Can You Legally Go 5 MPH Over Speed Limit in Missouri & Illinois?
I remember when I first learned to drive, I was told that there was an "understanding" with law enforcement authorities that you could go 5 mph over the speed limit and not get a ticket. Is that really true in Missouri and Illinois? The answer is probably more complicated than you think.
Let's be clear. A posted speed limit is what the legal speed is for whatever stretch of road you're on no matter if you're in Missouri or Illinois. I have been in a high-speed accident and would NEVER condone speeding. Ever. However, the question of whether driving within 5 mph will help you avoid a ticket is interesting.
I used to play racquetball with a couple of Illinois state troopers many years ago and I mentioned this 5 mph speed limit gray area and...they laughed. Hard.
Did you know that the website Illinois Car Laws says you should be OK though? They say (and I quote) "driving less than 5 mph over legal speed limit in Illinois state is typically considered acceptable and you should not get a traffic ticket for it".
The key word is "should". The question of whether you can get away with driving within 5 mph of the speed limit has become a raging conversation on Quora. The consensus is that many (note not "all") law enforcement officers would likely consider within 5 mph within the margin of error and just give you a warning.
What I've found in Missouri is interesting as more than one law website says that even speeding 1 mph over the speed limit can get you an $83 ticket. Ouch.
Let's circle back to my original thought. I never recommend speeding even though I think the Sammy Hagar song is still excellent. The potential danger in a crash increases exponentially for every mph you're traveling at impact. I just found the old tale of not getting a ticket if you're within 5 mph of the limit interesting and that's all.