What happens if you get a speeding ticket in Arizona?

What the law says

The basic rule. Section 28-701(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes says:

“A person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, conditions and actual and potential hazards then existing.”

The default limits. Under section 28-701(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, unless signs say otherwise, going faster than these speeds is evidence that you were driving too fast: 15 miles per hour approaching a school crossing, 25 in a business or residential district, and 65 elsewhere.

Slower in bad conditions. Under section 28-701(D) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the limit drops to what is reasonable near intersections, railroad crossings, curves and hilltops, on narrow or winding roads, and in bad weather or around pedestrians.

Posted limits. Under section 28-701(C) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, these default limits can be changed under sections 28-702 and 28-703, which is how roads get their posted signs.

Too slow counts too. Under section 28-701(E) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, you may not drive a motor vehicle slower than is reasonable and prudent for the conditions, with an exception for farm equipment.

Most speeding is civil. Under section 28-121(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, breaking a rule in chapter 3 of Title 28, where section 28-701 sits, is a civil traffic violation unless the statute says otherwise. It is not a crime.

The penalty. Section 28-1598 of the Arizona Revised Statutes says that, unless another law provides otherwise,

“a civil penalty imposed pursuant to this article shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars.”

So a civil speeding ticket costs up to $250, under section 28-1598 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The court must also add surcharges under sections 12-116.01 and 12-116.02, which this page does not total.

What changes the answer

Criminal speeding. Under section 28-701.02 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, it is a crime to go over 35 miles per hour approaching a school crossing, or more than 20 miles per hour over the posted limit anywhere. Where no limit is posted in a business or residential district, the line is 45.

Its penalty. Under section 28-701.02(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal speeding is a class 3 misdemeanor. Under section 13-707 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, that carries up to 30 days in jail. Under section 13-802 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the fine is up to $500.

Not both. Under section 28-701.02(C) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, a driver charged with criminal speeding cannot also get a civil ticket under section 28-701 for the same events.

Interstates. Under section 28-702.04 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the limit on interstates outside urbanized areas is 65, and the state may raise it to 75. Speeding there is a civil violation capped by section 28-1598.

The largest county. Under section 28-702.04(D) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, in a county of 3 million or more people the interstate limit is at least 65, unless an engineering study, public input and other conditions support a lower one.

Defensive driving school. Under section 28-3392(A) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, a court must let a driver with a civil moving violation, such as civil speeding, attend defensive driving school. For criminal speeding under section 28-701.02, the court may allow it.

How often. Under section 28-3392(B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, a driver who attends cannot attend again within 12 months of the last violation for which they went. A violation causing death or serious injury is not eligible, under section 28-3392(C).

Commercial drivers. Under section 28-3392 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, a commercial license holder may attend only for a ticket in a private car or motorcycle, not in a commercial vehicle.