The state of Illinois has the steepest potential fines for CDL speeding tickets, and California has the largest minimum fine for CDL drivers who exceed the speed limit.
That’s according to a recent study by TrafficTickets.com, a division of traffic violations law firm Rosenblum Law, which analyzed nationwide data for CDL speeding tickets to determine which states distribute the costliest penalties and which are more reasonable.
The firm studied this data to educate the industry in practicing better safety standards as speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities, and large trucks contributed to 10% of all fatal vehicle accidents (4,014 deaths) in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Of large truck accidents, 74% are attributed to crashes involving tractor trailers. States have specific laws against speeding by CDL drivers because the combination of large trucks and speeding can often result in serious injury or death, which is why 18-wheelers are more often seen pulled over on interstates.
"Not only does this new information help educate professionals in the trucking industry, but it also adds to our knowledge and expertise in the field," said Jobin Joseph, managing attorney at TrafficTickets.com and Rosenblum Law.
States have a range of fines for speeding, but they can vary significantly. The study found that some states are more lenient than others.
In its initial ranking, the study first considered the highest possible fine for a first speeding offense over 15 miles per hour. Illinois topped the list with the highest potential speeding fine at $2,500 and the lowest potential fine at $75. Arizona followed with a range of potential fines from $0 to $2,500. Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Connecticut, Maryland, California, Hawaii and Utah rounded out the top 10.
