50 States of Speeding: Know the Law in Every State

[Sandow]

Everyone, with the exception of the Buick driver parked in the left lane, exceeds the speed limit once in a while. You generally know how much law-breaking you can get away with where you live—a few over on the highway is flow-of-traffic territory, and the constabulary looks the other way. One of those unwritten rules.
But it's important to be aware of the rules that are written, especially when leaving your local comfort zone. For instance, did you know that North Dakota will pull your license for a week and issue a fine for 36 mph or more over the limit? Or that most states have open reckless driving laws that can lead to days or even months of jail time? Reckless driving is generally defined as willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, which can be applied to speeding big time over the limit.
We've compiled each state's maximum highway speed, reckless driving threshold, and mandatory and maximum penalties for reckless driving, as well as any excessive speed laws and their penalties. (Bonus: Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia included at no extra charge!) There's also an image of each state's patrol-car livery, so you know what to watch for when in unfamiliar territory. We offer this information not as a guide of where to speed and where not to, but instead as a reminder that ludicrous speed can get you in serious trouble. So be safe out there, America.
Notes: All penalties listed are for the first offense. (We're thinking that should be enough of a deterrent. If you go for two, we really can't help you.) And we don't get into the intricacies of points systems, which can lead to higher fines and longer license suspensions.





Alabama

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 6-month license suspension




Alaska

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license suspension; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day-plus license suspension




Arizona

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 35 mph in a school zone, 20 mph above the limit, exceeding 85 mph
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; class 3 misdemeanor
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $500 fine
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 2 misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 4 months imprisonment, $750 fine, 90-day license suspension




Arkansas

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension




California

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension




Colorado

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: 25 mph above limit
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 2 misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 1-year license suspension




Connecticut

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: 85 mph
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license suspension
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 90-day license suspension




Delaware

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $100 fine; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 1-year license suspension




Florida

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension




Georgia

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, 5-year license suspension




Hawaii

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 60 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 80 mph, 30 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 6 hours community service or 2 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 30-day license suspension
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 5 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; petty misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, license revocation




Idaho

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 80 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 30-day license suspension




Illinois

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 26 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor (26 mph above limit), class A misdemeanor (35 mph above limit)
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1500 fine (class B); 12 months imprisonment, $2500 fine (class A)
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class A misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $2500 fine, 1-year license revocation




Indiana

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 180 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension




Iowa

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; simple misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension




Kansas

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license revocation




Kentucky

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Careless/Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Careless/Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none
Careless/Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $100 fine, 2-year license revocation




Louisiana

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 1-year license revocation
Careless-Driving Threshold: none
Careless-Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Careless-Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $175 fine, 1-year license revocation




Maine

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; class E crime
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension




Maryland

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $1000 fine, 2-year license revocation




Massachusetts

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 60-day license revocation; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 2 years imprisonment, $200 fine, 60-day-plus license revocation




Michigan

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 90-day license suspension;
misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $100 fine, 90-day license suspension
Felonious Driving Threshold: none
Felonious Driving Mandatory Penalty: 1-year license suspension; felony
Felonious Driving Maximum Penalty: 2 years imprisonment, $2000 fine, 1-year license suspension




Minnesota

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 100 mph
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 6-month license revocation
Reckless or Careless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless or Careless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $300 fine; misdemeanor
Reckless or Careless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension




Mississippi

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $100 fine, license suspension




Missouri

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: 20 mph above limit
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 30-day license suspension




Montana

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 1-year license suspension




Nebraska

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Willful Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Willful Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license revocation; class III misdemeanor
Willful Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license revocation
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class III misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 6-month license revocation




Nevada

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension




New Hampshire

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $250 fine, 60-day license revocation; violation
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $500 fine, 60-day license revocation




New Jersey

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; quasi-criminal/petty offense
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 60 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 180-day license suspension




New Mexico

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $100 fine, 90-day license suspension




New York

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $180 fine
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $600 fine
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $100 fine
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $300 fine, license suspension




North Carolina

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 60-day license suspension if 15 mph above 55-mph-or-higher limit or above 80 mph and reckless driving; class 2 misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 60 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension




North Dakota

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 36 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $155 fine, 7-day license suspension
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: $170-plus fine, 7-day-plus license suspension
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 7-day-plus license suspension




Ohio

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; minor misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $100 fine, 6-month license suspension




Oklahoma

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $100 fine; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension




Oregon

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 100 mph
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $1150 fine, 30-day license suspension
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: $1150 fine, 90-day license suspension
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 90-day license suspension; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $5000 fine, 90-day license suspension




Pennsylvania

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65–70 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 31 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 15-day license suspension and/or special on-road driver's examination
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 6-month license suspension
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $200 fine, 6-month license suspension

 

[Sandow]

Rhode Island

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $500 fine, 30-day license suspension




South Carolina

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 25 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $200 fine, license suspension
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 6-month license suspension




South Dakota

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 75 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 1 misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, license suspension




Tennessee

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $500 fine, license suspension




Texas

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 85 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 1-year license suspension or indefinite revocation




Utah

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 80 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension




Vermont

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $300 fine, 30-day-plus license suspension
Negligent Motor Vehicle Operation Threshold: none
Negligent Motor Vehicle Operation Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license suspension; misdemeanor
Negligent Motor Vehicle Operation Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension




Virginia

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: 80 mph, 20 mph over a 30-mph-or-higher limit, 60 mph in a 35-mph zone
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 1 misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 12 months imprisonment, $2500 fine, 6-month license suspension
Note: Failure to give proper signals—for intent to turn, change lanes, slow down, or stop—is considered reckless driving in Virginia.




