Summary of State Speed Laws - NHTSA

Basis for a Speed Law Violation
(continued)
Posted (Minimum) Speed Limit: I. After engineering and traffic investigations, the State or
local governments (within their jurisdictions) may establish a
minimum speed limit for a highway. §§316.187(2)(d) and
316.189(3) Note: via signs, “specified traffic” (i.e. slower
moving traffic) may be directed to use designated lanes.
§316.089(3)
II. Based on safety consideration, the State or a local
government may prohibit the operation of “low speed
vehicles” on the roads under their respective jurisdictions.
§316.2122(5). A “low speed vehicle” is defined as “any fourwheeled
electric vehicle whose top speed is greater then 20
miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour....”
§320.01(42)
Other: I. No school bus shall exceed the posted speed limit or 55
mph. §316.183(3)
II. No person shall exceed the posted speed limit in a work
zone. §316.183(6)
III. No person shall exceed the posted speed limit in a school
zone. 97 §316.1895(10)
Adjudication of Speed Law Violations:
Civil/Criminal Adjudication of Violation: All speed law violations are noncriminal traffic infractions
(Moving Violations). §§316.183(7), 316.187(3), 316.189(4),
316.1895(9), 316.655(1), 318.13(3) and 318.14(1)
Other:
Sanctions Following an Adjudication of a Speed Law Violation:
Criminal Sanctions:
Imprisonment:
Term (Day, Month, Years, Etc.): None
Mandatory Minimum Term:
Fine:
Amount ($ Range): I. Exceeding the Speed Limit where the offense is not
adjudicated-Civil Penalty 98 — $25 to $250 depending upon
the extent of the violation 99 §318.18(3)(b)
97 A school zone speed limit cannot be more than 20 mph. Such limit may only be in force 30 minutes before, during and
after students are arriving or leaving a regularly scheduled school session. §316.1895(5)
98 i.e., this sanction is imposed on violators who elect not have a hearing.
99 I. For exceeding the speed limit from 1 to 5 mph, a warning is issued. For exceeding the speed limit from 6 to 9 mph,
the fine is $25. For exceeding the speed limit from 10 to 14 mph, the fine is $100. For exceeding the speed limit from 15
to 19 mph, the fine is $125. For exceeding the speed limit from 20 to 29 mph, the fine is $150. And, for exceeding the
speed limit by 30 mph, the fine is $250. §318.18(3)(b). II. For exceeding the speed limit in a school zone ≤5mph, the fine
is $50. Otherwise, for exceeding the speed limit in a school zone, the assessed fine is double the amount indicated in I.
§318.18(3)(c) III. For exceeding the speed limit in a construction zone (except for speeds ≤5 mph over the posted speed
limit), the assessed fine is double the amount indicated in I. §318.18(3)(d)
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