Subscribe

How Much Does a Speeding Ticket Cost? State by State Analysis

New article

Edit this

From LaurenG, Featured Contributor
Posted on August 25, 2008

If you're planning on getting caught speeding, head to North Dakota

Speeding laws and fines are complicated. They vary quite a bit by state (sometimes counties), and if you don't have a recent speeding ticket on your record, you might not be familiar with the fines. Here's a handy chart that shows you maximum speed limit, type of speed law, and maximum first speeding ticket violation. These are maximum fines, so yours might be less, depending on where and by how much you are exceeding the speed limit. Please note this does not include fines for things like reckless driving or driving under the influence. The penalties for those infractions are significantly more in most states. Data for this chart comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2007 data).

Different states have different types of speed laws. An A (absolute) type of speed limit sets an absolute limit. This means exceeding the speed limit is illegal even if you might be driving at a safe speed. "P" (prima facie) means that you can travel at speeds greater or lesser than the maximum and minimum speed if it is safe given the driving conditions. If you get a speeding ticket in a state with prima facie laws, it gives you more leeway to argue the ticket, but note that it's also easier to get a ticket for something like driving at posted speed, but in inclement weather. Mixed refers to those states where both absolute and prima facie are practiced.

North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Tennessee all post first time speeding ticket maximums of $50 or under. It's much less risky to get caught speeding there than in, say, Vermont, New Hampshire, Nevada and Illinois, where first time violations can climb up to a $1000 fine. States are listed in ascending order, lowest fine to highest.

Virginia

State	Speed Limit	Type of Speed Limit	First Violation Maximum Fine
North Dakota	75 mph	A	$20.00
Pennsylvania	65 mph	A	$42.50
Connecticut	65 mph	Mixed	$50.00
Tennessee	70 mph	A	$50.00
Rhode Island	65 mph	P	$75.00
Alabama	70 mph	A	$100.00
Arkansas	70 mph	A	$100.00
California	70 mph	Mixed	$100.00
Colorado	75 mph	Mixed	$100.00
Idaho	75 mph	A	$100.00
Kentucky	65 mph	A	$100.00
Massachusetts	65 mph	Mixed	$100.00
Mississippi	70 mph	A	$100.00
Montana	75 mph	A	$100.00
Nebraska	75 mph	A	$100.00
North Carolina	70 mph	A	$100.00
Ohio	65 mph	Mixed	$100.00
West Virginia	70 mph	A	$100.00
Delaware	65 mph	A	$115.00
Louisiana	70 mph	A	$175.00
District of Columbia	50 mph	A	$200.00
Hawaii	60 mph	A	$200.00
Missouri	70 mph	A	$200.00
New Jersey	65 mph	A	$200.00
New Mexico	75 mph	A	$200.00
South Carolina	70 mph	A	$200.00
South Dakota	75 mph	A	$200.00
Texas	70 mph	P	$200.00
65 mph	A	$200.00
Wyoming	75 mph	A	$200.00
Arizona	75 mph	Mixed	$250.00
Florida	70 mph	A	$250.00
Michigan	70 mph	Mixed	$250.00
Washington	70 mph	A	$250.00
Alaska	65 mph	A	$300.00
Minnesota	70 mph	Mixed	$300.00
Oregon	65 mph	Mixed	$300.00
Wisconsin	65 mph	A	$300.00
Georgia	70 mph	A	$500.00
Indiana	70 mph	A	$500.00
Iowa	70 mph	A	$500.00
Kansas	70 mph	A	$500.00
Maine	65 mph	A	$500.00
Maryland	65 mph	A	$500.00
Oklahoma	75 mph	A	$500.00
New York	65 mph	A	$600.00
Utah	75 mph	P	$750.00
Illinois	65 mph	A	$1000.00
Nevada	75 mph	A	$1000.00
New Hampshire	65 mph	Mixed	$1000.00
Vermont	65 mph	A	$1000.00

Read More:

• Go Man, Go: 5 Songs for the Open Road
• 10 Most Repugnant Automotive Monstrosities of the Decade
• Cars in the News: Saudi Arabia's Ban on Women Driving May End Sometime

LaurenG is a featured contributor for vLane.