Ohio speed limits, laws and fines
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The following is an overview of the laws, restrictions, and penalties associated with traffic violations in Ohio.
Speed limits in Ohio
Ohio is the only state east of the Mississippi that allows a 70 mph speed limit on non-freeway roads.
70 mph: Ohio Turnpike, rural freeways, and some stretches of US-30 and US-33.
55-70 mph: other divided highways
50–65 mph: City highways and highways.
50 mph: Controlled access highways and expressways in municipal corporate areas.
25 mph: residential and urban areas
20 mph: school zones during school hours
15 mph: lanes in municipal corporate districts
Ohio code at reasonable and reasonable speed
The law of maximum speed:
According to Ohio Motor Vehicle Code Section 4511.21(A), “No one shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed above or below what is reasonable or proper, with due regard to traffic, the surface and width of the street or highway, and any other conditions.”
Minimum speed law:
Sections 4511.22(A) and 4511.25(B) state:
"No one shall operate a vehicle at such a low speed as to impede or obstruct normal and reasonable traffic."
“A person traveling at a slower speed than normal should drive in the right traffic lane or as close as possible to the right curb or edge of the highway.”
The minimum speed limits are usually 40-45 mph.
Due to differences in speedometer calibration, tire size, and inaccuracies in speed detection technology, it is rare for an officer to stop a driver for speeding less than five miles. However, technically, any excess can be considered a speed violation, so it is recommended not to go beyond the established limits.
Ohio has both absolute and superficial speed limit laws. This means that in some cases a driver may claim to have been driving safely even if he was over the limit. Or the driver can go to court and plead not guilty on the basis of one of the following:
The driver may object to the determination of the speed. To qualify for this protection, the driver must know how his or her speed was determined and then learn to disprove its accuracy.
The driver may claim that, due to an emergency, the driver violated the speed limit to prevent injury or damage to himself or others.
The driver may report a case of misidentification. If a police officer records a driver speeding and subsequently has to find him again in a traffic jam, he may have made a mistake and stopped the wrong car.
Speeding ticket in Ohio
First-time offenders may:
Be fined up to $100
Suspend the license for up to six months.
Reckless driving ticket in Ohio
There is no set amount by which speeding is considered reckless driving; rather, the definition is made based on the factors involved in the violation.
First-time offenders may:
Be fined up to $100
Suspend the license for up to six months.
Offenders may be required to complete a remedial driving briefing and/or may receive a speeding ticket or a reduction in points for doing so.
