Strictest driving laws + accidents by state

While the States may be united overall, they’re divided on laws that govern their roadways and how those laws are enforced. Yet these driving laws are in place for a reason — to keep everyone safe on the road and prevent serious injuries or death.

To determine whether stricter driving laws affect car accidents, we started by comparing laws and penalties for drunk driving, seatbelts and speeding. Then we looked at fatal crash rates using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the US Federal Highway Administration.

Strictest driving laws and car accidents by state

Alaska and Oregon take the No. 1 rank for the strictest driving laws, based on our analysis of drunk driving, seatbelt and speeding laws. If you’re caught zooming above the speed limit in Alaska, you could be pinned with fines anywhere from $250 to $2,000. Drunk driving could leave you with a 90-day suspension and up to $6,250 in fines.

In Oregon, you could pay $300 in speeding fines, and you’ll be pegged with a $1,000 fine minimum for drunk driving. The state also knows how to keep everyone buckled up. Around 96% of Oregonians buckle up when they’re on the road, one of the highest use rates in the country.

Want to know where your state ends up for safety rank or accident rate? Check out our interactive map or table.

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Rank	State	Accident rate per 100K drivers	Maximum speed limit	Speeding penalties	License suspension length on first DUI	Seatbelt enforcement
6	Alabama	43.9	70	$500 and/or 3 months in jail	90 days	Primary
1	Alaska	22.4	65	$300	90 days	Primary
9	Arizona	33.9	75	$500 and/or 30 days in jail	90 days	Secondary
12	Arkansas	44.2	75	$500 and/or 6 months	6 months	Primary
8	California	23.9	70	$250	4 months	Primary
6	Colorado	26	75	$100	3 months	Secondary
5	Connecticut	18	65	$90	90 days	Primary
9	Delaware	30.8	65	$95	3 months	Primary (civil penalty)
11	Florida	38.6	70	$250	6 months for DUI, 12 months for breath test refusal	Primary
8	Georgia	39.7	70	$500	1 year	Primary
7	Hawaii	21.1	60	$500	3 months	Primary
18	Idaho	31.7	80	$300	90 days	Secondary
6	Illinois	22.2	70	$1,500 and/or 30 days in jail	6 months	Primary
17	Indiana	33.3	70	$1,000	180 days	Primary
3	Iowa	27.8	70	$625 and/or 30 days in jail	180 days	Primary
9	Kansas	33.8	75	$500	30 days	Primary
9	Kentucky	44.9	70	$100	30-120 days	Primary
6	Louisiana	41.3	75	$500 and/or 90 days in jail	No suspension	Primary
16	Maine	27.6	75	$500	90 days	Primary
13	Maryland	21.8	70	$500	180 days	Primary. Secondary for backseat passengers
11	Massachusetts	13.1	65	Exact speed over the limit determines the fine per mile over.	90 days	Secondary
14	Michigan	25.6	75	Exact speed over the limit determines the fine per mile over.	30-180 days	Primary
11	Minnesota	19.6	70	$1,000 and/or 90 days in jail	90 days	Primary
18	Mississippi	59.6	70	$500 and/or 6 months in jail	90 days	Primary
14	Missouri	39.4	70	$1,000 and/or 6 months in jail	90 days	Primary for passengers ages 8-15. Otherwise, secondary
17	Montana	40.3	80	$200	6 months	Secondary
14	Nebraska	29.6	75	$300	90 days	Secondary
8	Nevada	27.1	80	$1,000 and/or 6 months in jail	90 days	Secondary
18	New Hampshire	14.9	70	$350	6 months	Primary for anyone under age 18. No seatbelt law for adults
17	New Jersey	16.7	65	$200 and/or 15 days in jail	3 months	Primary. Secondary for backseat passengers
16	New Mexico	51.5	75	$200	Drivers under age 21: 1 year. Drivers age 21+: 6 months	Primary
4	New York	14.8	65	$600 and/or 30 days in jail	Yes	Primary
13	North Carolina	34.9	70	$100	30 days	Primary. Secondary for backseat passengers
15	North Dakota	31.7	75	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount. For example: exceeding speed limit by 46+ mph add $5 per mph above limit plus $100	91 days	Primary for anyone under age 18. Otherwise, secondary
5	Ohio	26.7	70	$500 and/or 60 days in jail	90 days	Secondary
10	Oklahoma	49.9	80	$205 and/or 6 months in jail	180 days	Primary
1	Oregon	31.3	70	$2,000	90 days	Primary
14	Pennsylvania	22.3	70	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount. For example: $42.50 for exceeding 65 mph limit, plus $2 for every mph over 5 mph above limit	No suspension	Primary for anyone ages 8-17. Otherwise, secondary
15	Rhode Island	14.3	65	$250+ for going 11 mph or more above speed limit	30-180 days	Primary
11	South Carolina	49.8	70	$200	BAC 0.08-0.14: no suspension. BAC 0.15+: 1 month	Primary
20	South Dakota	27.3	80	$500 and/or 30 days	30 days	Secondary
2	Tennessee	37.4	70	$50 and/or 30 days	1 year	Primary
19	Texas	37.3	85	$200	90 days or 180 days for breath test refusal	Primary
13	Utah	21	80	$870	120 days	Primary
15	Vermont	15.7	65	$1,000	90 days	Primary for anyone under age 18. Otherwise, secondary
2	Virginia	27.3	70	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount. For example: $6 for each mile above the speed limit; $7 in a work zone	7 days	Primary for anyone under age 18. Otherwise, secondary
8	Washington	17	75	$250	90 days	Primary
18	West Virginia	44.3	70	$500	6 months	Primary
13	Wisconsin	24.5	70	$300	6-9 months	Primary
19	Wyoming	55.3	80	$500 and/or 6 months	90 days	Secondary

How drunk driving laws affect car accidents

States that keep strict laws for DUIs see an average of 8.2 fatal drunk driving crashes per 100,000 drivers, while the least strict states see an average of 9.1 crashes per 100,000 drivers.

We ranked the strictest states by looking at the DUI fines, minimum jail times, how long a person’s license is suspended and whether an ignition interlock device is required once someone gets their license back.

We sourced these laws from Nolo, a legal website that publishes guides about insurance, driving laws and other legal topics.

Strictest states on drunk driving

Compare the strictest states on drunk driving, their DUI penalties and their rate of fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers.

