Most Speeding Tickets by State
Updated July 21,2021 | 4 min read
Up to 41 million speeding tickets are issued per year. Whether motorists are repeat speeders or aren’t familiar with the speed limit in the area — if you think your home state is just a little too speedy, you might be right. Here are the most speeding tickets by state and the average cost:
States with the most speeding tickets
How speeding tickets impact your car insurance
Caught speeding? Here’s how to save on your premiums
States with the most speeding tickets
Does your home state top the list? From the California to Georgia, the police departments in these key states have been busy handing out traffic tickets. Don’t see your state on the list? Honorable mentions go to Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Iowa.
California
- Average speeding tickets per year: 1,053,935
- Population: 39,614,493
- Maximum speed limit: 65 mph
With its high population, it’s no surprise California is the state with the most speeding tickets in the nation. What may be a surprise is the range of tickets. Depending on where they’re pulled over, Californians can fork over anywhere from $35 to $900 for an infraction. You won’t know how much the ticket will be until you have it though, so probably better to play it safe.
New York
- Average speeding tickets per year: 712,370
- Population: 19,299,981
- Maximum speed limit: 65 mph
New York takes speeding infractions very seriously. While some defensive driving courses might encourage you to drive at the speed of traffic, New York says that it does not make exceptions, even if you’re following everyone else’s lead.
Florida
- Average speeding tickets per year: 704,092
- Population: 21,944,577
- Maximum speed limit: 70 mph
If you’re caught speeding in Florida, the general understanding is that you may be let go if you aren’t going over the speeding limit by much. However, the average speeding ticket can cost up to $588, depending on how fast you’re going and whether you’re in a school zone or not.
Georgia
- Average speeding tickets per year: 601,905
- Population: 10,830,007
- Maximum speed limit: 65 mph
Speeding fines in Georgia may actually seem relatively low compared to other states. The maximum fines for first-time speeding violations can range from as little as $25 to as much as $500.
North Carolina
- Average speeding tickets per year: 528,062
- Population: 10,701,022
- Maximum speed limit: 70 mph
Speeding in the southern state of North Carolina is taken very seriously. You can receive a ticket for driving faster than the posted speed limit, and for driving 15 mph slower than the posted speed limit. You may also be fined for speeding in a work zone or a school zone.
Washington
- Average speeding tickets per year: 416,699
- Population: 7,796,941
- Maximum speed limit: 70 mph
Compared to other states, Washington does tend to charge a higher baseline price for speeding tickets. You can pay anywhere from $125 to $423 for a speeding fine in this state.
South Carolina
- Average speeding tickets per year: 388,631
- Population: 5,277,830
- Maximum speed limit: 75mph
South Carolina has a basic expectation of its drivers, and if you drive at a higher speed than what is found to be reasonable and prudent, you may find yourself facing a fine. Fines in South Carolina range from $15 to $200, and you can even face up to 30 days in jail for a speeding violation.
Ohio
- Average speeding tickets per year: 380,545
- Population: 11,714,618
- Maximum speed limit: 70 mph
If you’re a first-time offender in Ohio, the maximum fine for the minor misdemeanor that you could face is $150. The more offenses you have, the higher the fines and penalties you’ll pay.
Oregon
- Average speeding tickets per year: 322,871
- Population: 4,289,439
- Maximum speed limit: 65mph
Speeding violations in this state can depend on the circumstances that led you to speed. However, as a general rule, the fines can start at $125 and go as high as $1,150, depending on the type of traffic ticket and how fast you were going (ahem, reckless driving). You may also face a license suspension.
Texas
- Average speeding tickets per year: 315,739
- Population: 29,730,311
- Maximum speed limit: 85mph
In Texas, you may face a fine of $1 to $200, depending on local ordinances and what the judge determines. If you are convinced by the judge or speeding more than 10% of the posted limit in the area where you were pulled over, you can also face points on your driver’s license.
How speeding tickets impact your car insurance
Getting pulled over can get your heart racing, but it’s not all over as soon as you pull away. A speeding ticket can affect much more than your wallet. In fact, even after you’ve paid off the fine (and sometimes applicable surcharges) for your ticket, you could still find yourself continuing to pay financially in the future in the form of insurance costs. This is because speeding tickets can have a lasting impact on your auto insurance.
After receiving a speeding ticket, you may find that your rate insurance rate has increased when it comes time for your renewal. The way insurance providers see it, speeding can be an indication of a higher likelihood to be involved in an auto accident in the future. The insurance company can — and most likely — will raise your insurance premium to account for this increased risk of you making an auto insurance claim. You can also lose some of the discounts you may have had in the past, such as a good driver discount.
If your rates go up, you should shop around for cheaper auto insurance, but keep in mind: Your speeding ticket will go with you. When an insurance company offers you an auto insurance quote, it does so based on a number of factors. One is your driving record, often pulled from your motor vehicle report, which a speeding ticket will show up on.
Caught speeding? Here’s how to save on your premiums
First of all, if you’ve been caught speeding or have existing infractions and see your insurance rate spike, it might be time to look into other insurance companies. Each company will assess risks differently and a different company may not consider your speeding ticket to be as risky as your current company. If you have an otherwise clean driving record, you may even find that some insurance companies don’t fault you for one incident at all.
To save on your premium with or without a traffic ticket on your record, you might want to consider:
- Taking a defensive driver course (sometimes referred to as traffic school): Successfully completing a course could net you a discount on your auto insurance, but verify that company with your insurance provider before you sign up.
- Focusing on building your credit score: Your credit score plays a factor in what rates you receive. Paying down debts and bringing you credit accounts current can help you boost your credit score.
- Raise your insurance deductible: Raising your deductible can also help lower your insurance premiums. However, don’t raise it more than you can afford. If an accident does happen, you want to know you’re covered.
While no one actually wants a speeding ticket, if you do make a mistake, know that you can move on from it. Traffic violations may stay on your driving record for up to five years depending on where you live, but if you keep building a good driving history, you’ll find a car insurance provider with great service and rates.
Jessie Jordan
Robbie Boddy
