Interstate Speeding Tickets FAQ

Interstate speeding ticket fines vary from state to state.

Law enforcement officers regularly patrol the 58 interstate highways in the United States. If you tend to speed, be prepared to pay fines or face other penalties, which vary from state to state.

Types

Having absolute speed limits means that the state does not tolerate speeding, whether or not it is safe. As of November 2010, states with prima facie speed limits, including Rhode Island, Texas and Utah, allow for speeds above the posted limit only if the driver can prove he was driving safely.

State Maximums

Despite prima facie laws, most state impose maximum interstate speed limits. These range from 55 mph in Connecticut, unless otherwise posted, to 85 mph in Arizona.

Reckless

Reckless speeding tickets incur enhanced fines and penalties. Generally, reckless speeding is defined as over 80 miles per hour or 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

Tolerance

States range in tolerance levels for speeding from between 5 miles per hour in Colorado to 15 miles per hour in Georgia.

References

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: State Traffic and Speed Laws
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