Rank	States	License suspension on first DUI	DUI fines and fees	Ignition interlock device required	Fatal crash involving a drunk driver per 100k drivers
1	Oregon	90 days	$1,000 to $6,250	No	10.4
2	Alaska	7 days	$1,500 to $25,000	Yes, if BAC .15 or above	7.2
3	Tennessee	180 days	$350 to $1,500	No	9.4
3	Utah	6 months	At least $1,310	Possible	3.4
3	Virginia	30-180 days	$250 to $2,500	No	7.9
4	Connecticut	6 months	$500 to $1,000	Yes	6.7
5	California	3 months	$1,400 to $2,600	No	6.2
5	Colorado	90 days	Up to $1,000 (DUI), or up to $500 (DWAI)	Yes	7.2
5	Iowa	4 months	$625 to $1,200	Yes, in some counties	8.4
5	Kansas	90 days	$750 to $1,000	No	7.6
5	Washington	3 months	$865.50 to $5,000	Possible	5.7
6	Minnesota	No suspension	$1,000	Possible	4.7
6	South Carolina	90 days	$400 to $1,000	No	13.9
7	Georgia	180 days	$300 to $1,000	Yes, if BAC above .10	9.4
7	Montana	90 days	$300 to $1,000	No	14.6
7	Nevada	90 days	$400 to $1,000	No	8.0
7	Ohio	3 months	$250 to $1,000	No	8.1
8	Arizona	1 year	$250 base fine	Yes	8.7
8	Delaware	90 days	$500 to $1,150	No	6.8
8	Florida	90 days	$500 to $2,000	Yes	9.4
8	Louisiana	30 days	$300 to $1,000	Yes	12.2
8	Massachusetts	90 days or 180 days for breath test refusal	$500 to $5,000	No	4.3
8	Nebraska	Yes	Up to $500	Yes	7.3
8	New York	180 days	$500 to $1,000	No	4.0
9	Arkansas	90 days	$150 to $1,000	Yes	11.5
9	Illinois	90 days	Up to $2,500	No	6.8
9	Oklahoma	30 days	Up to $1,000	No	11.7

Rank	States	License suspension on first DUI	DUI fines and fees	Ignition interlock device required	Fatal crash involving a drunk driver per 100k drivers
10	Alabama	90 days	$600 to $2,100	Yes	12.7
10	Kentucky	BAC 0.08-0.14: no suspension. BAC 0.15+: 1 month	$600 to $2,100	No	8.7
10	New Hampshire	30-120 days	$500 to $1,200	No	5.3
10	North Carolina	91 days	$200 (for level 5 offender)	No	8.2
10	North Dakota	90 days	$500 to $750	No	12.5
10	Texas	6-9 months	Up to $2,000	No	13.7
11	Maine	180 days	$500 to $2,000	No	8.7
12	Mississippi	6 months for DUI. 12 months for breath test refusal	$250 to $1,000	Yes	16.1
12	New Jersey	90 days	$250 to $500	Yes	3.7
13	Maryland	6 months	Up to $1,000 (DUI); up to $500 (DWI)	Possible	6.6
13	Michigan	3 months	From $100 to $500	No	6.7
13	Wisconsin	Drivers under age 21: 1 year. Drivers age 21+: 6 months	$150 to $300	Yes	7.8
14	Hawaii	120 days	$150 to $1,000	No	6.6
14	Idaho	1 year	Up to $1,000	No	10.1
14	Indiana	6 months	$500 to $5,000	Yes	9.0
14	Rhode Island	90 days	$100 to $500	Yes, if BAC .15 or above	6.5
14	Vermont	30-180 days	Up to $750	Possible	3.2
14	Wyoming	No suspension	Up to $750	Yes, if refusal to take chemical test	13.8
15	Missouri	90 days	Up to $500	Possible	10.4
15	New Mexico	6 months	Up to $500	No	15.1
15	Pennsylvania	90 days	$300	No	6.2
15	South Dakota	30 days	Up to $2,000	No	8.1
15	West Virginia	90 days	$100 to $1,000	Possible	9.9

How seatbelt laws affect car accidents

Buckling up is paramount to car safety, but not all states enforce seatbelts the same way. We ranked each state by looking at how seatbelt laws are enforced, child restraint laws and how many people use seatbelts in that state.

The strictest states allow primary enforcement, which means officers can stop you for not wearing a seatbelt without any other violation. Those states also enforce the law for all ages of occupants.

The least strict states typically allow enforcement only if another violation happens, called secondary enforcement. All states have child passenger safety laws for infants and young children. We sourced seatbelt laws from the GHSA and seatbelt use by state from the NHTSA.

Strictest states on using seatbelts

States with strict laws and enforcement for seatbelts see 1.5 drivers or passengers per 100,000 people killed after being ejected from a car. On the other hand, the least strict states see an average of 2.4 people killed per 100,000.

See how state laws and fatal crash rates compare.

Rank	States	Adult seatbelt allowed	Seatbelt enforcement	% Seatbelt use	Fatalities after vehicle ejection per 100K people
1	Alaska	4-7 years and 65 lbs or 57″ tall 7 years, if under height and weight limit	Primary for all riders	94.1	2.5
1	Oregon	8 years or over 4’9″ tall	Primary, age 8+ or 57+” tall	95.7	1.3
2	Alabama	6 years	Primary for all riders	92.3	3.2
2	California	8 years or 4’9″ tall in booster seat	Primary, ages 8-17 Otherwise, secondary	96.0	1.0
2	Hawaii	4-7 years and over 4’9″ tall 4-7 years and 40 lbs. if only rear seat lap belt available	Primary, age 8+	97.1	0.5
2	Louisiana	9-12 years and over 60 lbs.	Primary for all riders	87.5	2.3
2	New York	8 years	Primary, age 8+	94.2	0.4
3	Tennessee	9 years or over 4’9″ tall	Primary, age 13+	91.8	2.0
4	Connecticut	8-15 years and 60 lbs.	Primary, age 16+ Secondary for backseat passengers	93.7	0.7
4	Iowa	6 years	Primary, age 13+	94.6	1.8
4	Ohio	8 years	Primary, age 7+	85.9	1.4
4	Oklahoma	8 years or 4’9″ tall	Primary, age 8+	84.7	2.5
4	Wisconsin	8 years, over 80 lbs. or over 57″ tall	Primary for anyone under age 18 No seatbelt law for adults	90.2	1.9
5	Arizona	5-7 years and over 57″ tall	Primary for anyone under age 18 Otherwise, secondary	90.6	2.0
5	Colorado	8 years	Primary, age 15+	88.3	2.2
5	Georgia	Over 57″ tall 40 lbs. if only rear seat lap belt available	Primary, age 16+	95.9	1.8
5	Illinois	8 years Over 40 lbs. in rear seat if only lap belt available	Secondary Primary for ages 8-14 years	94.3	1.1
5	Kansas	8 years 4-7 years and over 80 lbs. or over 57″ tall	Primary, age 6+	84.9	1.8
5	Maine	8 years or over 57″ tall	Secondary, age 16+ Primary for under 18	88.5	1.3
5	Nevada	6 years and 57″ tall	Primary, age 16+	94.2	1.5
5	New Jersey	8 years or over 57″ tall	Primary, age 16+	90.2	0.4
5	Pennsylvania	8 years	Primary, age 16+	88.6	1.1
5	Rhode Island	8 years, 80 lbs. or 57″ tall	Primary for 18+ Secondary for 14-17 years old	88.3	0.8
5	Washington	4’9″ tall with seatbelt fitted properly 40 lbs. in seats with only lap belt	Secondary, age 6+	93.1	0.9

