Study Reveals Wide Gaps in U.S. Speeding Enforcement, With Georgia an Outlier

A new national analysis from Bader Law shows that speeding enforcement varies sharply across the United States, with some states issuing far more citations, processing far more traffic cases, and imposing far steeper fines than others. The review draws on federal fatality data, state‑reported traffic caseloads from 2020–2024, and comparative fine structures.

Speeding remains a major safety threat, contributing to 28% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2024, or 11,258 fatalities. Despite this, enforcement intensity differs dramatically. Bader Law estimates that police issue 40 million+ speeding tickets annually, and states reported 32.43 million traffic cases in 2024 alone — a 4% increase from the previous year.

The study identifies Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Hawaii as the states with the most speed traps. Yet the highest share of drivers with speeding tickets is found in North Dakota (8.7%), followed by Wisconsin and Ohio (7.8% each).

Traffic caseloads show similar disparities. Texas leads the nation with 44.3 million cases over five years, followed by New Jersey (30.8 million) and California (24.6 million). Georgia, however, stands out: despite being only the eighth‑largest state, it ranks sixth with 13.57 million cases and recorded an 11.54% increase in enforcement volume since 2020.

Fine structures also vary widely. California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and Florida impose the highest penalties for driving 10 mph over the limit, while Illinois levies the nation’s steepest fine — $2,500 — for exceeding the limit by 40 mph. Georgia is lenient at low excess speeds but becomes significantly punitive at higher thresholds and enforces a separate “Super Speeder” surcharge for extreme speeding.

Speeding fatalities mirror enforcement patterns. Texas recorded 12,659 deaths from 2014–2023, the highest in the country, followed closely by California with 12,081. Georgia, despite its heavy enforcement, does not appear in the top ten for speeding deaths.

Bader Law’s analysis concludes that the U.S. has no uniform approach to speeding enforcement, with state‑level policies shaping both driver behavior and roadway risk. The firm notes that Georgia’s unusually high enforcement volume — paired with relatively low fines for minor speeding — may be contributing to its elevated caseloads.