I'm not sure how things are done in other states, but in Colorado, you have a certain number of points on your license.

If you are 21 or older, your license will be suspended if you get 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months
If you are 18 - 20, your license will be suspended if you get 9 points in 12 months or 12 points in 24 months
If you are less than 18, your license will be suspended if you get 5 points in 12 months or 6 points before you turn 18

10-19 mph over = 4 point ticket
20-24 mph over = 6 point ticket and $x fine
25-39 mph over = 6 point ticket and $2x fine (or some amount higher)
40+ mph over = 12 point ticket

If the court doesn't reduce the penalty, I'll have 6 points taken off my license, meaning that I'll only have 6 left for the next year. If I'm caught going that fast again, my license will be revoked. The thing that REALLY hurts is if insurance gets a hold of this information. Once they realize that you've had a certain number of points taken off your license, they jack up your rates, so the $160 fine is really only the tip of the iceberg.

 

Arizona has the point system too. if you havent had a ticket in 2 or more years, you can opt for traffic school (its a hoax). it keeps the points off, but you pay the same "registration fee" for the class as you would for the ticket...$150 ticket begets a $150 class fee, you see?!