Rank	States	Adult seatbelt allowed	Seatbelt enforcement	% Seatbelt use	Fatalities after vehicle ejection per 100K people
6	Delaware	8-15 years or 66 lbs.	Primary, age 16+	92.5	1.1
6	Idaho	7 years	Primary, age 8+	85.7	3.0
6	Indiana	8 years	Primary, age 16+ or over 4’9″ tall	94.9	1.6
6	Kentucky	Over 57″ tall	Primary, age 16+ Secondary for backseat passengers	89.7	2.7
6	Maryland	8 years or over 57″ tall	Primary for anyone under age 18 Otherwise, secondary	90.4	1.0
6	Massachusetts	8 years or 57″ tall	Primary, age 8+	81.6	0.7
6	Michigan	8 years or 57″ tall	Primary for passengers ages 8-15 Otherwise, secondary	94.4	1.1
6	Minnesota	8 years or over 57″ tall	Primary, age 16+	93.4	0.9
6	North Carolina	8 years or 40-80 lbs. in seats without shoulder belts	Primary for anyone under age 18 Otherwise, secondary	88.4	1.8
6	North Dakota	8 years or 57″ tall	Primary, age 8+	83.7	3.5
6	Texas	8 years or over 57″ tall	Primary, age 18+	90.9	1.9
6	Vermont	8 years and over 20 lbs.	Primary for drivers under 18 Secondary, age 7+	89.3	1.0
7	Arkansas	6-14 years and 60 lbs.	Primary, age 8+	81.9	2.5
7	Missouri	8 years and 80 lbs. or over 4’9″ tall	Secondary, age 6+	87.7	2.8
7	Nebraska	8 years	Primary, age 15+	79.7	3.0
7	New Mexico	7 years	Secondary, age 13+	91.8	4.6
7	South Carolina	8 years, 80 lbs. or 57″ tall	Secondary, age 18+	90.3	2.6
7	Virginia	8 years or 4-7 years with physician’s exemption	Primary, age 16+	85.4	1.7
7	Wyoming	9 years	Primary, age 7+ or 57+” tall	78.3	8.5
8	Florida	6 years	Primary, age 16+	89.8	1.5
8	Mississippi	7 years, 57″ or 65 lbs.	Primary, age 18+	80.5	4.0
8	New Hampshire	7 years or 57″ tall	Primary, age 8+ or 57+” tall	70.7	0.4
8	Utah	8 years or 57″ tall	Secondary, age 9+	90.2	1.3
9	Montana	6 years and over 60 lbs.	Secondary, age 8+	88.9	4.4
9	South Dakota	5 years	Primary, front seat riders Secondary, backseat passengers	75.2	3.1
9	West Virginia	8 years and 4’9″ tall	Secondary, age 18+	90.2	2.5

How speeding laws affect car accidents

We ranked the strictest states on speeding by looking for low maximum speed limits and strict speeding enforcement through automated traffic cameras. The result? The strictest states on speeding see an average of 8.1 fatal car crashes per 100,000 drivers.

Meanwhile, the least strict states average 8.6 fatal crashes per 100,000 drivers. We found that these states were more likely to prohibit using traffic cameras at all.

We sourced this information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the legal website Nolo. We did not rank states based on their speeding fines but included this information for comparison.

Strictest states for speeding

See how the speeding laws, fines and speed-related fatal crashes compare across the US.

Rank	States	Maximum speed limit	Speeding fines on 1st offense	Speed-related fatal crashes per 100K drivers	Speeding (10 points)
1	Hawaii	60	$200	9.9	8.5
2	Illinois	70	$150	8.3	8
2	Virginia	80	1-10 mph: $170; 11-15 mph: $220; 16-20 mph: $320; 21-25 mph: $470; 26-30 mph: $670; 31+ mph: $870	7.4	8
3	Alaska	70	$250-$2,000	9.4	7.5
4	Alabama	65	1-10 mph: $45-$150; 10-30 mph: $90-$300/15 days; 30+ mph: $180-$600/30 days	9.9	7
4	Iowa	75	$175/30 days in jail	5.9	7
4	Missouri	80	$1,000/6 months	14.3	7
4	New York	70	$30-$300	4.1	7
4	Ohio	70	$100/10 days	7.5	7
5	Kentucky	70	$100	6.3	6.5
6	Colorado	70	$100/10 days in jail	10.3	6
6	Georgia	65	$25-$75	6.4	6
6	Louisiana	70	$65-$625/30 days in jail	5.2	6
6	Maryland	65	$1,000 max.	5.7	6
6	Nevada	70	$100	7.5	6
6	New Mexico	65	$50 min. + $10 for every mph above speed limit	18.2	6
6	Oregon	70	$300 max. for petty misdemeanor	8.7	6
6	Pennsylvania	75	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount	9.1	6
6	Tennessee	80	1-10 mph: $5; 11-15 mph: $20; 16-20 mph: $35; 21-25 mph: $75; 26-30 mph: $135; 31-35 mph: $155; 36+ mph: $205 and/or 10 days in jail	5.5	6
6	West Virginia	80	$500/30 days	14.2	6
7	Connecticut	70	$500 max.	4.8	5.5
7	Delaware	70	$1,000 max.	7.6	5.5
7	Florida	70	$50/30 days ?	3.6	5.5
7	Michigan	70	Infraction: $400; Class B Misdemeanor: $1,000/6 months	6.6	5.5
7	Vermont	80	$300 max.	6.8	5.5

Rank	States	Maximum speed limit	Speeding fines on 1st offense	Speed-related fatal crashes per 100K drivers	Speeding (10 points)
8	Arizona	70	$6 for each mph above speed limit, $7 per mph in work zones	10.7	5
8	Arkansas	70	$500 max.	11.4	5
8	Rhode Island	75	$500 max.	8.6	5
8	Washington	80	Up to 10 mph: $40; 11-20 mph: $70; 21-30 mph: $120; 31 mph+: $200	4.9	5
8	Wisconsin	70	1-10 mph: $50; 11-15 mph: $75; 16-20 mph: $100; 21-25 mph: $200; 26 mph+: $350	7.3	5
9	Indiana	75	$250 max.	8.0	4.5
9	Massachusetts	65	$35-$90	3.0	4.5
9	North Carolina	75	Based on speed	7.8	4.5
9	Oklahoma	70	$100	9.9	4.5
10	Idaho	65	1-10 mph: $95; 11+ mph: $250+	7.1	4
10	Mississippi	75	$15-$200	10.5	4
10	South Carolina	75	1-5 mph: $10; 6-10 mph: $25; 11-15 mph: $75; 16-20 mph: $125; 21-35 mph: $200 ; 36 mph+: $300	22.5	4
11	California	70	Speeding w/ 65 mph speed limit: $42.50; Other violations: $35 + $2 for mph after reaching 5 mph above speed limit	7.0	3.5
11	Kansas	70	$25-$250	9.2	3.5
11	Minnesota	65	$300 max.	4.4	3.5
11	Nebraska	75	Misdemeanor for speeding above 15 mph: $100/10 days in jail	5.4	3.5
11	North Dakota	70	1-10 mph: $15-$25; 11-14 mph: $25-$50; 15-24 mph: $50-$75; 25+ mph: $75-$200	8.4	3.5
11	South Dakota	65	$50-$200 / 15 days	6.5	3.5
12	Maine	75	$15-$100	8.1	3
12	New Hampshire	70	$60-$100	5.1	3
12	New Jersey	70	$1,000 max.	3.0	3
13	Montana	75	$250 max. for most violations; $500/30 days max. for excessive speeding; speeding under 10 mph: $15 + surcharges	12.4	2.5
13	Wyoming	85	$200 max.	17.1	2.5
14	Utah	80	– 1-10 mph: $5 per mph above limit with $25 max – 11-20 mph: $45 + $5/mph when going 10+ mph above limit – 20+ mph: $95 + $5/mph when going 20+ mph above limit	5.3	2
15	Texas	75	$25-$500	11.2	0

Methodology

To measure the states with the strictest laws, Finder collected data on drunk driving, seatbelt and speeding laws across the 50 states using specific metrics. We gave higher scores to stricter states, which we then used to rank each state.

