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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: none
Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor
Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $100 fine, license suspension
MISSOURI
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
RHODE ISLAND
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
Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Excessive Speed Threshold: 25 mph above limit
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Max Highway Speed: 70 mph
Reckless Driving Threshold: 1 mph above limit (speeding can be used as evidence of reckless driving, but generally speed along 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
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
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
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
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
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
PUERTO RICO
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
