How Many Speed Tickets Can You Get? (We Checked)

A typical traffic violation that can result in fines or even license suspension or revocation is speeding.

The number of speeding tickets you can get before facing severe penalties depends on factors such as the state/country you live in, your driving history, and the severity of your offense.

We’ll further explore the rules and regulations surrounding speeding tickets and help in understanding how many tickets you can receive before facing severe consequences.

Whether you’re a new or experienced driver, understanding the rules of driving and the repercussions of breaking them plays a crucial role in maintaining your driving privileges and avoiding unnecessary hitches.

Here’s the Answer to How Many Speed Tickets You Can Get:

Each state in the USA has its maximum highway speed, the threshold for reckless driving, and mandatory penalties for speeding.

The fines for speeding are usually dependent on the laws of the state and by the miles per hour, the driver is going above the limit.

What Are Some Typical Examples of Speed Tickets and Fines You Can Incur?

In Wyoming, a driver going 1-5 mph over the limit will be fined $5 for each mile. Going above 11-20 and 20 mph will attract a fine of $45 and $95 plus $5 for each mile in excess.

In Montana, the fine is $40 for up to 10 mph above the limit, $70 for 11-20 mph above the limit, $120 for 20-30 mph above the limit, and $200 for over 31 mph above the limit.

In New York and Connecticut where the laws are similar, for up to 10 mph above the limit $45-$150 is fine, and $90-$300/15 days for more than 10 mph but less than 30 mph above the limit, and $180-$600 for more than 30 mph over the limit.

States like Florida and Texas are known to give out more speeding tickets than others. A simple speeding violation in Florida can result in a fine of over $250 and a license suspension for up to 30 days.

Driving at a higher speed than the limit in work or school zones can result in a misdemeanor charge, with higher fines and sometimes even a jail term.

It’s also important to note that these penalties may vary depending on other factors, such as prior offenses or aggravating factors.

Also, explore how long speed tickets take to arrive.

What Happens if You Get Too Many Speed Tickets?

There are several consequences attached to getting too many speeding tickets. One of them is an increase in insurance premiums.

Multiple tickets for speeding which can be related to car accidents make you a high risk to insure, leading to higher premiums.

This begs the question, “why can cars go faster than maximum speed limits?”.

Insurance costs in states like

• Arizona
• Delaware
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Wyoming, and
• Florida

all get heightened when there’s a violation, such as speeding beyond the limit.

Another consequence of getting too many speed tickets is license suspension, a rule in every state in the USA.

In North Carolina, 4 speeding violations in any 3 years linked to speed can result in the suspension of your driver’s license.

In

• Ohio
• Nebraska
• Colorado
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Delaware
• Connecticut, and
• California

3 speeding violations within a year would result in the immediate suspension of your driver’s license.

A 4th speeding violation within a year in the above states is more severe and can carry up to 60 days of jail term together with a fine of up to $500.

Another policy adopted by some states for violating speed limits is a penalty fee, which is determined by the severity of the violation.

• Nevada
• Georgia
• Hawaii, and
• Idaho

for instance, charge close to $1,000 for first-time violators.

In States like

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Illinois
• Florida, and
• Oklahoma

violation fees range from $25 – $350, depending on mph over the limit the driver was caught driving on.

Connecticut and Nebraska charge violators $35 and $25 respectively, for going over 1-9 mph. They also charge $200 and $75, for going over 81-85 mph and 10-14 mph, respectively.

The total cost a speeding ticket can incur does not only include the fine but also

• A higher insurance rate
• A loss of license, and
• Jail time

You need to also find out why German cars are so fast.

What Is the Most Speed Ticket Anyone Has Ever Gotten?

The highest known speed ticket was issued in May 2003 in Texas.

The driver was operating a Koenigsegg CCR and was allegedly going over 242 mph (389 km/h) in a zone with 75 mph as a limit.

Based on Texas’s two types of speeding laws, “Basic speeding law” and “Prima facie speed limits”, the driver was arrested and his car confiscated.

The basic law simply prohibits driving at a speed than its limit while the prima facie speed limit under the Texas Transportation Code Statue 545.351 permits drivers to go 1-9 above the standard speed limit.

California has the highest rates of speeding tickets in the nation and the California Highway Patrol is known for issuing massive speeding fines.

In April 2020, a driver was caught going 139 mph above the speed limit on a highway in Contra Costa County and was charged with a fine of $800 – $1,000.

In November 2017, a McLaren 720S driver topped out at 155 mph on a public highway and abruptly stopped the car after the brakes started smoking in Georgia.

The driver was arrested not only for speeding and reckless driving but also for

• Driving under the influence
• Failing to maintain a lane, and
• Driving with an expired registration

which all attracted heavy penalties.

A Kansas driver was also issued an $873 speeding fine in October 2020, when the Highway Patrol clocked his car going 133 mph, more than twice the legal highway limit.

Overall, Ohio has the highest percentage of drivers with a prior speeding ticket on record at 14.95%, making it the state with the most speeding tickets.

Also, explore whether automatic or manual cars are faster.

Final Thoughts

Now you’re well informed of the consequences of receiving multiple speeding tickets, including

• Fines
• Points on your driving record, and
• The potential loss of your driver’s license

We’ve highlighted the seriousness of speeding violations and their potential impact on your driving record and personal life.

It is important for drivers to be aware of the laws and regulations related to speed limits of each state in the US and to drive responsibly and safely to avoid getting a speeding ticket or, worse, a jail term.

Lastly, find out whether electric cars have lower top speeds.

Sources

In the Fast Lane: States with the Most Speeding Tickets | Insurify

Was this article helpful?