Drunk driving penalties (Total possible points: 10)

Drunk driving minimum jail time (3 points)
Drunk driving minimum fine (3 points)
Minimum license suspension (3 points)
Ignition interlock device required (1 point)

Seatbelt enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

Type of enforcement — primary or secondary (3)
Type of child restraint enforced — rear-facing infant seat, forward-facing child safety seat and booster (2)
Age that adult seatbelt is permitted (2)
Percentage of seatbelt use (3)

Speeding enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

Type of limit — absolute, basic, prima facie, mixed (2 points)
Maximum posted speed limit (4 points)
Minimum speeding fine (2 points)
Auto speed enforcement permitted (2 points)

Previous findings:

At least pre-COVID, summertime in America has meant taking part in a time-honored tradition: the road trip. However, while these states may be united, they are often not only divided by the laws which govern their roadways but on how those laws are enforced.

To find out which state had the strictest driving laws in our nation, Finder compared the penalties for drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, along with licensing laws across all 50 states and found that Delaware is the state with the strictest driving laws overall in the US.

Which state has the strictest driving laws?

According to Finder’s ranking system, Delaware takes top position for the state with the harshest driving laws. If you’re charged and convicted with reckless driving in Delaware, you could be hit with a seemingly reasonable $300 maximum fine and face a minimum of 10 days in incarceration.

While Delawareans need only renew their licenses every eight years, which is one of the longest renewal periods in the nation, citizens are required to pass an eye test at the DMV — no online or mail renewals for people from the Diamond State.

Other factors include a maximum speed limit of 65 mph across the state along with a minimum license suspension of one year and a maximum fine of $1,150 for drunk driving.

Want to know where your state ends up? Check out our interactive map or table.

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Rank	State	Overall score
1	Delaware	27
2	Virginia	25
3	Colorado	24
4	Arizona	24
5	Illinois	23
Tied – 6	Oregon	23
Tied – 6	California	23
8	Georgia	22
Tied – 9	Washington	22
Tied – 9	Arkansas	22
11	Alaska	21
12	Kansas	20
Tied – 13	Minnesota	20
Tied – 13	Alabama	20
Tied – 15	North Carolina	19
Tied – 15	New York	19
Tied – 17	Rhode Island	19
Tied – 17	Hawaii	19
Tied – 17	Nevada	19
Tied – 20	Florida	18
Tied – 20	Maryland	18
Tied – 22	Louisiana	18
Tied – 22	Iowa	18
Tied – 22	Vermont	18
Tied – 22	Tennessee	18
Tied – 26	Missouri	17
Tied – 26	Massachusetts	17
Tied – 26	Utah	17
29	New Hampshire	17
Tied – 30	New Mexico	16
Tied – 30	West Virginia	16
Tied – 30	Indiana	16
Tied – 33	Wisconsin	16
Tied – 33	Nebraska	16
Tied – 35	Ohio	15
Tied – 35	North Dakota	15
Tied – 35	South Carolina	15
38	Idaho	15
Tied – 39	Connecticut	14
Tied – 39	Pennsylvania	14
Tied – 41	Oklahoma	13
Tied – 41	Michigan	13
Tied – 41	South Dakota	13
44	Montana	13
45	Maine	12
46	Wyoming	12
47	New Jersey	11
48	Kentucky	11
49	Texas	10
50	Mississippi	10

Which state has the lowest speed limit?

As you’re making your way across the country, you’ve got to keep your eyes on speed limits that can range from 60 mph to 80 mph on US interstates, depending on the state.

The most common maximum posted speed limit overall in the US is 70 mph. However, seven states — Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming — allow drivers to travel at speeds of 80 mph. At the other end of the spectrum is Hawaii, at 60 mph the state with the lowest posted maximum speed limit.

Maximum posted speed limit in each state

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Data

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Maximum posted speed limit	Number of states	States
60	1	Hawaii
65	8	Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont
70	22	Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
75	11	Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Washington
80	7	Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

States with the highest speeding fines

If you see those blue lights flashing while you’re driving above the posted speed, expect to pull the most from your wallet in Oregon with its steep $2,000 speeding fine.

Driving well above the speed limit? You could face up to six months in jail for speeding in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma and Wyoming. What to expect based on where you’re driving:

Speeding penalties by state

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Data

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State	Maximum Posted Speed Limit (mph)	Maximum Punishment (Fine and/or Jail Time)
Alabama	70	$500 and/or 3 months
Alaska	65	300
Arizona	75	$500 and/or 30 days
Arkansas	75 trucks: 70″	$500 and/or 6 months
California	70; trucks: 55″	250
Colorado	75	100
Connecticut	65	90
Delaware	65	95
Florida	70	250
Georgia	70	500
Hawaii	60	500
Idaho	75; 80 on specified segments of road trucks: 70″	300
Illinois	70	$1,500 and/or 30 days
Indiana	70; trucks: 65″	1,000
Iowa	70	$625 and/or 30 days
Kansas	75	500
Kentucky	65; 70 on specified segments of road	100
Louisiana	75	$500 and/or 90 days
Maine	75	500
Maryland	70	500
Massachusetts	65	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount, for example: – Exceeding speed limit by 10 mph add $10 per mph above limit, with a minimum of $50″
Michigan	70 (65 trucks); 75 (65 trucks) on specified segments of road	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount
Minnesota	70	$1,000 and/or 90 days
Mississippi	70	$500 and/or 6 months
Missouri	70	$1,000 and/or 6 months
Montana	80 trucks: 70″	200
Nebraska	75	300
Nevada	80	$1,000 and/or 6 months
New Hampshire	65; 70 on specified segments of road	350
New Jersey	65	$200 and/or 15 days
New Mexico	75	200
New York	65	$600 and/or 30 days
North Carolina	70	100
North Dakota	75	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount, for example: – Exceeding speed limit by 46+ mph add $5 per mph above limit plus $100″
Ohio	70	$500 and/or 60 days
Oklahoma	75; 80 on specified segments of road	$205 and/or 6 months
Oregon	65; 70 on specified segments of road trucks: 55; 65 on specified segments of road”	2,000
Pennsylvania	70	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount, for example: – $42.50 for exceeding 65 mph limit, plus $2 for every mph over 5 mph above limit”
Rhode Island	65	11 mph or more above the speed limit: Starting at $250
South Carolina	70	200
South Dakota	80	$500 and/or 30 days
Tennessee	70	$50 and/or 30 days
Texas	75; 80 or 85 on specified segments of road	200
Utah	75; 80 on specified segments of road	870
Vermont	65	1,000
Virginia	70	The number of miles per hour over the speed limit determines the fine amount, for example: – $6 for each mile above the speed limit; $7 in a work zone”
Washington	70; 75 on specified segments of road trucks: 60″	250
West Virginia	70	500
Wisconsin	70	300
Wyoming	75; 80 on specified segments of road	$500 and/or 6 months

States divided stance on traffic cameras

How likely you are to get caught speeding often is tied to whether the state you’re driving in permits the use of automated speed cameras. Across the US, only 18 states have laws on the books that allow automated speed cameras, with a further three states allowing them through city ordinances.

