asset_type: jurisdictional-variation

body: For each US state: the speed -- stated as an absolute mph, as mph over the posted limit, or both -- at which ordinary speeding stops being ordinary and the statute attaches a separate, heavier offence, quoted exactly as the statute states it, with the classification the statute gives. Answers 'how many over is reckless driving in [state]', 'what speed is reckless driving in [state]', and 'is speeding a crime in [state] or just a ticket'. The mechanism varies sharply. Virginia sets both a relative trigger (20 mph over) and an absolute one (85 mph regardless of the limit), either one alone being reckless driving. North Carolina sets the same pair as alternatives -- more than 15 over OR over 80, a Class 3 misdemeanor. Illinois sets no absolute at all, only a tiered relative one (26-34 over a Class B misdemeanor, 35+ over a Class A). Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Colorado and Vermont each set a single threshold and each name a different kind of offence for it. And in three states the answer is that there is no criminal threshold: Arizona's excessive-speed statute has no absolute-mph clause at all (contradicting the widely repeated claim that Arizona has an '85 mph absolute' rule), Oregon keeps even 100 mph a traffic violation rather than a crime, and Ohio makes ordinary speeding a minor misdemeanor with a fourth-degree upgrade tied to district speeds rather than to mph over the limit.

key_field: state

licence: US state statutes -- government edicts, not copyrightable (Banks v. Manchester); a short attributed quote per record, linking back

title: Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state

type: dataset


body:
**State:** Arizona

**Threshold over the posted limit:** Exceed the posted speed limit by more than twenty miles per hour in other locations

**Offense classification:** class 3 misdemeanor

**Statute:** A.R.S. § 28-701.02 — Excessive speeds; classification

> A. A person shall not: 1. Exceed thirty-five miles per hour approaching a school crossing. 2. Exceed the posted speed limit in a business or residential district by more than twenty miles per hour, or if no speed limit is posted, exceed forty-five miles per hour. 3. Exceed the posted speed limit by more than twenty miles per hour in other locations. B. A person who violates subsection A of this section is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.

Source: <https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00701-02.htm>

classification: class 3 misdemeanor

state: Arizona

title: Arizona — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state

type: jurisdictional-variation


body:
**State:** Colorado

**Threshold over the posted limit:** twenty-five or more miles per hour in excess of the reasonable and prudent speed or in excess of the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour

**Offense classification:** class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense

**Statute:** C.R.S. § 42-4-1101(12)(b) — Speed limits

> (b) A violation of driving twenty-five or more miles per hour in excess of the reasonable and prudent speed or in excess of the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense;

Source: <https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-42-vehicles-and-traffic/co-rev-st-sect-42-4-1101.html>

classification: class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense

state: Colorado

title: Colorado — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


absolute_threshold: greater than eighty-five miles per hour

body:
**State:** Connecticut

**Absolute mph threshold:** greater than eighty-five miles per hour

**Offense classification:** shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or be both fined and imprisoned for the first offense

**Statute:** Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-222 — Reckless driving

> The operation of a motor vehicle upon any such highway, road or parking area for ten cars or more at a rate of speed greater than eighty-five miles per hour shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section. (b) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days or be both fined and imprisoned for the first offense and for each subsequent offense shall be fined not more than six hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned.

Source: <https://codes.findlaw.com/ct/title-14-motor-vehicles-use-of-the-highway-by-vehicles-gasoline/ct-gen-st-sect-14-222.html>

state: Connecticut

title: Connecticut — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


body:
**State:** Hawaii

**Threshold over the posted limit:** The applicable state or county speed limit by thirty miles per hour or more

**Absolute mph threshold:** Eighty miles per hour or more irrespective of the applicable state or county speed limit

**Offense classification:** petty misdemeanor

**Statute:** HRS § 291C-105 — Excessive speeding

> No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding: (1) The applicable state or county speed limit by thirty miles per hour or more; or (2) Eighty miles per hour or more irrespective of the applicable state or county speed limit. (b) For the purposes of this section, "the applicable state or county speed limit" means the maximum speed limit established: (1) By county ordinance; (2) By official signs placed by the director of transportation on highways under the director's jurisdiction; or (3) Pursuant to section 291C-104 by the director of transportation or the counties for school zones and construction areas in their respective jurisdictions. (c) Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be sentenced as follows without the possibility of probation or suspension of sentence:

Source: <https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0291C/HRS_0291C-0105.htm>

citation: HRS § 291C-105 — Excessive speeding

classification: petty misdemeanor

state: Hawaii

title: Hawaii — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


body:
**State:** Illinois

**Threshold over the posted limit:** 26 miles per hour or more but less than 35 miles per hour in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit established under this Chapter or a local ordinance

**Second, higher band:** 35 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit established under this Chapter or a local ordinance commits a Class A misdemeanor

**Offense classification:** Class B misdemeanor

**Statute:** 625 ILCS 5/11-601.5 — Driving 26 miles per hour or more in excess of applicable limit

> (a) A person who drives a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed that is 26 miles per hour or more but less than 35 miles per hour in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit established under this Chapter or a local ordinance commits a Class B misdemeanor. (b) A person who drives a vehicle upon any highway of this State at a speed that is 35 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit established under this Chapter or a local ordinance commits a Class A misdemeanor.

