Arizona posts a maximum of 75 mph on rural interstates such as long stretches of I-8, I-10 and I-40, drops to 65 mph on urban freeways, and holds residential and business districts to 25 mph. Anything above 85 mph is criminal, no matter the posted limit.
Arizona speed limits at a glance
| Road type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Cities, towns, business districts | 25 mph (40 kph) |
| Residential / school zones | 25 mph (40 kph) |
| Rural highways | 65 mph (105 kph) |
| Interstates / freeways | 75 mph (121 kph) |
About speed limits in Arizona
The 75 mph ceiling applies only to open rural interstate sections far from city congestion, typically along I-8, I-10 and I-40. Where those freeways pass through metro Phoenix and Tucson the limit falls to 65 mph, and non-interstate highways are usually posted between 55 and 65 mph. Statutory defaults set 25 mph in business and residential districts and 15 mph in school zones. Arizona is one of the faster western states, but the gap between a 75 mph interstate and the criminal-speed threshold is unusually small.
Arizona is known for its criminal speeding law. Under state statute, driving faster than 85 mph anywhere, exceeding the posted limit by more than 20 mph, going over 45 mph in a business or residential area, or over 35 mph in a school zone is a class 3 misdemeanor, not a civil ticket. On a 75 mph interstate a driver reaches the criminal 85 mph line at only 10 mph over, so what feels like normal fast-lane driving elsewhere can become a jailable offense in Arizona.
In town the default is 25 mph in residential and business districts, with school zones typically 15 mph and heavily enforced. Speeding just 11 to 20 mph over the limit is a standard civil violation with points, while the criminal thresholds above turn a stop into a misdemeanor with a possible court date. Local roads near schools and parks often carry the strictest posted limits.
Arizona ended its statewide freeway photo-radar program in 2010 when the state contract expired and DPS removed the cameras. Cities such as Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix kept their own camera programs, and in 2026 Phoenix restarted photo enforcement on high-crash corridors and school zones, even as a statewide ballot measure heads to voters on whether local camera programs can continue.
Enforcement
The Arizona Department of Public Safety runs no statewide freeway speed cameras since 2010 and relies on patrol officers with radar and lidar. Some cities, including Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix, operate their own fixed and mobile photo-enforcement programs on local streets and school zones.
Tolerance
There is no formal grace margin; officers may cite any amount over, though small overages are often ignored, and the practical hard line is 85 mph or 20 mph over, where speeding becomes a criminal class 3 misdemeanor.
Speeding fines in Arizona
A standard civil speeding ticket typically costs somewhere in the low hundreds of dollars once fees are added, varying by court and county. Criminal speeding can bring a fine up to 500 dollars plus court costs, three license points, and up to 30 days in jail.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum speed limit in Arizona?
The highest posted limit in Arizona is 75 mph, found on rural stretches of interstates like I-8, I-10 and I-40. Urban freeways are generally 65 mph, and residential and business districts default to 25 mph.
What counts as criminal speeding in Arizona?
Driving over 85 mph anywhere, more than 20 mph over the posted limit, over 45 mph in a business or residential area, or over 35 mph in a school zone is criminal speeding, a class 3 misdemeanor. It can carry jail time, a fine up to 500 dollars and license points.
What is the residential speed limit in Arizona?
The statutory default is 25 mph in residential and business districts unless a sign posts otherwise. School zones are usually 15 mph and strictly enforced.
Does Arizona use speed cameras?
The state removed its freeway photo-radar cameras in 2010, so there is no statewide highway camera network. Individual cities such as Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix still run their own photo enforcement, and Phoenix restarted its program in 2026.
City speed limits in Arizona
- Phoenix speed limit — city defaults, school zones, and camera enforcement.
Speed limits in nearby states
- California speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- Nevada speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- Utah speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- New Mexico speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- Colorado speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
Related tools
- Convert MPH to KPH — convert any speed reading between units.
- Car speed test — verify your speedometer accuracy.
- Live GPS speedometer — see your actual speed in the browser.
- Stopping distance calculator — how far you need to brake from each speed.
- US speed limits overview — federal background and national patterns.