Got a speeding ticket :(

I was caught speeding twice on the same day, in the morning and again at night, stupid me. It was on a normal road and I’m sure I was doing under 100 in a 60 km/h zone. Received two white letters from the police today, asking me to come to the license center mentioning that they need to ask me stuff about the speeding violation. What kind of fines and consequences am I looking at, or has anyone ever got one of these? I’m butt scared, and very nervous to even go to the license center.

22 comments
  1. I had a friend about 6 years or so ago get a ticket for going 40 over in 40 zone. If I recall, the fine was roughly 70,000 yen and anything over 30 km/hr is considered reckless driving and could very much result in the person losing their license.

    My friend was on her way out of the country the next week, so she just paid it and didn’t care.

    I seriously recommend being a bit more vigilant.

  2. Got flag once, 25 over the speed limit. I was pacing out, and to be fair it’s a tricky location where there is a 40km/h limitation on a curb just before a 50. Anyway, it cost me 10.000y or so. But there are few penalty levels (less than 15 over the max limit, less than 30 and over 30) and it seems that you went in the big one twice… I don’t want to scare you but… This will be salty. I recommend you to look for an alternative way of transportation just in case…

  3. But if I remember well, the thirl level is the temporary loss of all you point immediately, and you have to do a class or something to get it back. But twice… :/

  4. Get a motorcycle xD they don’t have plates on the front and speed cameras that take pictures of the rear are quite rare here

  5. Whatever the punishment, you deserve it. Hopefully it’s loosing your license.
    100 in a 60 zone is ridiculously dangerous!

  6. You got flagged by cameras – twice.

    Cameras on normal roads are set for 30 over, which is a red ticket offense. If you were clocked at between 30 and 49 kph over the limit, each ticket is worth 6 points and a fine between 60K and 100K yen. If you were clocked at more than 50kph over, the ticket is 12 points, and the fine is the same, but you are likely to get hit with additional penalties such as reckless driving.

    Since you looked down and saw 80kph, you’re probably less than 50 over, so likely looking at two 6 point tickets, 12 points in total. Assuming you have no other points you’re going to get a 90 day suspension in addition to the fines. You can take a course to shorten the suspension – it will cost 26,400 yen, takes 12 hours over 2 days, and you can get it shortened by up to 45 days on a 90 day suspension. If you had three points or more, then you’re at 15 points and you’re going to have your license revoked for a year, and you’ll have to go through the whole license acquisition process again.

    You’ll need to go to the police station – this is just an interview, and they’ll prepare the report verifying that you were the driver of the vehicle etc. There is no point in trying to lie, the speed cameras these days have resolution that lets them read the text on the inspection stickers. After this, you’ll get a summons to appear in summary court, you go to court and they’ll give you a verdict in a few minutes once you’re called, and then you are expected to pay the fine on the spot. Max fine is 100K for each offense, so ideally you have 200K cash ready to go. If you don’t have the cash on you, they’ll send you a remittance form – if you don’t pay THAT by the deadline, you can be arrested and given jail time, so don’t mess it up.

    Edit: Oof… did a little research, and there is potential for jail time on this one, up to 6 months for each offense, which is a lot more likely because of the two times in one day thing. You should definitely talk to a lawyer to figure out ways to mitigate.

  7. 30km/h over the speed limit is when the cameras go off (40km/h on grade-separated expressways).
    To be safe, keep at a maximum of 20km/h above the limit from now on.
    Be aware that the undercover police cars and mobile radars (“nezumitori”) catch and fine you at any speed above the limit.

    The fines above 30km/h are decided by a judge and can get get pretty high. You are also at the risk of getting a license suspension. If you depend on the car for picking up kids, going to work at odd hours, transporting an elderly relative, etc, and have no alternative, the judge may alleviate the license suspension as long as you don’t get any other ticket in the next few years.

  8. Was nabbed doing 82 in a 60 zone by a police bike a few weeks ago. Was points and a ¥15,000 fine. For you, if you were going 30+ over, you’re going to get a suspension. Hell, you may get one even if you weren’t going 30+ over the limit, due to twice in one day. It’s a possibility.

  9. Honestly if you’re paying so little attention that you’re not sure then….sorry but maybe it’s time to suck it up and learn some attention and control. And 2x in a day…..cool your jets there furendo.

  10. Poor chap. If you’re in the city then you may have been overdoing it, but if in the countryside then I feel for you.

  11. Fool me once, shame on… shame on you. Fool me twice… can’t catch me for speeding again.

    -old Texan saying

  12. This rarely happens in the countryside, in my 8 years living out in the sticks I’ve never seen a speed camera round here. Been pulled over twice at the IC barriers going onto the highway because my wife didn’t have her seatbelt on in the backseat but just got 3 points and no fine.

  13. GL, OP but damn twice in the same day…it will prolly hurt your pocket. A few months ago I went from Osaka > Kyoto, at 1 am, raining, 108km/h @ 80km/h zone (kōsoku) and I didn’t notice the white Crown =/ Fuck me. 18,000 fine + 3 points. Later that night I drove back home under 80km/h thinking ‘I ain’t getting caught again, they still around, zettai’ and being overtaken by trucks! Lesson learned, not speeding at night.

  14. If they had speed cameras in Tohoku nobody would have a license out here in a month. I was doing 110 on the expressway in Aomori, which is pretty tame, and a cop came outta nowhere behind me with his lights on. I thought fuck, but then out of the blue some asshole in a yellow hatchback came ripping past easily doing 140+ and he saved me from the cop. I few kilometers down the road I saw the cop had the dude stopped and standing in front of his car, so I’m guessing it didn’t go well for him.

    Speed limits out here are dog shit. In Tohoku you’ll be driving and have the whole expressway to yourself, but randomly encounter a line of 30+ cars all going 70 in an 80 and you can bet your ass there’s a slow ass patrol car at the front being driven by a cop rubbing one out to the sight of a line of cars behind him stretching so far he can’t see the end. As soon as he exits, everyone is doing 100+ within 10 seconds.

  15. Doing 100 on the expressway is about my limit.

    Can’t imagine doing 90-100 in a 60 zone when there’s traffic lights, pedestrian crossings.

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