A long-standing belief among motorists is that there is a small buffer built into speed limits. You may have heard the phrase, “Nine, I’m fine, 10, you’re mine.” This is misleading and has led to misconceptions that going slightly over the speed limit is not a big deal. Not to rain on your parade, but legally speaking it is certainly a big problem. Most states consider even the smallest amount over the posted limit to be a violation of what is called an absolute speed limit.
North Carolina is one such state, where even driving 75 km/h in a 70 km/h zone can get you in trouble. State troopers have also fined people in Colorado for driving at speeds between 1 and 9 mph. Under Colorado law, speeding by just 1 mph is a Class A traffic violation, punishable by a $30 fine and $6 surcharge. Other states take a similar stance. Texas law does not provide a formal pardon for speeding, whether 1 or 10 miles per hour. Texas and North Carolina are also among the states where driving 10 over will cost you the most.
Why most drivers are not stopped for minor speeding violations
The law is therefore quite strict and does not allow even one toe to cross the line. But you might be wondering why people aren’t getting caught left and right every time they go over the limit. This is because the police do not have the resources nor are they obliged to stop everyone. It is entirely up to their discretion who they stop and who they don’t.
However, that does not mean that the stops are random. Circumstances determine when stops occur. You are more likely to be stopped if, for example, you go slightly over the limit in school or construction zones. You should also be more careful about crossing it during extreme weather. Officers have made it clear that just because other drivers are speeding and everyone is simply following the flow of traffic does not mean an individual driver cannot be apprehended.
Real consequences, even at low amounts above the limit
It doesn’t matter how likely you are to be stopped, once you are stopped the consequences are the same whether you are speeding way too fast or only going 1km/h. The reason for this, officials say, is public safety. According to a 2023 analysis of the Colorado State PatrolSpeeding was the main cause of fatal and injury crashes at 23%. That is why fines start from 1 to 6 km/h above the limit. And in Chicago, designated safety zones have automatic speed cameras that issue a ticket starting at 6 mph over the limit.
Texas, meanwhile, classifies speeding as a misdemeanor. The fines there increase by how much you go over the limit, ranging from $165 for 1 to 5 mph over the limit to $300 for 30 mph or more over that. Florida also has a similar law, where drivers going 50 or 100 mph over the limit are considered “superspeeders” and face a mandatory court appearance, fines of $1,000 to $2,500, and possible jail time. This man found that out the hard way, just two minutes after the law went into effect.
There may also be insurance consequences for your speeding ticket. Even a first violation can have consequences for premiums. And while some drivers may avoid increases after an initial ticket, repeat violations often lead to higher rates.
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