At the other end of the spectrum are the eight states where automated cameras are generally or completely prohibited under state law.

Another 21 states are staying out of the argument with no state or city laws about speed cameras.

Most of these states take similar stances on the use of red light cameras.

States with automated enforcement laws

Speed cameras
Red light cameras

Permission status	Number of states allowing speed cameras	Number of states allowing red light cameras
By state law	10	6
By state law and city ordinance	8	15
By city ordinance but not state law	3	2
No state law or city ordinance	21	19
Generally prohibited by state law	1	1
Prohibited by state law	7	7

Which state is hardest on drunk drivers?

Oregon has some of the toughest laws regarding drunk driving in the nation. If convicted, drunk drivers face a minimum jail sentence of 2 days or 80 hours, fines ranging from $1,000 to $6,250, the suspension of their license for a minimum of one year and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device in their cars once they’re back on the road.

Penalties for a DUI in the US vary by the chances of you winding up in jail, whether you’ll need to install an interlock device, how long you’ll lose your license and how much you’ll be out of pocket for a fine.

If you’re caught drunk driving in one of 23 states with Monopoly rules, you’re going straight to jail — do not pass go, do not collect $200. In fact, a DUI charge in Nebraska will have you going to jail for a minimum of seven days.

As far as where you have the chance of paying the most out of pocket, that title goes to Alaska, which imposes a maximum fine of $25,000 for a DUI. North Carolina has the lowest maximum fine at a paltry $200.

Twelve states force those convicted of drunk driving to install an ignition interlock device, which requires the driver to blow into a mouthpiece for a breath sample in order for the car to start.

States that require an ignition device for drunk drivers

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State	Ignition interlock device required?
Alabama	Not required
Alaska	Required for all drunk drivers
Arizona	Required for all drunk drivers
Arkansas	Required for all drunk drivers
California	Required for some drunk drivers
Colorado	Not required
Connecticut	Not required
Delaware	Not required
Florida	Required for all drunk drivers
Georgia	Not required
Hawaii	Not required
Idaho	Not required
Illinois	Required for all drunk drivers
Indiana	Not required
Iowa	Required for some drunk drivers
Kansas	Required for all drunk drivers
Kentucky	Not required
Louisiana	Required for some drunk drivers
Maine	Not required
Maryland	Not required
Massachusetts	Not required
Michigan	Required for some drunk drivers
Minnesota	Required for all drunk drivers
Mississippi	Not required
Missouri	Required for some drunk drivers
Montana	Required for some drunk drivers
Nebraska	Not required
Nevada	Required for some drunk drivers
New Hampshire	Not required
New Jersey	Required for some drunk drivers
New Mexico	Required for all drunk drivers
New York	Required for all drunk drivers
North Carolina	Not required
North Dakota	Not required
Ohio	Not required
Oklahoma	Not required
Oregon	Required for all drunk drivers
Pennsylvania	Required for some drunk drivers
Rhode Island	Not required
South Carolina	Not required
South Dakota	Not required
Tennessee	Required for all drunk drivers
Texas	Not required
Utah	Not required
Vermont	Not required
Virginia	Required for some drunk drivers
Washington	Required for all drunk drivers
West Virginia	Required for some drunk drivers
Wisconsin	Not required
Wyoming	Required for some drunk drivers

What state imposes the largest reckless driving penalties?

Across the US, the average maximum fine for reckless driving is $879, with 31 states imposing a maximum fine of $0 to $999 for the first offence.

However, there are three states where you really don’t want to cop a reckless driving charge, all requiring fines of $5,000 or more: Washington, Oregon and New Hampshire. If you’re caught driving recklessly in Washington State, you could face a maximum fine of $5,000. That figure jumps to $6,250 across the border in Oregon. New Hampshire has no maximum fine for your reckless driving offense but does have a minimum of $500, and no minimum period of incarceration.

Most common maximum fines for reckless driving

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Data

Maximum fines for reckless driving	Number of states
$0 – $999	31
$1000 – $1999	13
$2000 – $2999	3
$3000 – $3999	0
$4000 – $4999	0
$5000+	3

State with shortest licensing renewal period

The average driver license renewal period in the US is every 6.8 years. However, if you live in Minnesota, you’ll need to schedule renewal every four years. Minnesota doesn’t allow license renewals online or by mail, and requires you to drag your butt into the DMV to pass a vision test at every renewal.

Residents of Arizona and Montana can go the longest without having to renew their license, with both states only requiring you to renew it every 12 years. And in Tennessee, residents can renew online or by mail with no need for a vision test.

How your driving record affects your car insurance rate

A cheap auto insurance rate can be tough if you don’t have a clean driving record. Potential car insurers consider driving infractions — from speeding tickets to drunk driving convictions — when underwriting your premiums, and if your record is less than stellar, you can generally expect to pay more for your coverage.

The easiest way to avoid your premiums going up is to keep a clean driving history. However, if you have got a ticket for speeding, running a red light or worse, all is not lost: many insurers specialize in nonstandard insurance policies for high-risk drivers.

Ask the experts

Professor Oscar Brookins
Northeastern University College of Social Sciences & Humanities

During a cross examination of an officer in court, where do most defendants find success?

The key to any cross examination is to seek to undermine the certainty a witness expresses by finding weaknesses in their story. Since authorities are typically purporting to know the laws applicable and to have observed another who violated the law in some regard, so questioning the officer to ascertain knowledge of the relevant statutes and ordinances under which the officer took actions is critical. The officer in making the case is presumed to have been able to see the perpetrator clearly and the circumstances and surroundings where the violation occurred, so questioning the officer to determine if the officer was a careful observer is important. Observations should be unobstructed so questions to determine if a typical person could have seen clearly what the officer’s citation alleges is critical. One might ask an officer what color blouse or shirt the judge or a prosecutor is wearing. Maybe a few questions testing visual acuity by referring to some object in the courtroom or distances between objects. Again using things in plain sight in the hearing room can be an effective way of learning if the officer is observant of their surroundings.

Dr. Tim Query
NMSU College of Business

With young people showing a higher propensity to drive recklessly do you believe raising the driving age would be beneficial? Why or why not?

