- California’s FAST program sends 100-mph tickets to the DMV.
- License suspension may happen before a court ruling occurs.
- Officials say faster action can help reduce deadly crashes.
Speeding isn’t exactly smart, but it’s something that most folks participate in, even if rarely. What fewer people do is travel at triple-digit speeds. In California, though, the consequences of pushing past 100 mph are about to get much more immediate, and more serious.
Now, those caught doing such a thing in California could end up losing driving privileges before a judge even hears the case. Forget plea bargains to keep a driving record clean. This new program could pioneer a new wave in the way police manage speeders.
Changing the Way Speeding Is Punished
Announced by the California DMV and the California Highway Patrol, the Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets (FAST) program automatically flags any driver cited for traveling over 100 mph (160 km/h).
Instead of waiting for a court conviction, those citations are immediately sent to the DMV’s Driver Safety Branch for administrative review. From there, officials can decide whether to suspend or revoke a driver’s license, regardless of how the court case eventually plays out.
Also: First Florida Super Speeder Caught Minutes After Law Goes Into Effect
That’s a huge shift away from the way it’s done nationwide. Typically, license consequences hinge on convictions. Now, under FAST, the DMV can step in quickly to determine if action is necessary before court.
“We believe that early intervention is the key to saving lives,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. “We want to take immediate action against dangerous drivers before their carelessness leads to a deadly crash. We’re being proactive, and together with our CHP partners, we’re ready to put the brakes on this reckless behavior.”
Cracking Down at Speed
The urgency behind the program is backed by numbers. According to CHP data, officers issue around 1,600 citations each month for drivers exceeding 100 mph. In 2024 alone, more than 18,000 drivers were ticketed for triple-digit speeds.
Read: Florida Drivers Stunned As Dozens Jailed Under Harsh New Super Speeder Law
Earlier this year, CHP deployed 100 low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles intended to blend into traffic and catch what it describes as “video game-style” driving.
In their first six months, those vehicles contributed to nearly 33,000 speed-related citations, including more than 1,100 for speeds over 100 mph. The pilot will be monitored closely, with the DMV comparing citation outcomes against prior-year data to determine whether the approach actually reduces crashes.
