Five Forsyth County Drivers Hit With New Super Speeder $200 Fine

Five drivers in Forsyth County were cited under Georgia’s new super speeder law, becoming subject to an additional $200 civil penalty after traffic stops tied to excessive speeds. The penalties stem from a law that took effect Jan. 1 and targets motorists traveling at least 85 mph on any roadway or more than 75 mph on a two-lane road.

The extra $200 is assessed separate from the regular speeding fine and is intended to funnel revenue into the state’s trauma care network. Officials project the additional funds could generate as much as $23 million annually for trauma care improvements statewide, money advocates say is intended to shore up an underfunded system that affects emergency response times and hospital readiness.

Local enforcement responsibility rests with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia State Patrol troopers who stop drivers for speeding. Sheriff Ted Paxton said his office is “doing the same thing we’ve always done.” He described the administrative handling of super speeder cases: officers write a regular speeding citation that is processed through local court and then sent to the Department of Driver Services for final disposition. “The super speeder law does not change, in any way, how law enforcement is enforcing traffic law,” Paxton said.

Paxton emphasized that law enforcement does not decide whether the additional civil penalty applies. “We don’t make the decision if the individual is going to get that extra fine,” he said. “The person would go to court here and pays their regular speeding fine ... then [driver services] sends another bill to the individual for the extra $200.”

Susan Sports, spokeswoman for the Department of Driver Services, said the agency will mail violators a notice explaining the extra fine and how to pay it. Drivers have 90 days to pay the $200 civil assessment; failure to do so will result in a suspension of the driver’s license. A separate $50 fee will be charged to reinstate the license if suspension occurs.

Forsyth County residents should note that the sheriff’s office does not expect enforcement levels to change because of the law. Paxton reiterated that officers “still enforce traffic law just like we always have in the past,” and said the department’s traffic practices remain focused on safety and legal standards already in place.

For local motorists, the change is both procedural and financial: high-speed violations now carry an automatic, state-administered civil cost beyond court fines. Drivers stopped for excessive speed should watch for a mailed notice from the Department of Driver Services and act within the 90-day window to avoid suspension and additional fees. The impact on local trauma services will be measurable only if projected revenues materialize and are allocated to strengthen emergency care across Georgia.