Based on some research I’ve done in this area, the factors impacting young drivers are mixed. While automobiles are safer, the temptation to drive distracted with smartphones, etc. is greater than ever. Since graduated licensing programs were enacted in the 1990s, the number of young people involved in fatal crashes have been reduced. Graduated Drivers Licensing, or GDL, is a three-stage approach to granting young drivers full license privileges. Most states have some form of GDL laws in place. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of drivers age 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes totaled 4,347 in 2011, down 48% from the 8,325 involved in 2002. The number dropped by another 1,000 to 3,255 in 2017. However, one survey found that 87% of parents think teens will obey GDL laws but that only 56% of teens think they will. Raising the minimum driving age would probably be helpful, since enforcement of GDL laws and texting while driving appears to be lacking. Interestingly, more teenagers are delaying obtaining their driver’s license later than the minimum age, so if this trend continues it might mitigate reckless driving enough to solve the problem without the need to legislated an older age requirement.

Would citizens having their own dashcams help or hurt in the long run?

I would think it would be helpful to have video proof of an accident or other adverse behavior. We are living in an age when video of disputed events are more readily available. Having a dashcam recording questionable behavior might come in handy in situations where there is not someone standing nearby with their smartphone recording the situation. I suppose if having a dashcam somehow resulted in distracted driving it could do more harm than good.

Methodology

To measure the states with the strictest laws and penalties for dangerous driving, Finder collected data on speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving and license renewal laws across the 50 states using specific metrics. We gave higher scores to stricter states, which we then used to rank each state.

License renewal strictness (Total possible points: 10)

Frequency of license renewal required (3 points)
Proof of adequate vision required at renewal (4 points)
Mail or online license renewal permitted (3 points)

Speeding enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

Type of limit — absolute, basic, prima facie, mixed (2 points)
Maximum posted speed limit (4 points)
Auto speed enforcement permitted (2 points)
Automated red light enforcement permitted (2 points)

Drunk driving penalties (Total possible points: 10)

Drunk driving minimum jail time (3 points)
Drunk driving maximum fine (3 points)
Minimum license suspension (3 points)
Ignition interlock device required (1 point)

Reckless driving penalties (Total possible points: 10)

Reckless driving minimum jail time (4 points)
Reckless driving maximum fine (4 points)
Aggressive driving defined by law (2 points)

We sourced data on maximum posted speed limits by state from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), taking the maximum posted speed limit in miles per hour across the categories of rural interstates, urban interstates, other limited-access roads and other roads. Note that some states allow different speeds on specific segments of the highway.

The fine and jail times for drunk driving and reckless driving were for the first offense.

Sources

Automated Enforcement Laws table published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and updated in July 2020
DUI Laws by State table published by Nolo and accessed on June 18, 2020
“License renewal procedures by state,” updated in June 2020 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Maximum posted speed limits by state table published the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and updated in July 2020
Speeding and Aggressive Driving published by the Governors Highway Safety Association
Speeding Laws published by Nolo and accessed on June 18, 2020
State Reckless Driving Laws published by Traffic Violation Law Firms and accessed on June 18, 2020

At least pre-COVID, summertime in America has meant taking part in a time-honored tradition: the road trip. However, while these states may be united, they are often not only divided by the laws which govern their roadways but on how those laws are enforced.

To find out which state had the strictest driving laws in our nation, Finder compared the penalties for drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, along with licensing laws across all 50 states and found that Delaware is the state with the strictest driving laws overall in the US.

Which state has the strictest driving laws?

According to Finder’s ranking system, Delaware takes top position for the state with the harshest driving laws. If you’re charged and convicted with reckless driving in Delaware, you could be hit with a seemingly reasonable $300 maximum fine and face a minimum of 10 days in incarceration.

While Delawareans need only renew their licenses every eight years, which is one of the longest renewal periods in the nation, citizens are required to pass an eye test at the DMV — no online or mail renewals for people from the Diamond State.

Other factors include a maximum speed limit of 65 mph across the state along with a minimum license suspension of one year and a maximum fine of $1,150 for drunk driving.

Want to know where your state ends up? Check out our interactive map or table.

States with strictest driving laws – Visual
States with strictest driving laws – Data

Rank	State	Overall score
1	Delaware	27.00
2	Oregon	25.50
3	Virginia	25.00
4	Colorado	24.00
Tied – 5	Arizona	23.50
Tied – 5	Washington	23.50
Tied – 7	Ohio	23.00
Tied – 7	Georgia	23.00
Tied – 7	Illinois	23.00
10	Kansas	22.00
11	Arkansas	21.50
Tied – 12	Alaska	20.50
Tied – 12	California	20.50
Tied – 14	Alabama	19.50
Tied – 14	Minnesota	19.50
Tied – 16	New York	19.00
Tied – 16	Oklahoma	19.00
Tied – 16	North Carolina	19.00
Tied – 16	Rhode Island	19.00
Tied – 16	Nevada	19.00
Tied – 16	Hawaii	19.00
Tied – 22	Florida	18.00
Tied – 22	Maryland	18.00
Tied – 24	Louisiana	17.50
Tied – 24	Tennessee	17.50
Tied – 24	Iowa	17.50
Tied – 24	Vermont	17.50
Tied – 24	New Hampshire	17.50
Tied – 29	New Mexico	17.00
Tied – 29	Massachusetts	17.00
Tied – 29	Connecticut	17.00
Tied – 29	Missouri	17.00
33	Idaho	16.50
Tied – 34	West Virginia	16.00
Tied – 34	Utah	16.00
Tied – 34	Indiana	16.00
Tied – 37	Nebraska	15.50
Tied – 37	Wisconsin	15.50
Tied – 39	South Carolina	15.00
Tied – 39	North Dakota	15.00
41	Kentucky	14.50
42	Michigan	14.00
43	Montana	13.50
44	South Dakota	13.00
45	Wyoming	12.50
Tied – 46	Pennsylvania	12.00
Tied – 46	New Jersey	12.00
Tied – 46	Maine	12.00
49	Texas	11.00
50	Mississippi	10.50

Which state has the lowest speed limit?

As you’re making your way across the country, you’ve got to keep your eyes on speed limits that can range from 60 mph to 80 mph on US interstates, depending on the state.

The most common maximum posted speed limit overall in the US is 70 mph. However, three states — Nevada, Montana and South Dakota — allow drivers to travel at speeds of 80 mph. At the other end of the spectrum is Hawaii, at 60 mph the state with the lowest posted maximum speed limit.

Maximum posted speed limit in each state – Visual
Maximum posted speed limit in each state – Data

Maximum posted speed limit	Number of states	States
60	1	Hawaii
65	11	Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont
70	21	Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin
75	14	Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming
80	3	Nevada, Montana and South Dakota

States with the highest speeding fines

If you see those blue lights flashing while you’re driving above the posted speed, expect to pull the most from your wallet in Georgia, Illinois, Virginia with its steep $2,500 speeding fine.