Source: <https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-601.5>

classification: Class B misdemeanor

state: Illinois

title: Illinois — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


body:
**State:** Maine

**Threshold over the posted limit:** exceeds the maximum rate of speed by 30 miles per hour or more

**Offense classification:** Class E crime

**Statute:** 29-A M.R.S. § 2074 — Rates of speed

> A person commits a Class E crime if that person operates a motor vehicle at a speed that exceeds the maximum rate of speed by 30 miles per hour or more.

Source: <https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec2074.html>

citation: 29-A M.R.S. § 2074 — Rates of speed

classification: Class E crime

state: Maine

title: Maine — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


body:
**State:** Nevada

**Threshold over the posted limit:** 30 miles per hour or more over that posted by a public authority

**Offense classification:** misdemeanor

**Statute:** NRS 484B.600(8) — Basic rule; penalties; discretion of court to reduce violation in certain circumstances; maximum fine; unlawful act. [Effective July 1, 2026.]

> 8. A person who commits a violation of any provision of this section and, at the time the violation was committed, was operating a vehicle at a rate of speed that was 30 miles per hour or more over that posted by a public authority is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Source: <https://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-484B.html>

classification: misdemeanor

state: Nevada

title: Nevada — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


absolute_threshold: over 80 miles per hour

body:
**State:** North Carolina

**Threshold over the posted limit:** more than 15 miles per hour more than the speed limit established by law for the highway where the offense occurred

**Absolute mph threshold:** over 80 miles per hour

**Offense classification:** Class 3 misdemeanor

**Statute:** N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141(j1) — Speed restrictions

> (j1) A person who drives a vehicle on a highway at a speed that is either more than 15 miles per hour more than the speed limit established by law for the highway where the offense occurred or over 80 miles per hour is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Source: <https://codes.findlaw.com/nc/chapter-20-motor-vehicles/nc-gen-st-sect-20-141.html>

classification: Class 3 misdemeanor

state: North Carolina

title: North Carolina — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


body:
**State:** Ohio

**Absolute mph threshold:** faster than thirty-five miles an hour in a business district of a municipal corporation, faster than fifty miles an hour in other portions of a municipal corporation, or faster than thirty-five miles an hour in a school zone during recess or while children are going to or leaving school during the school's opening or closing hours

**Offense classification:** a misdemeanor of the fourth degree

**Statute:** Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.21(P) — Speed limits

> (P)(1) A violation of any provision of this section is one of the following: (a) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (P)(1)(b), (1)(c), (2), and (3) of this section, a minor misdemeanor; (b) If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two violations of any provision of this section or of any provision of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any provision of this section, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; (c) If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of any provision of this section or of any provision of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any provision of this section, a misdemeanor of the third degree. (2) If the offender operated a motor vehicle faster than thirty-five miles an hour in a business district of a municipal corporation, faster than fifty miles an hour in other portions of a municipal corporation, or faster than thirty-five miles an hour in a school zone during recess or while children are going to or leaving school during the school's opening or closing hours, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Division (P)(2) of this section does not apply if penalties may be imposed under division (P)(1)(b) or (c) of this section.

Source: <https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4511.21>

classification: a misdemeanor of the fourth degree

state: Ohio

title: Ohio — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


absolute_threshold: 100 miles per hour or greater

body:
**State:** Oregon

**Absolute mph threshold:** 100 miles per hour or greater

**Offense classification:** a specific fine traffic violation

**Statute:** ORS 811.109(5) — Penalties for speed violations

> (5) Notwithstanding subsections (1) to (3) of this section, if a person drives 100 miles per hour or greater when the person commits a violation described in this section, the person commits a specific fine traffic violation.

Source: <https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors811.html>

classification: a specific fine traffic violation

state: Oregon

title: Oregon — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


body:
**State:** Vermont

**Threshold over the posted limit:** a speed of 60 miles per hour or more and at least 30 miles per hour in excess of a State speed zone or local speed limit

**Offense classification:** imprisoned upon a first conviction not more than three months or fined not more than $300.00, or both

**Statute:** 23 V.S.A. § 1097 — Excessive speed

> No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a public highway at a speed of 60 miles per hour or more and at least 30 miles per hour in excess of a State speed zone or local speed limit. A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned upon a first conviction not more than three months or fined not more than $300.00, or both;

Source: <https://codes.findlaw.com/vt/title-23-motor-vehicles/vt-st-tit-23-sect-1097.html>

citation: 23 V.S.A. § 1097 — Excessive speed

state: Vermont

title: Vermont — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state


body:
**State:** Virginia

**Threshold over the posted limit:** 20 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit

**Absolute mph threshold:** in excess of 85 miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit

**Offense classification:** guilty of reckless driving

**Statute:** Va. Code § 46.2-862 — Exceeding speed limit

> A person is guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of 20 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of 85 miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

Source: <https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-862/>

classification: guilty of reckless driving

state: Virginia

title: Virginia — Reckless / excessive-speeding mph thresholds that trigger a criminal charge, by state