Iowa State Patrol to Iowa Drivers: Slow Your Roll
Summer 2021 means warm weather, new-found freedom after a year of pandemic lockdown, and another "Fast & Furious" movie installment, but just because summer itself is speeding by, state authorities say it's no excuse for a record rise in Vin Diesel wannabes on the road. KCRG says reports of excessive speeding are increasing per the Iowa State Patrol, and in some cases, they're going even faster than the normal speed used by patrol and police officers on emergency calls, sometimes up to 140 miles per hour.
Speeding is a misdemeanor that could net you a $30 fine or more depending on how fast you're driving and the more important number is that 165 fatalities have been reported this year, compared to 159 at this time last year. It hasn't slowed down since the start of the pandemic when fewer drivers were out, and the joyriding continues as people head back out. In fact, Iowa State Patrol trooper Rob Battles told We Are Iowa that in his tenure, which started in 1994, the beginning of the pandemic was the start of the worst speeding trend he has seen.
Here is what We Are Iowa posted via the Scheduled Violations and Fines Table from the State of Iowa.
- $30 fine for exceeding the speed limit by 1-5 miles per hour
- $55 fine for exceeding the speed limit by 6-10 miles per hour
- $105 fine for exceeding the speed limit by 11-15 miles per hour
- $120 fine for exceeding the speed limit by 16-20 miles per hour
- Once you reach 20 miles per hour and up, the fine increases by $5 for each mile per hour (EX: 21 mph over = $140 fine)
- $100 on average to speed in a school zone, and potentially 30 days in jail with a $65-$625 fine.