An Examination of the Variation of Speeding Fines Across States

1. An Examination of the Variation of Speeding Fines Across States Zachary Meinen – UW Eau Claire Majors: Political Science and Economics

2. Variation of Penalties for Speeding • Maximum first time penalties • Fine range $20 (ND) up to $1000 (IL, VT, NH, NV) • Wisconsin - $300 • $294 Nationwide average • Limits set state by state

3. ABSOLUTE PRIMA FACIE (12 States) • Exists in most US states • Sets a maximum speed which cannot be surpassed • Only defense is against police conduct or equipment • Latin – at first face • Sets a maximum speed limit • Maximum speed limit can be exceeded • Driver can challenge tickets at by proving the conditions allowed speed

4. Problems with speed limits Theory Practice • Speed limit is the maximum safe speed • Speed limit is based off of perfect driving conditions • Because conditions are always less than perfect speed limits should never be exceeded • Speed limit is the maximum safe speed sometimes • Speed limit is based off of average road conditions. • Conditions are often better than average so speed limits are often exceeded • Prima Facie is a misunderstood concept

5. Previous Research and Relevant Literature • US Department of Transportation – report “Penalties for Traffic Offenses” and “Traffic Speed Limit in the States” • Differences in law specification (absolute or prima facie) do not have an effect on the penalties associated. • Differences among maximum speed limits do not have an effect on the penalties associated. Furthermore, limits are set based on subjective political bias - NOT empirical evidence •  Highest speed limits in states range 60-80mph

6. Evaluation of Recent Data to Review US DOT Findings Correlation between maximum speeding ticket price (MAXT) and type of speeding law was at a very insignificant level - .07 Correlation between MAXT and maximum speed allowed in each state insignificant as well - .09 Conclusion – supports findings by the US DOT

7. Redirection of Research • Penalties may be arbitrary in concern to the law associated with them • But research in this project determines that the difference in penalties can be statistically explained through regression analysis of other economic and social variables • Initially, research looked at general economic variables – income, unemployment, cost of living, HWY spending -variables did not explain the variances

8. Different political variables were researched to determine the apparent subjective nature of speeding laws.  Court room variables  Historical highway safety statistics  Taxing policy  Regional Variable

9. Proposed Equation MAXT = β1 + β2 (JUD) + β3 (SAFE) + β4 (REG) + β5 (TAX) + е JUD – Judicial variable which is a combination of money paid to judges and total money contributed SAFE – Level of safety on roads (Average deaths per 1000 people) REG – Region of the country TAX – Variable which was the level of taxation on cigarettes and gas and liquor (sin taxes)

10. Results Two positive variables  JUD and REG were most significant TAX variable was only significant when considering Cigarette Taxes alone. SAFE  Insignificant

11. POSSIBLE CONCLUSIONS The court system is a good indication of how a state will penalize for a speeding ticket - Mainly because research shows that 70-100% of speeding fines go directly towards the judge’s salary and court room fees. Regional fine variation is a bit more obvious because it could be expected that states impose fines relative to their neighbors. With the safety variable it is not clear whether speeding fines are imposed as proactive or reactive measures to fatal crashes or even rely on these numbers at all The public safety argument though can be made… by a stretch… if one considers more deeply the significant correlation between cigarette taxing and speeding fine variation