Driving well above the speed limit? You could face the worst felony speeding sentence in Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Virginia. What to expect based on where you’re driving:

Fines per state - Visual
Speed laws per state - Data

State	Maximum Posted Speed Limit (mph)	Automated Speed Enforcement	Maximum Punishment (Fine and/or Jail Time)	Licensing Actions
Alabama	70	No statutory provision	$500 and/or 3 months	Suspension or revocation
Alaska	55	Permitted (without S.P.)	$300	Suspension or revocation
Arizona	75	Permitted (without S.P.)	$500 and/or 30 days	Suspension or revocation
Arkansas	60; 50 (trucks)	Limited (with explanation)	$500 and/or 6 months	Suspension or revocation
California	70; 55 (trucks)	Yes by S.P.	$250	Suspension or revocation
Colorado	75	Limited (with explanation)	$100	Suspension or revocation
Connecticut	65	No statutory provision	$200	Suspension or revocation
Delaware	65	No by S.P.	$95	Suspension
District of Columbia	25	Yes by S.P.	$250	Suspension or revocation
Florida	70	No by S.P.	$1,000	Suspension or revocation
Georgia	70	No by S.P.	$2,000 and/or 12 months	Suspension
Hawaii	Local authorities establish maximum speed limit.	No statutory provision	$500	Suspension or revocation
Idaho	75; 65 (trucks)	No statutory provision	$100	Suspension or revocation
Illinois	65	Limited (with explanation)	$2,500 and/or 1 year	Suspension or revocation
Indiana	70; 65 (trucks)	No statutory provision	$500 and/or 60 days	Suspension
Iowa	70	Yes by S.P.	$625 and/or 30 days	Suspension or revocation
Kansas	75	No statutory provision	$500	Revocation, suspension, or restriction
Kentucky	70	No statutory provision	$100	Suspension or revocation
Louisiana	70	Permitted (without S.P.)	$500 and/or 90 days	Suspension, revocation, or cancellation
Maine	75	No statutory provision	$500	Suspension
Maryland	65	Limited (with explanation)	$500	Suspension or revocation
Massachusetts	65	Permitted (without S.P.)	$500	Suspension or revocation
Michigan	70; 60 (trucks)	No statutory provision	$250	Suspension or revocation
Minnesota	70	No by S.P.	$1,000 and/or 90 days	Suspension or revocation
Mississippi	70	No by S.P.	$500 and/or 6 months	Suspension or revocation
Missouri	70	No statutory provision	$1,000 and/or 1 year	Suspension or revocation
Montana	75; 65 (trucks)	Yes by S.P.	$500	Suspension or revocation
Nebraska	75	No by S.P.	$300	Revocation
Nevada	75	No by S.P.	$1,000 and/or 6 months	Suspension or revocation
New Hampshire	65	No by S.P.	$1,000	Suspension or revocation
New Jersey	65	No by S.P.	$200 and/or 15 days	Suspension
New Mexico	75	No statutory provision	$200	Suspension or revocation
New York	65	No statutory provision	$600 and/or 90 days	Suspension or revocation
North Carolina	70	Yes by S.P.	$1,000 and/or 60 days	Suspension or revocation
North Dakota	75	No statutory provision	$500	Suspension or revocation
Ohio	65; 55 (trucks)	Yes by S.P.	$500 and/or 60 days	Suspension
Oklahoma	75	No statutory provision	$500 and/or 6 months	Suspension
Oregon	65	Yes by S.P.	$2,000	Suspension
Pennsylvania	65	Limited (with explanation)	$500	Suspension or revocation
Rhode Island	50	No by S.P.	$95	Suspension or revocation
South Carolina	70	No statutory provision	$400 or 60 days	Suspension or revocation
South Dakota	75	No statutory provision	$500 and/or 30 days	Suspension or revocation
Tennessee	70	Yes by S.P.	$50 and/or 30 days	Suspension or revocation
Texas	85	No by S.P.	$200	Suspension or revocation
Utah	75	Limited (with explanation)	$750 and/or 90 days	Suspension or revocation
Vermont	55	No statutory provision	$1,000	Suspension
Virginia	70	No by S.P.	$2,500 and/or 12 months	Suspension or revocation
Washington	70; 60 (trucks)	Limited (with explanation)	$250	Suspension or revocation
West Virginia	55	No by S.P.	$500 and/or 6 months	Suspension or revocation
Wisconsin	65	No by S.P.	$300	Suspension or revocation
Wyoming	75	No statutory provision	$500 and/or 6 months	Suspension or revocation

States divided stance on traffic cameras

How likely you are to get caught speeding often is tied to whether the state you’re driving in permits the use of automated speed cameras. Across the US, only 18 states have laws on the books that allow automated speed cameras, with a further three states allowing them through city ordinances.

At the other end of the spectrum are the eight states where automated cameras are generally or completely prohibited under state law.

Another 21 states are staying out of the argument with no state or city laws about speed cameras.

Most of these states take similar stances on the use of red light cameras.

Number of states with automated enforcement laws – Visual
Number of states with automated enforcement laws – Data

Permission status	Number of states allowing speed cameras	Number of states allowing red light cameras
By state law	10	6
By state law and city ordinance	8	15
By city ordinance but not state law	3	2
No state law or city ordinance	21	19
Prohibited by state law	8	8

Which state is hardest on drunk drivers?

Oregon has some of the toughest laws regarding drunk driving in the nation. If convicted, drunk drivers face a minimum jail sentence of 2 days or 80 hours, fines ranging from $1,000 to $6,250, the suspension of their license for a minimum of one year and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device in their cars once they’re back on the road.

Penalties for a DUI in the US vary by the chances of you winding up in jail, whether you’ll need to install an interlock device, how long you’ll lose your license and how much you’ll be out of pocket for a fine.

If you’re caught drunk driving in one of 23 states with Monopoly rules, you’re going straight to jail — do not pass go, do not collect $200. In fact, a DUI charge in Nebraska will have you going to jail for a minimum of seven days.

As far as where you have the chance of paying the most out of pocket, that title goes to Alaska, which imposes a maximum fine of $25,000 for a DUI. North Carolina has the lowest maximum fine at a paltry $200.

Twelve states force those convicted of drunk driving to install an ignition interlock device, which requires the driver to blow into a mouthpiece for a breath sample in order for the car to start.

States that require an ignition device for drunk drivers – Visual
States that require an ignition device for drunk drivers – Data

State	Ignition interlock device required?
Alabama	Not required
Alaska	Required for all drunk drivers
Arizona	Required for all drunk drivers
Arkansas	Required for all drunk drivers
California	Required for some drunk drivers
Colorado	Not required
Connecticut	Not required
Delaware	Not required
Florida	Required for all drunk drivers
Georgia	Not required
Hawaii	Not required
Idaho	Not required
Illinois	Required for all drunk drivers
Indiana	Not required
Iowa	Required for some drunk drivers
Kansas	Required for all drunk drivers
Kentucky	Not required
Louisiana	Required for some drunk drivers
Maine	Not required
Maryland	Not required
Massachusetts	Not required
Michigan	Required for some drunk drivers
Minnesota	Required for all drunk drivers
Mississippi	Not required
Missouri	Required for some drunk drivers
Montana	Required for some drunk drivers
Nebraska	Not required
Nevada	Required for some drunk drivers
New Hampshire	Not required
New Jersey	Required for some drunk drivers
New Mexico	Required for all drunk drivers
New York	Required for all drunk drivers
North Carolina	Not required
North Dakota	Not required
Ohio	Not required
Oklahoma	Not required
Oregon	Required for all drunk drivers
Pennsylvania	Required for some drunk drivers
Rhode Island	Not required
South Carolina	Not required
South Dakota	Not required
Tennessee	Required for all drunk drivers
Texas	Not required
Utah	Not required
Vermont	Not required
Virginia	Required for some drunk drivers
Washington	Required for all drunk drivers
West Virginia	Required for some drunk drivers
Wisconsin	Not required
Wyoming	Required for some drunk drivers

What state imposes the largest reckless driving penalties?

