney Sean Quinlan explains how PennDOT points accumulate, when they trigger the 6-point and 11-point suspension thresholds, and what a speeding conviction really means for your license and insurance.
More detail: PA license points & suspension guide · video page with transcript.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Pennsylvania speeding ticket FAQ — points, insurance, CDL, and courts.
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.
Related pages
Summary appeals — Harrisburg
Appeal an MDJ guilty verdict to Common Pleas. 30-day deadline.
PA points & suspension guide
Point values, 6/11-point thresholds, and how points come off.
Reckless driving (§ 3736)
6 points, jail exposure, CDL impact — Adams, York, Cumberland & Dauphin.
DUI defense
When a traffic stop turns into a DUI arrest.
Criminal defense
Reckless driving, fleeing, and related charges.
Areas we serve
Where we appear across Central PA.
Free consultation
Sources & statutory citations
- [1]75 Pa.C.S. § 3362 — Maximum speed limits.
- [2]75 Pa.C.S. § 1535 — Schedule of convictions and points; §1535(e) — automatic 15-day suspension for active work-zone speeding.
- [3]75 Pa.C.S. § 1538 — Departmental hearing and sanctions on accumulation of points.
- [4]75 Pa.C.S. § 3326.1 — Duty of drivers in active work zones; doubled fines.
- [5]75 Pa.C.S. § 3736 — Reckless driving — 6 points, summary offense.
- [6]49 C.F.R. § 383.51 — CDL disqualifications — serious traffic violations; DUI/refusal one-year first-offense disqualification.
Statutes are summarized for public reference. Confirm current text at palegis.us. This page is attorney advertising, not legal advice.
Free Consultation
The sooner we talk, the more we can do.
Every hour matters in a DUI or criminal case. Call directly and speak with Attorney Quinlan — not an intake desk.