Strictly Enforced: Virginia Leads Nation in Speeding Tickets
WalletHub’s latest dangerous driving report ranks Virginia as the strictest enforcer of speed limits and Delaware as toughest on reckless drivers.
Virginia leads all 50 states and the District of Columbia in speed limit enforcement in the latest rankings from WalletHub. Photo by Virginia State Police via Flickr
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On a per capita basis, Virginia leads the nation in speeding enforcement and Delaware hands out the most reckless driving citations, according to the latest dangerous driving report from WalletHub. Delaware also earned a No. 1 overall ranking among “strictest states,” finishing No. 8 in the speeding enforcement category.
WalletHub compared driving laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine which states take the hardest line on dangerous driving behavior. Other strict states include Colorado (No. 2), Arizona and New Mexico (T-3), and California (5). The most lenient states include Texas (51), Mississippi and Oklahoma (T-49), and New Jersey and Nebraska (T-47).
The analysis also showed that nearly 75% of the states and Washington, D.C., have absolute speed limits, which means that exceeding the limit is enough evidence for a conviction. However, about 26% of the states leave room for interpretation with prima facie laws — or a mixed combination of absolute and prima facie rules — allowing speeders to argue in court that their speed was, in fact, reasonable.
In addition, the report compares financial penalties across states. For example, the average maximum cost of a ticket for reckless driving is $845, with a low of $100 (in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Ohio) and the highest at approximately $6,250 (Oregon).
To read the full report, click here.
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