Everyone, with the exception of the Buick driver parked in the left lane, exceeds the speed limit once in a while. You generally know how much law-breaking you can get away with where you live—a few over on the highway is flow-of-traffic territory, and the constabulary looks the other way. One of those unwritten rules.

But it's important to be aware of the rules that are written, especially when leaving your local comfort zone. For instance, did you know that North Dakota will pull your license for a week and issue a fine for 36 mph or more over the limit? Or that most states have open reckless driving laws that can lead to days or even months of jail time? Reckless driving is generally defined as willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, which can be applied to speeding big time over the limit.

We've compiled each state's maximum highway speed, reckless driving threshold, and mandatory and maximum penalties for reckless driving, as well as any excessive speed laws and their penalties. (Bonus: Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia included at no extra charge!) There's also an image of each state's patrol-car livery, so you know what to watch for when in unfamiliar territory. We offer this information not as a guide of where to speed and where not to, but instead as a reminder that ludicrous speed can get you in serious trouble. So be safe out there, America.

Notes: All penalties listed are for the first offense. (We're thinking that should be enough of a deterrent. If you go for two, we really can't help you.) And we don't get into the intricacies of points systems, which can lead to higher fines and longer license suspensions.

Road & Track

ALABAMA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 6-month license suspension

Road & Track

ALASKA

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license suspension; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day-plus license suspension

Road & Track

ARIZONA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 35 mph in a school zone, 20 mph above the limit, exceeding 85 mph

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; class 3 misdemeanor

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $500 fine

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 2 misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 4 months imprisonment, $750 fine, 90-day license suspension

Road & Track

ARKANSAS

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

CALIFORNIA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension

Road & Track

COLORADO

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: 25 mph above limit

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 2 misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

CONNECTICUT

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: 85 mph

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license suspension

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 90-day license suspension

Road & Track

DELAWARE

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $100 fine; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

FLORIDA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

GEORGIA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, 5-year license suspension

Road & Track

HAWAII

Max Highway Speed: 60 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 80 mph, 30 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 6 hours community service or 2 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 30-day license suspension

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 5 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; petty misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, license revocation

Road & Track

IDAHO

Max Highway Speed: 80 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 30-day license suspension

Road & Track

ILLINOIS

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 26 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor (26 mph above limit), class A misdemeanor (35 mph above limit)

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1500 fine (class B); 12 months imprisonment, $2500 fine (class A)

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class A misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $2500 fine, 1-year license revocation

Road & Track

INDIANA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 180 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

IOWA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; simple misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

KANSAS

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license revocation

Road & Track

KENTUCKY

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Careless/Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Careless/Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none

Careless/Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $100 fine, 2-year license revocation

Road & Track

LOUISIANA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 1-year license revocation

Careless-Driving Threshold: none

Careless-Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Careless-Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $175 fine, 1-year license revocation

Road & Track

MAINE

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; class E crime

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension

Road & Track

MARYLAND

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $1000 fine, 2-year license revocation

Road & Track

MASSACHUSETTS

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 60-day license revocation; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 2 years imprisonment, $200 fine, 60-day-plus license revocation

Road & Track

MICHIGAN

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 90-day license suspension;

misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $100 fine, 90-day license suspension

Felonious Driving Threshold: none

Felonious Driving Mandatory Penalty: 1-year license suspension; felony

Felonious Driving Maximum Penalty: 2 years imprisonment, $2000 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

MINNESOTA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 100 mph

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 6-month license revocation

Reckless or Careless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless or Careless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $300 fine; misdemeanor

Reckless or Careless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

MISSISSIPPI

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $100 fine, license suspension

Road & Track

MISSOURI

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: 20 mph above limit

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 30-day license suspension

Road & Track

MONTANA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

NEBRASKA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Willful Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Willful Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license revocation; class III misdemeanor

Willful Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license revocation

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class III misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 6-month license revocation

Road & Track

NEVADA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $250 fine, 60-day license revocation; violation

