9 Kms Over Speed Limit
Versie Rons
The maximum speed limit is just that, the maximum speed at which drivers can lawfully operate their motor vehicles. This does not mean that drivers must drive at this speed limit; they can, and should in many cases, drive at speeds less than the maximum speed limit, such as when the pavement is wet or icy. However, driving too slowly can also be dangerous. Some Interstate highways have posted minimum speeds, usually 40 mph. In general, it is safest to drive with the flow of traffic unless that flow is exceeding the speed limit.
Fines increase if convicted of more than 1 speed violation in 18 months. A license is revoked for 3 convictions in 18 months. Fines may vary for speeding in a school zone or restricted highway. Fines are doubled in work zones. Posted speed limits in work zones must be observed regardless of whether construction activities are actually occurring at the time.
In addition to the fines and penalties shown, you will have to pay a state surcharge and possibly a Driver Responsibility Assessment if you receive six or more points on your driver record during an 18-month period.
According to Maine.gov, "A person who operates a motor vehicle on the Maine Turnpike or the Interstate Highway System at a speed that exceeds the posted speed by less than 30 miles per hour commits a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than $50."
I also think that it depends on who's patrolling as well. Some police may not care to pull you over, which happens most of the time with me. Some may give you a ticket or some may just tell you to slow down a bit.
If you want a rundown of traffic infractions and the amount they would fine you, you can check out this document from the Maine Judicial Branch Violations Bureau that was updated as of August 2022. And there are a lot!
I remember when I moved from a rural suburb to the Boston area for college, with my car loaded up, and my dad driving his overstuffed truck behind me. We were on Route 128 going 65 mph in the left lane, which was not good.
Fast forward 25 years later. I am one of those crazy drivers, often going 70-75 mph up 95 North, 93 South or 90 West, or on any part of route 128. In fact, sometimes they are one in the same highway, which is baffling. How can you be traveling on 93 North and 128 South at the same time? But yes, in New England, you can.
This leads me to a question deep in all of our psyches. We've often heard you can go 10 mph over the speed limit, and law enforcement won't bother you. I've heard that theory for years, and while we tend to do it often, is it an unwritten rule of the road?
The speed limit is the speed limit. No, it is not legal to go 10 mph over the speed limit, nor is it assumed you are allowed to without consequence. But it gets tricky depending on which New England state you're in.
In New Hampshire, the general speed limit on highways is 65. NH law states that drivers should not proceed "at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing." The speed limit is the law, but you are not necessarily guilty. If you feel you were cited unfairly and were driving safely, "you can take your argument to court", according to gencourt.state.nh.us. It's called a "per se" law, or "presumed speed limits", and not every state has it.
Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island are states with "reasonable and prudent" speed laws, meaning it's illegal to go over the speed limit, but for your own safety, you should drive at a speed that is safe within the traffic around you. You can argue the citation in court if you think you can prove you were driving safely.
Maine, and Connecticut abide by "absolute speed limit" laws. If you go over the posted speed limit, you are breaking the law, according to drivinglaws.org. You can also receive a citation if you are going too slow, as this is not safe driving either.
The speeding laws and fine structures in the four states differ considerably. In Connecticut, there are three laws that specify penalties for driving too fast: (1) traveling unreasonably fast, (2) speeding, and (3) reckless speeding. Each has its own set of penalties. The lowest penalty structure applies for traveling unreasonably fast, which is when someone exceeds the posted speed limit, but does not drive more than 55 miles per hour (mph). This usually occurs on local and smaller state roads. These are classified as infractions. Connecticut's speeding law applies when someone exceeds 55 mph. This can be either an infraction or a violation, with different penalty schedules, depending on someone's actual speed. Under the speeding law, a higher penalty applies to trucks than to cars. If someone exceeds 85 mph, the reckless driving law applies. This is a criminal violation that can include both a fine and a period of incarceration.
Fines in Connecticut can be as low as $35 for the infraction of driving from one to nine mph above the posted limit to as much as $200 for trucks driving from 81 to 85 mph. However, the fine is only part of what a person must pay. Several additional surcharges, fees, and assessments apply for speeding offenses, as well as for other types of traffic offenses. Although, for example, the fine for going one to nine mph above the posted limit is only $35, the amount someone must actually pay because of all the additional charges is $103. It can be even higher if the violation occurs in a designated highway construction, utility work, or school zone.
New York law provides for a three-tier basic fine structure according to the amount a violator exceeds the speed limit. New York is also the only one of the four states that applies a higher possible fine if someone has prior speeding convictions within an 18-month period. New York also has enhanced penalties for violations that occur in highway construction and maintenance zones and an even higher fine structure if they occur in a school zone.
Pennsylvania has a relatively simple fine structure. A violator pays a base fine of $35 or $42.50, if the speed limit exceeded was 65 mph. A violator must also pay $2 for each mile above the posted limit after five. There are also several other fees and assessments a violator must pay. Fines double in designated highway construction or maintenance zones.
Connecticut's speeding-related laws and the associated fine structure are complicated. Someone driving above legal speeds can be arrested under any of three statutes, depending on the circumstances. The three statutes are (1) traveling at an unreasonable speed, (2) speeding, and (3) reckless speeding.
The different speed-related offenses are penalized as either infractions or as violations where the statue specifies a fine range. For infractions, the judges of the Superior Court set the specific fine for each type of infraction within a general range of $35 to $90. For the statutorily specified fine ranges for violations, the judges use a uniform schedule that specifies an amount for a specific range of speeds. Besides the actual fine, speed-related offenses are subject by law to several surcharges, fees, and cost assessments that make the actual amounts considerably higher.