Following is an overview of the laws, limits, and fines as they relate to speeding traffic violations in the state of Oklahoma.
Speed limits in Oklahoma
75 mph: turnpikes and rural interstates
70 mph: other freeways
65 mph: most rural highways
55 mph: county roads
45 mph: State Capitol Park area
35 mph: state parks and wildlife refuges
25 mph: school zones (the state may establish higher speed limits in specific school zones)
Oklahoma code on reasonable and prudent speed
Maximum speed law:
According to section 11-801(A) of OK vehicle code, “A person shall drive a vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway (turnpike) and any other conditions then existing.”
Minimum speed law:
Sections 11-804(a) and 11-301(B) states:
“No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.”
“A person driving at less than the normal speed of traffic shall drive in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.”
Minimum posted speeds on interstates and highways are typically 25 mph below the maximum posted speed (i.e. 50 mph in a 75 mph zone).
Due to variations in speedometer calibration, tire size, and margins of error in speed-detecting technology, it’s uncommon for an officer to pull a driver over for going less than five miles above the speed limit. However, technically any amount over can be considered a speed violation so best practices are to stay within the limit.
While it may be difficult to fight a speeding ticket in Oklahoma due to the absolute speed limit law, a driver may choose to go to court and claim their innocence based upon one of the following:
The driver may oppose the determination of speed. In order to claim this defense a driver must know how his or her speed was determined and then learn how to disprove its accuracy.
A driver may claim that an emergency situation caused the driver to break the speed limit in order to prevent injury or damage to themselves or others
The driver may claim a case of mistaken identity. If a police officer clocks a driver speeding and subsequently has to find them again in traffic, it’s possible that they could have made a mistake and pulled the wrong car over.
Penalty for exceeding the speed limit in Oklahoma
First-time violators may:
Be fined up to $500
Be sentenced to up to 10 days of jail time
Have their license suspended for up to one year
Penalty for reckless driving in Oklahoma
There is no set speed in Oklahoma at which violating the speed limit is considered reckless driving. That determination depends upon the circumstances surrounding the violation.
First-time violators may:
Be fined between $250 and $500
Be sentenced to between five and 90 days of jail time
Have their license suspended for up to one year
Violators may be required to attend driver improvement or defensive driving courses.
