How Much Over The Speed Limit Is 'Speedin'?

Here's something to chew on. A speed limit sign is a traffic control device. Failure to comply with a traffic control device is a violation. Florida, for example, is an absolute speed state, meaning that being faster than the posted limit was a violation and therefore a reason to stop you. Florida also had a fine structure for speeding. The actual speeding ticket was a set fine and then there were additional fines for mph over the posted limit, usually in five mph increments. Now that being said, back in 2000 there were some jurisdictions that changed their additional fine structures and no additional fines were added until after five over the limit. An officer could still stop a person for speeding at one over, but no additional fines, just the speeding (failure to follow a traffic control device) ticket and applicable fine. Therefore we either didn't stop someone until they were at least five over the limit, or unless we wanted to check the driver/vehicle for something else. Me personally I would not ticket in the majority of the cases unless they were ten over the limit, but would stop violators for under that for "educating" purposes. Rarely did I stop anyone for less than five over - too many arguable issues there - my speedometer was off, their speedometer as off, the speed detection device was off, etc. Considering the number of violators out there waaay over the limit, it wasn't feasible or worth it. Plus I had a heart - speeding tickets in Florida were so extremely expensive that I could only justify jacking up people's finances for a pretty good violation. Remember -speed kills and severely injures. You know how long it takes to bring a vehicle to a safe stop, and that distance increases significantly as your speed increases. Also remember this - there is a whole big book of traffic laws, and a bigger book of criminal laws, out there. If you think that an officer can't find a reason to stop you, ticket you, detain you, or arrest you, you are thinking dangerously. Don't give 'em a reason. Prudence dictates that while speed limits are a pain in the rear, following them are in your best interest overall.

Scott posits:

Don't give [Law Enforcement] a reason.

This is the core for the whole rationale to avoid getting into it with a traffic officer. Speeding, tail gating, open container, the whole ball of wax. It's your driving record/ability to earn a living with a truck. If you want to push the envelope for your own comfort, it's your bet to win or lose.

All of your answers are extremely informative and valuable. I can't thank ya'll enough!!

Just thought i might show you all the traffic ticket fine chart so you can see i ain't BSing you when I say they don't have a fine for 10 and under over the limit

http://www.conversetx.net/index.aspx?NID=203

11-24 over the limit is fined at $5 for each mile over 10 plus the basic speeding ticket fine, at $25 i guess the judge breaks out the whip and handcuffs or something :P

I don't quite understand san antonio's fine schedule but it sounds like you get a cushion of 9mph then at 10 is where first fine starts with $5 for every mph over 10 over the limit. http://www.sanantonio.gov/Court/PaymentAndFines/FinesAndCourtCosts/FineSchedule.aspx

but you get my point every jurisdiction has their own believe on what is actually speeding. I'm not saying you should test the limits or anything, just pointing out that there actually are ranges of how fast you can go over the limit before you risk ticket.

most cops really don't want to have to deal with going to court and proving their case against you so unless you are worth it they won't bother you. for every ticket a cop gives out they have to appear in court for it (unless the driver pays it before court date). lot of hassle for them.

but you get my point every jurisdiction has their own believe on what is actually speeding. I'm not saying you should test the limits or anything, just pointing out that there actually are ranges of how fast you can go over the limit before you risk ticket.

I lived in Seattle in the late 80s / early 90s. They ticketed for anything over the speed limit, even 1 mph. They also ticketed for jaywalking. Almost no one in Seattle would speed or jaywalk when I lived there.

I remember one time shortly after I moved to Colorado Springs. I was driving the speed limit and everyone was flying past me. I saw a cop coming up fast and thought, "He's gonna pull someone over!" Nope, he passed them all. I started driving like the natives after that - speed limit + 10.

I don't speed in the truck, though. The laws of physics and potential consequences are a lot more serious when your vehicle weighs 60,000 pounds or more.

I don't speed in the truck, though. The laws of physics and potential consequences are a lot more serious when your vehicle weighs 60,000 pounds or more.

that's probably the best reason to follow the speed limit right there...

Another good one is that speeding doesn't get you anywhere much faster. I read an article that did the math for me and honestly doing 15+ over the limit would only get you places maybe 10% less time than following the speed limit, a 10 hour trip might become 9 BUT you'll also incur more in fuel costs too, it varies so much now by vehicle but the sweet spot used to be about 55mph where your vehicle would get optimal fuel mileage for freeway travel, I had a rental that did just fine at 70 mph, it was things like slowing down for others or going up hills that would lower it (I knew this because it had a little bar thing that would increase or decrease). It'll still cost more in gas to go faster though.

If I find the article again I'll post it, it was pretty interesting.

68 mph is speeding even when the white sign says 80.

when its a loong grade and 8th gear with the jake can keep you at about 73 in an area posted 75.

68 is still over speed lol.

So you dont want to downshift because you'll be doing way under the speed limit so you argue with yourself. eventually you downshift and unsafely do 53 mph in an 80 while everyone else flies past you at 85.

Anyone ever been to Golden Meadows LA down by the gulf coast? That place is speed trap capital of the world.

They are proud of ticketing folks there for one mph over the limit.

Anyone ever been to Golden Meadows LA down by the gulf coast? That place is speed trap capital of the world.

They are proud of ticketing folks there for one mph over the limit.

nope but now I know to avoid it *adds it to places to never go to*

What do you do if your truck is governed at 62mph and you are on a road where the speed limit is 75mph?