Washington

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: 1 mph above limit (speeding can be used as evidence of reckless driving, but generally speed alone won't lead to a reckless driving charge)
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; gross misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $5000 fine, 1-year license suspension
Note: The act of "embracing another while driving" is considered reckless driving.




West Virginia

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension




Wisconsin

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 25 mph above a 55- or 65-mph limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 15-day license suspension
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: $300 fine, 15-day license suspension
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; civil forfeiture
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $200 fine, 1-year license suspension




Wyoming

Road & Track



Max Highway Speed: 80 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 90-day license suspension; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $750 fine, 90-day license suspension




District of Columbia

Getty Images



Max Highway Speed: 50 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 90-day license suspension
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 6-month license revocation
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $250 fine, 6-month license revocation




Puerto Rico

Wiki Commons



Max Highway Speed: 65 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 100 mph
Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $500 fine, 1-month license suspension
Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 10 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-month license suspension
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension




Originally published at Road & Track.

 

[RedBull]

#CHPHaveSUVs ~ #FordExploders ~ #NoMoreCrownVics ~ #THEoRg *

ok who from Nor cal Ran from CHP today | General Bike Related Topics

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sam Gonzalez/KCRA A motorcyclist led the California Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase across five counties on Thanksgiving Day, with speeds hitting more than 100 mph. "wow" 2nd gear Officers doing traffic enforcement in the Truckee area first tried to stop Pedro Alberto...

www.hayabusa.org

 

[Jbaby1969]

Isn’t there a road or roads out west that have a speed limit of “reasonable and prudent”? I remember reading about it a long time ago.

 

[RedBull]

 

[ZeePopo]

Quite informative thank you. I really enjoyed looking at all the differences in police vehicles from state to state. Interesting to see the sneaky designs meant to catch you off guard compared to open policing meant to be seen as a deterrent.

 

[Bumblebee]

….and in Ontario Canada, if you are over 50kms/hr over the posted limit, you lose your license for 30 days, 21 day impound of your vehicle and up to $10,000 in fines.

 

[Sandow]

….and in Ontario Canada, if you are over 50kms/hr over the posted limit, you lose your license for 30 days, 21 day impound of your vehicle and up to $10,000 in fines.

I know..same in BC.


BUT- Interesting story.

In the german news last week there was a guy who blasted with 223 !!km/h in an 80 radar. (which is almost the same as laser.)

His fine was and I quote : 600 euros. 3 points and 3 months of walking.

....oh and just another one.
If you get caught with your phone in BC now its 650 dollars and 5 points. (everything above 4 points gives you a premium the next year on your insurance 350 dollars).

In germany its 100 bucks and 0 points. muahaha

 

[Bumblebee]

I know..same in BC.


BUT- Interesting story.

In the german news last week there was a guy who blasted with 223 !!km/h in an 80 radar. (which is almost the same as laser.)

His fine was and I quote : 600 euros. 3 points and 3 months of walking.

....oh and just another one.
If you get caught with your phone in BC now its 650 dollars and 5 points. (everything above 4 points gives you a premium the next year on your insurance 350 dollars).

In germany its 100 bucks and 0 points. muahaha

Distracted driving here in Ontario is the same...it's not just a phone here-eating, drinking, playing with the radio, etc...

 

[SSGT_B]

Texas, where you can do 80 in a 60 on the fast lane and get passed by a school bus doing 90 in the slow lane.

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

Ford hasn’t made their Crown Vic for years. How old is this information? When I first started touring out of state I’d stop for gas and ask what that state’s cop cars looked like, make and color. But, a good radar detector is a must have item if you’re gonna speed.

 

[Bumblebee]

Ford hasn’t made their Crown Vic for years. How old is this information? When I first started touring out of state I’d stop for gas and ask what that state’s cop cars looked like, make and color. But, a good radar detector is a must have item if you’re gonna speed.View attachment 1604920
View attachment 1604921

Those are illegal here, the fine is hefty....

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

Those are illegal here, the fine is hefty....

I think they are in Kentucky too, maybe some others but RDs have concealed abilities too.

 

[Bumblebee]

I think they are in Kentucky too, maybe some others but RDs have concealed abilities too.

The coppers have the ability to detect if you have one here.

Most of them use laser speed detectors so a radar detector won't track it...

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

The coppers have the ability to detect if you have one here.

Most of them use laser speed detectors so a radar detector won't track it...

Yeah if I headed north of the border I’d just pack it away. I’d have to deal with kph speed limit signs too eh?

 

[Bumblebee]

Yeah if I headed north of the border I’d just pack it away. I’d have to deal with kph speed limit signs too eh?

Yep, but that's simple...luckily the same cops that patrol the hiways also patrol the towns so are few and far between...

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

Yep, but that's simple...luckily the same cops that patrol the hiways also patrol the towns so are few and far between...

It’d be awfully hard to ride all those miles of the AlCan to Fairbanks and back w/o one. There are some very long straights along the way.