California is stepping up efforts to crack down on extreme speeding behavior. The California State Transportation Agency stated that drivers who exceed 100 miles per hour on highways may face quicker revocation of their licenses in the future.
According to a press release from the agency, under a new pilot program launched by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), drivers issued citations by the CHP for exceeding 100 miles per hour will have their tickets automatically transferred to the DMV’s driver safety division, regardless of their past driving records.
The DMV will review the cases and driving records of those cited before their court date is scheduled and decide on penalties, including potential “suspension or revocation of driving privileges.” DMV Director Steve Gordon stated in the press release, “We believe that early intervention is key to saving lives. We aim to take action promptly before reckless driving behavior leads to fatal accidents.”
CHP reported that around 1,600 individuals are cited per month for reaching or exceeding 100 miles per hour. In 2024, CHP issued over 18,000 extreme speeding citations across the state. In May 2025, CHP deployed 100 discreet patrol cars to better blend in with traffic flow and identify reckless driving behavior. In the following six months, officers driving these vehicles issued nearly 33,000 speeding tickets statewide.
The DMV press release quoted CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee saying, “Exceeding 100 miles per hour is not a mistake but a reckless choice that endangers everyone on the road. This new program aims to swiftly punish dangerous drivers and remove them from California roads before causing irreversible harm.”
DMV pointed out that legal procedures for disciplining drivers for extreme speeding are often time-consuming. Currently, extreme speeding citations must go through the court system.
Under current California vehicle laws, a first-time offense of exceeding 100 miles per hour can result in fines of up to $500 and potential license suspension for up to 30 days. Repeat offenders face higher fines and longer suspension periods.
Additionally, speeders could face enhanced penalties for other violations, such as reckless driving or causing bodily harm to others on the road, potentially leading to imprisonment.
The DMV stated that the purpose of this pilot program between CHP and DMV is to “act faster than the court system.”
The California government highlighted that speeding is one of the main factors contributing to traffic accident fatalities in the state, accounting for about one-third of all deadly traffic accidents.
In October 2025, California launched an action plan focusing on Southern California to reduce traffic fatalities related to speeding. The California State Transportation Agency allocated $7 million to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation for road safety upgrades on Avalon Boulevard and invested over $191 million for safety improvements on State Route 91.
Enhancements may include installing automated speed cameras, setting up highly visible traffic markings, redesigning intersections to reduce conflicts, upgrading pedestrian and cycling safety infrastructure, and strengthening community involvement and law enforcement cooperation. The agency also set interim goals to reduce fatal and severe injury accidents by 30% by 2035.
The state government mentioned that the DMV will evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program in reducing accidents by comparing violation citation and accident handling data.