[Study] The Cost of a Speeding Ticket in Arizona

Speeding tickets in Arizona are often costly, but determining the exact fine amounts can be difficult to find sometimes without the help of a traffic violation lawyer or CDL traffic ticket attorney. Although all Arizona citizens must follow the same statutes regarding speeding and traffic safety, the resultant fees may vary from county to county – and in some cases, even precinct to precinct.

In order to make this information easier to find, we worked with data firm 1Point21 Interactive to compile them all in a convenient, interactive visual format.

Violation Codes

Most speeding violations fall under the purview of Arizona Revised Statute § 28-701A:

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 potentials hazards then existing. A person shall control the speed of a vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on, entering or adjacent to the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to exercise reasonable care for the protection of others.

As such, the fines compiled in this asset cover fines associated with violating A.R.S § 28-701A.

Other Factors to Consider in Speeding Ticket Costs

It is important to note that the total cost of your citation may take into consideration other laws you may have violated by speeding. This includes:

• Speeding over a maximum speed limit on highways inside or outside urban areas
• Speeding in a large truck or vehicle with a trailer
• Speeding in a construction zone
• Speeding in a school zone or residential zone

Speeding leading to an accident can be most impactful to your citation costs – especially if a serious injury or death resulted from your reckless driving. This can not only increase your fines, but also potentially transform your civil violation into a criminal offense.

The Cost of a Speeding Ticket in Arizona | By County and Court Jurisdiction

Civil Traffic Violations vs Criminal Traffic Violations

Your speeding fines may also vary based upon when you were charged for a civil violation or a criminal violation.

• Civil violations are typically the common traffic tickets we receive for minor infractions. These are usually handled in traffic court and do not involve any trial proceedings.
• Criminal violations are traffic offenses that involve more severe circumstances. Hit-and-runs, reckless driving, criminal speeding, and repeated civil traffic offenses can result in a criminal traffic charge. Criminal violations are typically misdemeanors, but on rare occasions may be upgraded to felonies. Trial proceedings are standard in these cases, with the possibility of jail time depending on the severity of the charge.

In some counties, there may be a cap to civil traffic fines – but there is typically no limit on criminal penalties.

Your Options Following a Speeding Ticket

In Arizona, you have three options upon receiving a traffic citation:

Option 1: Attend Defensive Driving School

You may be eligible to attend a defensive driving class and have one relevant traffic charge dismissed. You will not be required to pay the fine, receive any points on your driving record, and you will not be required to appear in court. Generally, you may be eligible if:

• Your infraction is eligible to be dismissed by a defensive driving program.
• You have not taken a defensive driving class in the last 12 months.
• Your case is a simple speeding infraction that did not result in a car accident leading to serious injury or death.

Additionally, you must take the class at least 7 days prior to your scheduled court date.

If you are not eligible, you must plead either “Responsible” or “Not Responsible” to any relevant charges. In some counties, this is also known as pleading “Guilty/No Contest” or “Not Guilty,” but the process generally remains the same.

Option 2: Plead “Responsible” to all charges

If you wish to take responsibility for all the charges on your citation, you may plead “Responsible” and pay for the citation in one of two ways:

• Pay online or send in a payment by mail.
• Appear at your scheduled court date and notify the court of your intent. You must either pay the court by the end of the way or be allowed to set up a payment plan.

Option 3: Plead “Not Responsible” to charges

If you believe you are not responsible for committing any of the alleged violations, you may plead “Not Responsible.” At that point, the court will schedule a hearing for you to plead your case. This is an opportunity for you to inform the judge why you feel you are not responsible for any of the violations. A successful hearing may result in a reduction or even dismissal of charges and relevant fines.

The Cost of Defensive Driving Diversion Programs

The option to attend a Defensive Driving class can be beneficial in numerous ways:

• You do not receive points on your driving record.
• Your auto insurance rates may not go up as a direct result.
• You get a refresher on traffic safety, improving your knowledge of the most recent traffic and motor vehicle laws.

However, enrolling in a class costs money too. In some cases, it may even exceed the original fines you were charged for. Costs for Defensive Driving include:

• A Diversion Fee
• A State Fee
• A State Surcharge
• A Course Fee

Each of these can vary by county, precinct, and course provider.

Arizona Defensive Driving Diversion Program Cost by Court Jurisdiction