it happens. You’re driving and your mind is wandering. You’re distracted by the day’s events and the sound of Taylor Swift. Or whatever makes you sing. The little needle on your speedometer creeps over the posted limit, or you miss the next speed limit sign. Your rearview mirror practically explodes from the flashing lights of the oncoming police car.
Speeding tickets are worthless. Heck, in some states going even 10 mph over the limit can cost you dearly. And that’s just one ticket. Some of your rudeness can get you into serious trouble with Fuzz. Much more trouble than a simple speeding ticket. Depending on where you live in this crazy country, your excessive speed could make you guilty of reckless driving.
So what, okay? Who cares? You should do it. Unlike a simple speeding ticket, authorities consider reckless driving a criminal offense. This means potential jail time as well as a bad look on your criminal record. So you might want to pay a little attention to your speed. Especially if you live in a state like North Carolina, Virginia or Florida. Speeding by a few miles per hour could mean you face a hefty fine or go to jail.
Speeding doesn’t always stop on a speeding ticket.
Police in America issue millions of tickets every year. All told, the American motorist has a 1 in 6 chance of receiving a speeding citation on an annual basis, like rolling the dice on a ticket. Most of those tickets were for going more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit, and depending on where you live, it doesn’t take much more than that to earn a record-shattering reckless driving charge. For example, in North Carolina, driving 15 mph or more over the posted limit can be considered reckless driving.
In Virginia, going 20 mph over the speed limit or exceeding 80 mph can result in a criminal charge on your speeding ticket. The same applies for Arizona, although for motorists driving around the Grand Canyon State it’s 85 mph or higher. Other states omit the upper limit, instead focusing on a driver’s speed exceeding the posted limit.
In Illinois, speeding 27 mph over the limit turns that ticket into a dreaded Class B misdemeanor charge, a mandatory court appearance, and a minimum of $250 in bail money – or surrendering your driver’s license – before you can go on your way. Of course, raw speed isn’t the only way to get a reckless driving charge. Even if you’re not abiding by excessive speed restrictions in your state, racing another motorist or participating in a road occupation is a quick way to get classified as reckless. It doesn’t matter where you are in one of the road race locations of your dreams.
Jail time and big fines for excessive speeding
So depending on where you live, 15 mph could be the difference between a speeding ticket and a reckless driving charge. Ouch. It would be better if you pay attention to your speed. This charge is more than an ugly stain on your criminal record. Step into it too badly, and you’ll face jail time. Californians could face hefty fines for reckless driving or racing. Get up to triple-digit speeds on California’s highways, and you’re looking at an automated official review. Even if you have no previous convictions on your driving record.
Flat-out is enough in some states with excessive speed. Take the Sunshine State, for example. In an effort to curb reckless speeding in the state, Florida instituted its “Super Speeder” law in 2025. This law targets drivers who travel 50 mph over the posted speed limit or 100 mph or more on state roads. If you violate the law for the first time, you can spend 30 days in jail.
It didn’t take long for Floridians to test the law, too. A Florida man broke the new speeding law just two minutes after it went into effect. Look, speed is fun. But driving too fast on public roads can result in fines, points on your license or even jail time.
