Arizona Speeding Ticket Cost: What Affects the Total?

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Arizona speeding ticket cost depends on the law you were charged under and on your court: a civil speeding penalty is capped at $250, a waste of a finite resource ticket at $15, and a criminal speeding fine at $500. Surcharges equal to 78% of the base amount are added to each, and courts can add their own fees. For an eligible civil ticket, defensive driving school lets you pay the class costs instead of the fine.

Key Facts

Civil cap: $250 under ARS 28-1598, plus surcharges. See the caps.
Lowest tier: $15 plus surcharges for waste of a finite resource. See the caps.
Criminal cap: a $500 fine under ARS 13-802, plus surcharges. See criminal costs.
Surcharges: four percentage surcharges that total 78%. See how surcharges work.
Court fees: each court can add fees, such as a $70 late and default fee at Oro Valley. See court fees.

What Sets the Arizona Speeding Ticket Cost

A speeding ticket total is built from layers. Arizona statutes set the outer limits, and your court fills in the rest. Five things shape the amount:

The law on your citation. Each speeding tier has its own cap.
Your court. The court sets the amount within the cap.
Surcharges. State law adds a percentage on top of the base amount.
Local fees. Courts can charge fees for things like paying by mail or paying late.
Where it happened. A state highway work zone with workers present adds an extra assessment.

The rest of this guide takes each layer in turn. Numbers come from Arizona statutes and one court’s posted fees, used as an example.

The Penalty Caps by Type

Arizona has three speeding tiers, and each has its own ceiling. Here are the caps before surcharges:

Civil speeding: up to $250. ARS 28-1598 sets that cap for civil traffic penalties, except where another law says otherwise.
Waste of a finite resource: up to $15. ARS 28-702.01 sets this lower cap for going no more than 10 mph over on certain faster roads.
Criminal speeding: a fine of up to $500 for a person, under ARS 13-802. It is a class 3 misdemeanor, so jail of up to 30 days is also possible.

A cap is not the amount you will owe. It is the most the law allows. The amount on your notice comes from your court.

To see which tier fits your ticket, read criminal speeding vs civil speeding Arizona.

How Surcharges Work

Surcharges are added on top of the base penalty or fine. Two laws set them for criminal offenses and civil traffic violations:

ARS 12-116.01: three surcharges of 42%, 7% and 6%.
ARS 12-116.02: one more surcharge of 13%.

Together, those four come to 78%. On a $100 penalty, they add $42, $7, $6 and $13, for $78 in all.

Here is the same math at a few amounts. The last row uses the criminal fine cap.

Base amount	Surcharges at 78%	Base plus surcharges
$15	$11.70	$26.70
$100	$78	$178
$150	$117	$267
$250	$195	$445
$500	$390	$890

These totals include only the four percentage surcharges. Your court may add other fees, covered next. Check your notice or ask the court for your exact amount.

Court Fees on Top

Each court can post its own fees. The Oro Valley Magistrate Court lists several on its traffic page:

$25 court security fee when you pay by mail.
$20 one-time fee under ARS 12-116 if a citation is not paid in full by the date the court imposes sanctions.
$13 assessment on violations from July 20, 2011 on that carry state surcharges.
An extra fee for paying online.
Collection fees if an unpaid balance goes to collections or a tax intercept program.

These are Oro Valley’s fees. Your court may charge different amounts or different fees. Look up your own court’s page or call the clerk.

The Cost of Not Responding

Ignoring a civil ticket makes it more expensive. Oro Valley’s court says a missed response leads to a default judgment for the bond or fine amount.

That court then adds a $70 late and default fee. Your driver license is suspended until the fine and fees are paid.

What goes into the total of an Arizona civil speeding ticket, from the base penalty to late fees

Work Zones Add an Assessment

Speeding in a state highway work zone can cost more. ARS 28-710 covers zones marked by traffic control devices at the start and end.

When workers are present, a driver found responsible for speeding owes the normal civil penalty. The driver also owes an additional assessment of the same amount. In effect, the base penalty doubles.

Worked Examples

These examples show how the layers stack. They use simple numbers, not a real court’s fine for any speed.

A civil ticket paid by mail: say a court sets a $150 civil penalty. The four surcharges add $117, for $267. If that court charges a $25 fee for paying by mail, as Oro Valley does, the total by mail reaches $292 before any other fee.

A waste of a finite resource ticket: the cap is $15. Surcharges of 78% add $11.70, so the most you would owe before court fees is $26.70.

A work zone ticket: say a court sets a $100 penalty for speeding in a state highway work zone with workers present. You would owe the $100 penalty plus its surcharges, and a $100 additional assessment.

An ignored ticket: at Oro Valley’s court, a missed response leads to a default judgment for the bond or fine amount. The court adds a $70 late and default fee, and the license stays suspended until everything is paid.

Paying Over Time

ARS 28-1601 sets the payment rules for civil traffic penalties. The penalty is due within 30 days of the judgment.

If paying at once would be an undue economic burden, the court may give you more time or allow installments. Ask for this before the due date.

Missing a payment has its own cost. The full amount can become due. The court can also start collection and ask MVD to refuse to renew your vehicle registration.