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $500 fine, 60-day license revocation

Road & Track

NEW JERSEY

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; quasi-criminal/petty offense

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 60 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 180-day license suspension

Road & Track

NEW MEXICO

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $100 fine, 90-day license suspension

Road & Track

NEW YORK

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $180 fine

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $600 fine

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $100 fine

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $300 fine, license suspension

Road & Track

NORTH CAROLINA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 60-day license suspension if 15 mph above 55-mph-or-higher limit or above 80 mph and reckless driving; class 2 misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 60 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

NORTH DAKOTA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 36 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $155 fine, 7-day license suspension

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: $170-plus fine, 7-day-plus license suspension

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $1000 fine, 7-day-plus license suspension

Road & Track

OHIO

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; minor misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $100 fine, 6-month license suspension

Road & Track

OKLAHOMA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: $100 fine; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

OREGON

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 100 mph

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $1150 fine, 30-day license suspension

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: $1150 fine, 90-day license suspension

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 90-day license suspension; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $5000 fine, 90-day license suspension

Road & Track

PENNSYLVANIA

Max Highway Speed: 65–70 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 31 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 15-day license suspension and/or special on-road driver's examination

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 6-month license suspension

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $200 fine, 6-month license suspension

Road & Track

RHODE ISLAND

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $500 fine, 30-day license suspension

Road & Track

SOUTH CAROLINA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 25 mph above limit

none

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $200 fine, license suspension

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 6-month license suspension

Road & Track

SOUTH DAKOTA

Max Highway Speed: 75 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 1 misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, license suspension

Road & Track

TENNESSEE

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $500 fine, license suspension

Road & Track

TEXAS

Max Highway Speed: 85 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 30 days imprisonment, $200 fine, 1-year license suspension or indefinite revocation

Road & Track

UTAH

Max Highway Speed: 80 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class B misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $1000 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

VERMONT

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $300 fine, 30-day-plus license suspension

Negligent Motor Vehicle Operation Threshold: none

Negligent Motor Vehicle Operation Mandatory Penalty: 30-day license suspension; misdemeanor

Negligent Motor Vehicle Operation Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $1000 fine, 30-day license suspension

Road & Track

VIRGINIA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: 80 mph, 20 mph over a 30-mph-or-higher limit, 60 mph in a 35-mph zone

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; class 1 misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 12 months imprisonment, $2500 fine, 6-month license suspension

Note: Failure to give proper signals—for intent to turn, change lanes, slow down, or stop—is considered reckless driving in Virginia.

Road & Track

WASHINGTON

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: 1 mph above limit (speeding can be used as evidence of reckless driving, but generally speed along won't lead to a reckless driving charge)

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; gross misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 1 year imprisonment, $5000 fine, 1-year license suspension

Note: The act of "embracing another while driving" is considered reckless driving.

Road & Track

WEST VIRGINIA

Max Highway Speed: 70 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

WISCONSIN

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 25 mph above a 55- or 65-mph limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: 15-day license suspension

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: $300 fine, 15-day license suspension

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; civil forfeiture

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: $200 fine, 1-year license suspension

Road & Track

WYOMING

Max Highway Speed: 80 mph

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 90-day license suspension; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $750 fine, 90-day license suspension

Getty Images

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Max Highway Speed: 50 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 30 mph above limit

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: none

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 90 days imprisonment, $300 fine, 90-day license suspension

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: 6-month license revocation

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 3 months imprisonment, $250 fine, 6-month license revocation

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Wiki Commons

PUERTO RICO

Max Highway Speed: 65 mph

Excessive Speed Threshold: 100 mph

Excessive Speed Mandatory Penalty: $500 fine, 1-month license suspension

Excessive Speed Maximum Penalty: 10 days imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-month license suspension

Reckless Driving Threshold: none

Reckless Driving Mandatory Penalty: none; misdemeanor

Reckless Driving Maximum Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, $500 fine, 1-year license suspension

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