Can You Legally Go 10 MPH Over The Speed Limit in Maine?

Speeding, let's talk about it.

It's so easy to go 5-10 mph over the speed limit, especially when you're on the highway. I was curious if going 10 mph over is illegal or not.

Here's what I found out.

I find myself sometimes going over 20 mph because my car is just that smooth. However, I do slow down when I notice because that's speeding.

Or is it?

This is to all of you drivers that dream of racing in the Daytona 500.

According to Driving Laws, if there is a speed limit posted, that is how fast or slow you are expected to drive. It's called an "Absolute Speed Limit."

They go on to say, "If the sign says the speed limit is 40 miles per hour and you drive faster than 40 miles per hour, you've violated the law."

What I found that made me giggle was the site stating, a "driver can still be in violation of the basic speed even if driving slower than the posted limit."

I remember once upon a time I got pulled over for driving too slow in Mechanic Falls.

If the nice policeman that pulled me over really wanted to, he could have given me a ticket. But instead remarked that my mother would be proud and "go a little faster for his sake."

So, yes, 10 mph over the speed limit is still speeding, and even though it's not much, you're still violating the rules of the road.

According to Maine.gov, "A person who operates a motor vehicle on the Maine Turnpike or the Interstate Highway System at a speed that exceeds the posted speed by less than 30 miles per hour commits a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than $50."

I also think that it depends on who's patrolling as well. Some police may not care to pull you over, which happens most of the time with me. Some may give you a ticket or some may just tell you to slow down a bit.

Either way, it's technically illegal.

If you want a rundown of traffic infractions and the amount they would fine you, you can check out this document from the Maine Judicial Branch Violations Bureau that was updated as of August 2022. And there are a lot!

So let's just be cautious, drive safely, and follow the rules of the Maine roads.