Criminal Speeding Costs

Criminal speeding runs on different rules. It is a class 3 misdemeanor under ARS 28-701.02, so the money limit comes from the criminal code.

The fine can be up to $500 for a person. Surcharges of 78% are added, so a $500 fine would come to $890 before any court fees. The judge sets the actual fine, and it can be less than the cap.

Money is only part of the cost. A criminal case can mean time off work for court, and the law allows up to 30 days in jail. For what to expect, see first criminal speeding ticket Arizona.

Defensive Driving School Instead of the Fine

For an eligible civil ticket, defensive driving school changes the math. Oro Valley’s court says the class dismisses one eligible moving violation, with no fine and no points for that charge.

The class has its own cost. The Arizona Supreme Court’s Cost to Attend School page lists four parts:

Court diversion fee: set by each court.
State fee: $24.
State surcharge: $45.
School fee: set by the school.

For fees effective October 1, 2026, court diversion fees ran from $70 to $250 at adult courts. Our defensive driving school cost guide has the full county breakdown.

The court FAQ adds a key rule. You can go to court or attend class, but not both. For criminal speeding, the class needs the presiding judge’s express permission.

To see whether the class fits your ticket, read can defensive driving dismiss an Arizona speeding ticket.

Five steps to find the real amount owed on an Arizona speeding ticket

Questions to Ask the Court

The clerk’s office can tell you what you owe and how to pay. Before you pay, ask:

What is the full amount on my citation, with surcharges?
Which fees apply if I pay by mail, online or in person?
When is the due date, and what happens if I miss it?
Can I pay in installments if paying at once is a hardship?
Is my ticket eligible for defensive driving school?

Costs Beyond the Ticket

Some costs do not show up on the court notice. Points are one of them.

ADOT MVD’s points page lists 3 points for speeding. With 8 or more points in any 12-month period, MVD may order Traffic Survival School or suspend your license for up to 12 months.

Insurance is another. The court FAQ says your rate should not go up for a ticket dismissed through defensive driving school. For waste of a finite resource, ARS 28-702.01 says an insurer may not treat it as a moving violation for rating.

Common Mistakes

These mistakes can raise the total. Each one comes from the rules above:

Missing the response date. Oro Valley adds a $70 late and default fee and suspends the license.
Forgetting surcharges. They add 78% to the base amount.
Treating the cap as the price. Your court sets the actual amount within the cap.
Paying and then trying the class. The FAQ says you can go to court or attend class, not both.
Letting a payment slide. ARS 28-1601 lets the court send the debt to collection and block your registration renewal.

For the full topic of criminal speeding, see the criminal speeding Arizona guide.

How Requirements Can Vary

Arizona’s defensive driving rules are set by state law and the Arizona Supreme Court, but each court handles its own cases. The total cost includes a court diversion fee that each court sets, so the price depends on the court on your ticket.

Extension allowances also differ by court, from 14 to 60 days on the Supreme Court’s list. If a judge orders in-person attendance, you must take a classroom course.

Court fees can change in April and October each year. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current rules before you register.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a speeding ticket in Arizona?

It depends on the law and the court. A civil speeding penalty is capped at $250, and the criminal fine cap is $500. Add 78% in surcharges and any court fees.

What is the maximum civil fine for speeding in Arizona?

ARS 28-1598 caps a civil traffic penalty at $250, unless another law says otherwise. With 78% in surcharges, a $250 penalty comes to $445 before court fees.

What is the cheapest kind of speeding ticket in Arizona?

Waste of a finite resource. ARS 28-702.01 caps it at $15 plus surcharges. It applies only to going no more than 10 mph over on certain faster roads.

How much is a criminal speeding ticket in Arizona?

The fine can be up to $500 for a person, plus 78% in surcharges. The judge sets the amount. The law also allows up to 30 days in jail.

Is defensive driving school cheaper than paying the ticket?

It depends on your court and school. The class cost is a court diversion fee, a $24 state fee, a $45 surcharge and a school fee. Compare that total with the amount on your notice.

Do surcharges apply to waste of a finite resource tickets?

Yes. ARS 28-702.01 caps the penalty at $15 plus the surcharges in ARS 12-116.01 and 12-116.02. At 78%, that adds $11.70, for $26.70 before court fees.

Can I pay a speeding ticket in installments?

Possibly. ARS 28-1601 lets a court extend the deadline or allow installments if paying at once would be an undue economic burden. Ask the court before the due date.

What happens if I do not pay a speeding ticket?

The court can take action. At Oro Valley’s court, a missed response leads to a default judgment, a $70 fee and a suspended license. ARS 28-1601 also allows collection and a registration renewal block.

Conclusion

Arizona speeding ticket cost starts with a cap set by law, then grows with 78% in surcharges and your court’s own fees. Check your notice, ask the court about fees and payment options, and compare that total with the cost of defensive driving school if your ticket is eligible.

Driving Logic’s Arizona Defensive Driving Course is coming soon. Until then, the court’s list at azcourts.gov/drive shows every certified school.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Florida and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Arizona defensive driving eligibility, deadlines, and fees are set by Arizona law, the Arizona Supreme Court, and each court, and can change. Check the Arizona Supreme Court Defensive Driving Program and the court on your citation for current requirements before you register for a course.