Exceeding Maximum Speed (NJSA 39:4-98)

Speeding as defined in NJSA 39:4-98 is one of the traffic violations that New Jersey traffic ticket attorneys see most often. In this article, New Jersey speeding ticket attorney Dan Matrafajlo will describe maximum speed limits in New Jersey and outline the penalties for violating them.

New Jersey speed limits are as follows:

- 25 miles per hour in a school zone when children are visible from the roadway.

- 25 miles per hour in a business or residential district.

- 35 miles per hour in a suburban business or residential district.

- 50 miles per hour in all other locations.

The Commissioner of Transportation can decide that any of these speeds are greater or less than is reasonable or safe for any specific stretch of a highway, and may adjust the speed limit accordingly. In such a case, an appropriate sign will be erected, which drivers must follow.

A driver must also reduce his speed as appropriate at a train crossing, when going around a curve, at the crest of a hill, on a narrow or winding road, or when pedestrians, traffic, weather, or highway conditions warrant it.

Fines and Other Penalties

If you are convicted of or plead guilty to speeding, your punishment depends on two factors: how fast you were going and whether you were in a safe corridor or construction zone. Here are the fines you will have to pay for speeding outside of a safe corridor or construction zone:

- Exceeding speed limit by 1-9 miles per hour, $85

- Exceeding speed limit by 10-14 miles per hour, $95

- Exceeding speed limit by 15-19 miles per hour, $105

- Exceeding speed limit by 20-24 miles per hour, $200

- Exceeding speed limit by 25-29 miles per hour, $220

- Exceeding speed limit by 30-34 miles per hour, $240

- Exceeding speed limit by 35-39 miles per hour, $260

Here are the fines you will have to pay for speeding in a safe corridor or construction zone:

- Exceeding speed limit by 1-9 miles per hour, $140

- Exceeding speed limit by 10-14 miles per hour, $160

- Exceeding speed limit by 15-19 miles per hour, $180

Exceeding the speed limit by 40 miles per hour or more (or by 20 miles per hour or more in a construction zone or safe corridor) requires a court appearance.

In addition to the fines listed above, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will add points to your driving record. If you accumulate enough of these points, you will be subject to additional fines, or even a license suspension (if you have 12 or more points at any time).

The points that will be added to your record for speeding are:

- Exceeding speed limit by 1-14 miles per hour, two points

- Exceeding speed limit by 15-29 miles per hour, four points

- Exceeding speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more, five points

Insurance Rates

New Jersey-licensed auto insurance providers have a separate system of “insurance eligibility points,” which they use to determine the premiums you have to pay. Being convicted of or pleading guilty to a speeding ticket will result in more points and higher premiums for three years.

New Jersey Speeding Ticket Attorney Dan Matrafajlo Can Help

If you have received a speeding ticket in New Jersey, you face serious penalties, including monetary fines, higher insurance rates, or loss of your license. An experienced New Jersey speeding ticket attorney can help protect you and your driving record. I have been representing central New Jersey drivers for years. Please call (908) 248-4404 today to schedule a free consultation.