Michigan Lenient With Speeding: Report

MICHIGAN — Speed kills. We have all been told that since driver’s education class, and yet America drivers routinely exceed the speed limit. To find out which states take the hardest line on dangerous driving behavior, personal finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2018's Strictest and Most Lenient States on Speeding and Reckless Driving.

WalletHub analyzed penalties for speeding and reckless driving in each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics. The data set ranges from what speeds are automatically considered reckless driving to how many speeding tickets it takes to earn an automatic license suspension.

They found that Michigan is the 13th most lenient of all the states when it comes to speeding and reckless driving. Here’s a look at how the state measured up in the report:

Speeding and Reckless Driving Penalties in Michigan (1=Strictest; 25=Avg.):

• 26th – Speeding Automatically Considered Reckless Driving
• 49th – Average Increase in Cost of Insurance After One Speeding Ticket
• 20th – How Much Do Speeding Ticket Points Count Toward a Suspension
• 10th – Minimum Jail Time (first reckless offense)
• 13th – Minimum Jail Time (second reckless offense)
• 36th – Maximum Fine (second reckless offense)

What these numbers show is that Michiganders may not be slapped with the maximum fines, but are more likely to get minimum jail time for first and second offenses, compared to neighboring states. Interestingly enough, this report also shows that the cost of insurance doesn’t increase much after one speeding ticket. Perhaps because it’s already sky-high around many parts of the state?

It also means only 12 states in the country are more lax with speeding than Michigan.

The study also found this about speeding across the nation:

• Nearly three quarters of the states and DC have “absolute” speed limits, which means that exceeding the limit is enough evidence for a conviction. But about 26 percent of the states leave room for interpretation with “prima facie” laws — or a “mixed” combination of absolute and prima facie rules — allowing speeders to argue in court that their speed was in fact reasonable.
• Reckless drivers should expect, on average, to spend at least one day in jail for their first offense and three days for their second offense.
• In most states drivers are subject to license suspension under a point system. Your first offense might not get your license suspended, but enough accumulation of points will. On average, point penalties for speeding will get you 30 percent closer to a suspension.
• The average maximum cost of a ticket for reckless driving is $845, with the lowest being $100 (in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico and Ohio) and the highest at approximately $6,250 (Oregon).
• More than half (52 percent) of states do not automatically cite drivers for reckless driving based on a specific speed threshold or a specific number of mph over the limit.
• 42 percent of states and DC use speed cameras to automatically catch and fine speeding drivers.

What does your driving record tell you? Is Michigan lenient with speeding?

Image via Shutterstock

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