How Much Over the Speed Limit is a Felony?

Many believe that driving over 100 mph is a felony offense. This is simply not true. Realistically, the only way speeding could possibly lead to a felony is if the driver’s dangerous maneuvers killed or seriously injured someone. Regardless, speeding remains a serious public health issue and can cost a driver their freedom and license–yes, even without a felony having been committed.

Standard Speed Limits in Nevada

Nevada’s speed limits vary by road type and location. For example:

• Residential areas: 25 mph.
• School zones: 15-25 mph when children are present.
• Highways and freeways: Up to 80 mph in rural areas.

These limits help keep drivers and pedestrians safe by reducing the risk of accidents. How much over the speed limit is a felony? In Nevada, exceeding the speed limit by more than 25 mph may lead to felony charges, especially if it involves reckless endangerment or results in an accident. For additional details about Nevada’s speed limit laws, consult Nevada DMV’s official handbook.

Is Speeding a Misdemeanor?

In Nevada, most speeding violations are classified as misdemeanors. Most speeding tickets result in fines, traffic school, or license points. However, speeding can escalate to a more serious offense if:

• The violation involves reckless driving.
• The speed exceeds a specific threshold, leading to potential felony charges.

For example, exceeding 100 mph or causing harm due to speeding may elevate the charge beyond a simple misdemeanor.

Why Is Speeding So Dangerous

Speeding, whether a Nevada misdemeanor or not, robs society of too much:

• Speeding wastes precious gasoline, hurting the climate and the planet.
• Speeding increases the probability of a crash being serious, leading to serious injury and preventable, senseless deaths.
• Speeding makes the economy suffer as it leads to unnecessary property damage and medical expenses.
• Speeding raises the likelihood of losing control of your vehicle, ultimately leading to worse traffic accidents like spin-outs.
• Speeding reduces the safety benefits of airbags, seatbelts, and anti-lock braking systems.
• Speeding increases your car’s stopping distance—this means when you approach the same road hazard as other drivers, you will be far less likely to avoid hitting it.

Excessive Speed Statistics

Are you really familiar with the true dangers of speeding? Since speeding is something people see and do pretty much every day, it has become very normalized. That does not mean it isn’t deadly. Here are a few statistics to help you appreciate the consequences of driving over the posted speed limit:

• 11,258 people died in 2020 due to speeding—this is more than 30 lives every day!
• Sadly, excessive speed and driving drunk and high do seem to coincide. For example, twenty-five percent of speeding drivers under the legal drinking age were drunk or high when they caused deadly collisions.
• In 2020, one-third of all traffic accident deaths involved excessive speed. Imagine the lives that could be spared by simply driving at the posted speed limit!

AB 116 Decriminalized Speeding in Nevada

Effective January 1, 2023, Assembly Bill 116 made it so that misdemeanor traffic violations like speeding, texting while driving, or not wearing a seat belt could no longer lead to arrest warrants in Nevada. Before AB 116, if a driver did not respond to a speeding ticket within 90 days, he or she could have a bench warrant issued for the offense. Such an ignored speeding ticket would lead to simply being found guilty of the infraction.

Driving 30 mph over the posted speed can lead to a misdemeanor moving violation and loss of your driving privileges, according to NRS 484B.600. To be clear, in the State of Nevada, you can be arrested and go to jail for driving 30 mph over the speed limit.

Finally, in Nevada, the only felony charges you can accrue from driving unsafely are a Hit And Run that results in a serious injury, and DUIs, under certain circumstances, can also be charged as felonies. Again, don’t be fooled – misdemeanors can still lead to jail time in Nevada.

What Are the Consequences of a Speeding Ticket in Nevada?

The penalties for speeding in Nevada can include fines, demerit points, and potential license suspension. These penalties may include:

• Fines: Ranging from $50 to $1,000, depending on the severity.
• Demerit points: Added to your license and staying on your record for one year. Accumulating 12 or more points can result in license suspension.
• Traffic school: Sometimes required to reduce points or lower your fine.

The specific penalties depend on the violation’s context. For instance, speeding through construction zones can lead to significantly higher fines and penalties, as outlined in Nevada law.

Does a Speeding Ticket Affect Your Insurance?

Yes, receiving a speeding ticket can increase your insurance premiums. On average, a single ticket may raise rates by 20-30%, Serious violations can raise your rates even more. Factors influencing rate changes include:

• Severity of the offense: Excessive speeding or reckless driving raises rates significantly.
• Frequency of tickets: Multiple violations within a short time frame lead to compounded increases.
• Insurance provider policies: Each insurer evaluates risks differently, affecting premium adjustments.

If you live in Reno, keeping your record clean can help you avoid steep insurance hikes and long-term costs.

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How to Deal With a Speeding Ticket in Reno, Nevada

Addressing a speeding ticket promptly and strategically can minimize its impact. Steps to take include:

1. Review the ticket: Confirm details such as the alleged speed and location.
2. Check Nevada’s laws: Understand the relevant speed limits and potential defenses.
3. Consult an attorney: A legal attorney can help reduce charges or even get your ticket dismissed
4. Consider traffic school: Completing a course may reduce points on your record.

In many cases, negotiating the ticket or challenging its validity can help mitigate the consequences.

Contact Our Reno Accident Lawyers Today!

Unfortunately, many people researching felony speeding online have been the victims of other drivers’ excessive speed. If that is your situation, Kidwell & Gallagher car accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve. We handle vehicle-related personal injury cases daily. Our Reno personal injury attorneys are just a phone call or click away. Dial 775-380-8543 to get your questions answered today or try our contact form.

Craig Kidwell

Craig W. Kidwell is the managing partner of Kidwell & Gallagher, Ltd., and exclusively represents injured workers in Nevada. Mr. Kidwell has been practicing workers’ compensation law in Nevada since 1999 and has acted as lead counsel on over 2,000 contested workers’ compensation claims. Mr. Kidwell represents injured workers in Nevada through all stages of Nevada’s complex worker’s compensation system. Craig regularly appears in all levels of Nevada’s administrative workers’ compensation system and has represented injured workers in Nevada’s districts and Supreme Court.

• With more than 21 years of experience in complex litigation cases in Nevada.
• In 2018, the State Bar of Nevada selected Mr. Kidwell as one of the five co-founding board members.
• Mr. Kidwell has lobbied and testified before the Nevada Legislature on behalf of the Nevada Justice.