Across the US, the average maximum fine for reckless driving is $879, with 31 states imposing a maximum fine of $0 to $999 for the first offence.

However, there are three states where you really don’t want to cop a reckless driving charge, all requiring fines of $5,000 or more: Washington, Oregon and New Hampshire. If you’re caught driving recklessly in Washington State, you could face a maximum fine of $5,000. That figure jumps to $6,250 across the border in Oregon. New Hampshire has no maximum fine for your reckless driving offense but does have a minimum of $500, and no minimum period of incarceration.

Most common maximum fines for reckless driving – Visual
Most common maximum fines for reckless driving – Data

Maximum fines for reckless driving	Number of states in maximum range
$0-$999	31
$1,000-$1,999	13
$2,000-$2,999	3
$3,000-$3,999	0
$4,000-$4,999	0
$5,000+	3

State with shortest licensing renewal period

The average driver license renewal period in the US is every 6.4 years. However, if you live in Minnesota or Ohio, you’ll need to schedule renewal every four years. Neither state allows license renewals online or by mail, and both require you to drag your butt into the DMV to pass a vision test.

Tennessee is the laxest state as far as its licensing renewal laws, allowing residents to renew their licenses every eight years online or by mail with no need for a vision test.

How your driving record affects your car insurance rate

A cheap auto insurance rate can be tough if you don’t have a clean driving record. Potential car insurers consider driving infractions — from speeding tickets to drunk driving convictions — when underwriting your premiums, and if your record is less than stellar, you can generally expect to pay more for your coverage.

The easiest way to avoid your premiums going up is to keep a clean driving history. However, if you have got a ticket for speeding, running a red light or worse, all is not lost: many insurers specialize in nonstandard insurance policiesfor high-risk drivers.

Ask the experts

Professor Oscar Brookins
Northeastern University College of Social Sciences & Humanities

During a cross examination of an officer in court, where do most defendants find success?

The key to any cross examination is to seek to undermine the certainty a witness expresses by finding weaknesses in their story. Since authorities are typically purporting to know the laws applicable and to have observed another who violated the law in some regard, so questioning the officer to ascertain knowledge of the relevant statutes and ordinances under which the officer took actions is critical. The officer in making the case is presumed to have been able to see the perpetrator clearly and the circumstances and surroundings where the violation occurred, so questioning the officer to determine if the officer was a careful observer is important. Observations should be unobstructed so questions to determine if a typical person could have seen clearly what the officer’s citation alleges is critical. One might ask an officer what color blouse or shirt the judge or a prosecutor is wearing. Maybe a few questions testing visual acuity by referring to some object in the courtroom or distances between objects. Again using things in plain sight in the hearing room can be an effective way of learning if the officer is observant of their surroundings.

Dr. Tim Query
NMSU College of Business

With young people showing a higher propensity to drive recklessly do you believe raising the driving age would be beneficial? Why or why not?

Based on some research I’ve done in this area, the factors impacting young drivers are mixed. While automobiles are safer, the temptation to drive distracted with smartphones, etc. is greater than ever. Since graduated licensing programs were enacted in the 1990s, the number of young people involved in fatal crashes have been reduced. Graduated Drivers Licensing, or GDL, is a three-stage approach to granting young drivers full license privileges. Most states have some form of GDL laws in place. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of drivers age 15 to 20 involved in fatal crashes totaled 4,347 in 2011, down 48% from the 8,325 involved in 2002. The number dropped by another 1,000 to 3,255 in 2017. However, one survey found that 87% of parents think teens will obey GDL laws but that only 56% of teens think they will. Raising the minimum driving age would probably be helpful, since enforcement of GDL laws and texting while driving appears to be lacking. Interestingly, more teenagers are delaying obtaining their driver’s license later than the minimum age, so if this trend continues it might mitigate reckless driving enough to solve the problem without the need to legislated an older age requirement.

Would citizens having their own dashcams help or hurt in the long run?

I would think it would be helpful to have video proof of an accident or other adverse behavior. We are living in an age when video of disputed events are more readily available. Having a dashcam recording questionable behavior might come in handy in situations where there is not someone standing nearby with their smartphone recording the situation. I suppose if having a dashcam somehow resulted in distracted driving it could do more harm than good.

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Methodology

To measure the states with the strictest laws and penalties for dangerous driving, Finder collected data on speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving and license renewal laws across the 50 states using specific metrics. We gave higher scores to stricter states, which we then used to rank each state.

License renewal strictness (Total possible points: 10)

Frequency of license renewal required (3 points)
Proof of adequate vision required at renewal (4 points)
Mail or online license renewal permitted (3 points)

Speeding enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

Type of limit — absolute, basic, prima facie, mixed (2 points)
Maximum posted speed limit (4 points)
Auto speed enforcement permitted (2 points)
Automated red light enforcement permitted (2 points)

Drunk driving penalties (Total possible points: 10)

Drunk driving minimum jail time (3 points)
Drunk driving maximum fine (3 points)
Minimum license suspension (3 points)
Ignition interlock device required (1 point)

Reckless driving penalties (Total possible points: 10)

Reckless driving minimum jail time (4 points)
Reckless driving maximum fine (4 points)
Aggressive driving defined by law (2 points)

We sourced data on maximum posted speed limits by state from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), taking the maximum posted speed limit in miles per hour across the categories of rural interstates, urban interstates, other limited-access roads and other roads. Note that some states allow different speeds on specific segments of the highway.

The fine and jail times for drunk driving and reckless driving were for the first offense.

Sources

Automated Enforcement Laws table published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and updated in July 2020
DUI Laws by State table published by Nolo and accessed on June 18, 2020
“License renewal procedures by state,” updated in June 2020 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Maximum posted speed limits by state table published the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and updated in July 2020
Speeding and Aggressive Driving published by the Governors Highway Safety Association
Speeding Laws published by Nolo and accessed on June 18, 2020
State Reckless Driving Laws published by Traffic Violation Law Firms and accessed on June 18, 2020

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Richard Laycock, Insights editor and senior content marketing manager

E: uspr@finder.com

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Sarah George

Writer

Sarah George is Staff Writer for Small Business Loans at BankRate and formally a personal finance writer at Finder focusing on all things banking and insurance. Her know-how has been featured in such publications as CBS, CNET and Reviews.com, and she was a panelist in Finder’s 2020 money-saving webinar. Sarah earned an English education degree and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. See full bio

Sarah's expertise

Sarah has written 134 Finder guides across topics including:

Car, motorcycle, home and life insurance
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Analysis of industry reports
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Strictest driving laws and car accidents by state

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Strictest states for speeding

Methodology

Drunk driving penalties (Total possible points: 10)

Seatbelt enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

Speeding enforcement (Total possible points: 10)

Previous findings:

2021

2020

For all media inquiries, please contact:

Sarah George

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