Arizona speeding laws set default limits of 15 mph near school crossings, 25 mph in business and residential districts, and 65 mph everywhere else, with posted signs overriding those defaults. A ticket is usually a civil infraction with a fine and 3 points on your record, but going more than 20 mph over the limit is a criminal misdemeanor that can put you in jail.
Arizona’s Default Speed Limits
Three baseline limits apply statewide under ARS 28-701 whenever no other limit is posted:1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-701 – Reasonable and Prudent Speed; Prima Facie Evidence
- 15 mph approaching a school crossing
- 25 mph in a business or residential district
- 65 mph in all other locations
Local authorities and the Arizona Department of Transportation can set different posted limits under ARS 28-702 and 28-703. Rural interstates often carry 75 mph signs; urban arterials can drop to 35 or 45 mph. When a sign is posted, that number governs.
Driving faster than the applicable limit is presumed unreasonable. You can argue in court that your speed was safe for the conditions, but the presumption runs against you.
You Can Get a Ticket Under the Limit
ARS 28-701 also requires every driver to travel at a speed that is “reasonable and prudent” for actual road conditions.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-701 – Reasonable and Prudent Speed; Prima Facie Evidence Going the posted speed is not a defense if conditions made that speed unsafe. The statute flags:
- Intersections and railroad crossings
- Curves and hilltops where sight distance is limited
- Narrow or winding roads
- Rain, fog, dust storms, or ice
- Heavy pedestrian traffic or congestion
Rear-end someone during a monsoon at 45 mph in a 45 mph zone and the posted number will not shield you. Officers and judges apply the standard case by case.
When Speeding Becomes a Crime
ARS 28-701.02 turns certain speeds into a class 3 misdemeanor rather than a civil infraction. You are charged criminally if you:2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-701.02 – Excessive Speeds; Classification
- Exceed 35 mph approaching a school crossing
- Exceed the posted limit by more than 20 mph in a business or residential district, or exceed 45 mph where no limit is posted
- Exceed the posted limit by more than 20 mph anywhere else
A class 3 misdemeanor carries up to 30 days in jail, a fine up to $500 before surcharges, and up to a year of probation.3Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 13-707 – Misdemeanors; Sentencing Most first-time offenders avoid jail, but the conviction itself is the lasting problem. It sits on a criminal record, shows up on background checks, and can affect employment, professional licensing, and insurance in ways a civil ticket does not.
Civil Ticket Fines and Points
A civil speeding ticket combines a base fine with mandatory state surcharges. Based on 2025 figures, expect roughly:
- $231 for 10 mph over
- $251 for 15 mph over
- $417 for 40 mph over
Every speeding violation, civil or criminal, adds 3 points to your Arizona driving record. Reach 8 or more points in any 12-month period and the Motor Vehicle Division will either order you into Traffic Survival School or suspend your license for up to 12 months.4Arizona Department of Transportation. Points Assessment Three tickets in a year puts you at the threshold.
Work Zones Double the Fine
Civil speeding fines double in a state highway work zone when workers are present. Warning signs must be posted at least every 2,500 feet within the zone.5Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-652 – State Highway Work Zones; Definition The doubling does not apply when no crew is on site, so passing through empty construction at night is treated as a regular ticket.
Keeping the Ticket Off Your Record
For a civil speeding violation, the court must offer defensive driving school as a diversion option. Complete a state-approved course and the ticket is dismissed with no conviction and no points.6Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-3392 – Defensive Driving School; Eligibility
For criminal speeding, the option exists but is discretionary. A judge can allow it, weighing the circumstances and your driving history, but is not required to.
The program has limits. You can use it only once every 12 months, measured from the date of the last violation you were authorized to attend for. Violations that caused death or serious physical injury are ineligible. Commercial driver license holders cannot use the diversion at all, and a conviction goes to the MVD regardless of any course-taking.
Reckless Driving as an Escalation
Extreme speed can prompt a reckless driving charge under ARS 28-693 in addition to or instead of a speeding citation. A first reckless driving offense is a class 2 misdemeanor with up to four months in jail, up to 90 days of license suspension, and an 8-point hit to your record.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-693 – Reckless Driving; Violation; Classification; License; Surrender4Arizona Department of Transportation. Points Assessment
A second reckless conviction within 24 months becomes a class 1 misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum 20 days in jail and a one-year license suspension. The statute does not fix a speed that automatically counts as reckless; prosecutors build the case from the totality of the driving, with extreme speed as strong evidence.
Insurance and Longer-Term Costs
Insurers in Arizona review your driving record when setting premiums, and speeding tickets reliably raise rates. A single civil violation can push an annual premium up 20 to 30 percent depending on the carrier, and the increase typically lasts three to five years. A criminal conviction hits harder because misdemeanors mark you as a high-risk driver.
If violations pile up enough to trigger a suspension, you will need to file SR-22 proof of financial responsibility to reinstate your license. SR-22 filings usually run three years and come with significantly higher premiums during that window. The fine on the ticket ends up being the smallest line item.