3 States With the Strictest Traffic Laws in the Nation originally appeared on Autoblog.
You could pay up to $2,500 for a speeding ticket in Illinois
A study has revealed states with the strictest traffic laws by primarily evaluating how speeding fines, speed limits, and DUI suspension regulations vary between jurisdictions. The analysis by Davidoff Law Personal Injury Lawyers, which was first reported by Forbes and updated by Autoblog to include recent changes, cites Illinois, Georgia, and Indiana as the top three states, with Illinois being the strictest.
In Illinois, driving 26-34 mph over the speed limit is a Class B misdemeanor, which can result in a maximum fine of $1,500. Traveling 35 mph or more over the limit is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a maximum fine of $2,500. Jail time isn’t the typical result of these speeding charges, but driving 26-34 mph over the speed limit can result in up to six months in jail or a maximum of one year when exceeding the limit by 35 mph or greater. While Georgia’s speeding fines are less than Illinois’s, Forbes reports that a whopping 11% of Georgia drivers have speeding tickets on their records. Citations typically cost Georgia drivers $500, but a DUI charge will result in a motorist losing their license for one year. Indiana can impose a $1,000 maximum fine when a driver exceeds a worksite’s speed limit by at least 11 mph and has committed the same offense two or more times during the past three years. However, Illinois and Indiana suspend the license of first-time DUI offenders for 180 days, in contrast to Georgia’s one-year penalty.
Additional noteworthy state mentions
Vermont took fourth place in the study of states with the strictest traffic laws, followed by Connecticut, Tennessee, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Hawaii. Connecticut drivers traveling 22 or more miles over the speed limit risk a maximum fine of $226, but this amount increases to $406 in work or school zones. Tennessee speeding tickets are relatively inexpensive since they’re paired with between one and eight license points that stay on your record for two years. However, a first-time DUI offense in Tennessee can carry a fine of $350 to $1,500 and a one-year license suspension. New Jersey speeding tickets range from $85 to $260. The state fines those convicted of a first-time DUI $250 to $400, and a three-month license loss if the BAC is equal to or greater than 0.08%, which is most states’ BAC limit, but less than 0.10%. West Virginia and Hawaii were both tied for eighth place, with the former state charging first-time speeders up to $100, and the latter writing $200 maximum fines. First-time DUI offenders in Hawaii face $250 to $1,000 in fines and a license suspension of one year to 18 months, while West Virginia imposes between $100 and $500 in fines and a 90-day license suspension.
Final thoughts
Illinois, Georgia, and Indiana generally crack down the hardest on drivers, but different states’ evolving legislation could result in new rankings in the relatively near future. For example, a new Florida law that took effect July 1 slaps first-time offenders caught excessively speeding with up to 30 days of jail time if they were traveling 50 mph over the speed limit or exceeding 100 mph. First-time offenders face up to 30 days of imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both, while repeat offenders could be jailed for up to 90 days, pay a $1,000 fine, or both. Repeat offenders can also have their license revoked for up to one year, and those nabbed for speeding by 50 mph or more must appear in court. Overall, states are becoming increasingly serious about outlawing dangerous driving behavior, partially in response to U.S. traffic fatalities continually increasing from 2011 to 2021.
3 States With the Strictest Traffic Laws in the Nation first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 14, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
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