Pennsylvania posts a maximum of 70 mph on select interstates and turnpike segments, with 65 mph on many other limited-access highways and 55 mph on most remaining state routes. The state is best known for a quirk found nowhere else in the country: only the State Police may use radar, so local municipal police must rely on timing devices instead.
Pennsylvania speed limits at a glance
| Road type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Cities, towns, business districts | 35 mph (56 kph) |
| Residential / school zones | 25 mph (40 kph) |
| Rural highways | 55 mph (89 kph) |
| Interstates / freeways | 65-70 |
About speed limits in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's top posted limit is 70 mph, found on stretches of I-80, I-79, I-99, portions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and other qualifying interstates where the maximum is posted after each interchange. Many limited-access highways remain at 65 mph, and the general maximum on most other state roads is 55 mph. PennDOT periodically raises or restores 70 mph zones after engineering reviews, so the exact ceiling varies by corridor.
The state's signature rule is its radar restriction: Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that forbids municipal police from using radar. That authority has been reserved for the Pennsylvania State Police since 1961. As a result, local departments use non-radar timing systems such as VASCAR and ENRADD, which calculate speed from the time a vehicle takes to cross a measured distance. Bills to give local police radar are introduced regularly but have repeatedly stalled in the legislature.
Urban and residential defaults are typical for the region, with business and residential districts commonly around 25 to 35 mph. Pennsylvania has active work-zone and school-zone protections, and it treats aggressive-driving and work-zone violations severely, including doubled fines in active construction zones.
Automated speed enforcement is limited. Pennsylvania allows speed cameras in active highway work zones and has a targeted automated-enforcement program on Philadelphia's Roosevelt Boulevard, but there is no broad statewide network of fixed speed cameras on ordinary roads.
Enforcement
The Pennsylvania State Police use radar and aircraft-timed enforcement, while municipal police are legally barred from radar and instead use VASCAR and ENRADD time-over-distance devices. Automated cameras are confined to work zones and a limited Philadelphia corridor rather than being deployed statewide.
Tolerance
By statute, a speeding conviction generally cannot stand for less than about 6 mph over the limit, and on roads posted 55 mph or below with timing devices there is effectively a 10 mph cushion before a citation. Practical tolerance still varies by officer and location.
Speeding fines in Pennsylvania
The base fine for exceeding a limit under 65 mph is around $35, plus an added $2 per mph for each mph over 5 above the limit, on top of court costs that inflate the total substantially. Points and license consequences escalate with speed, and construction-zone violations can carry doubled fines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania?
The maximum is 70 mph, posted on select interstates and turnpike segments after each interchange. Many other limited-access highways are 65 mph, and most remaining state roads top out at 55 mph.
Can local police in Pennsylvania use radar?
No. Pennsylvania is the only state where municipal police are prohibited from using radar. That power is reserved for the State Police, so local departments use VASCAR and ENRADD timing devices that calculate speed over a measured distance.
What is the residential speed limit in Pennsylvania?
Residential and business districts are commonly posted around 25 to 35 mph, with 25 mph typical in residential areas unless a sign indicates otherwise.
Does Pennsylvania use speed cameras?
Only in limited settings. The state permits automated speed enforcement in active highway work zones and on Philadelphia's Roosevelt Boulevard, but it does not run a broad network of fixed speed cameras on ordinary roads.
City speed limits in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia speed limit — city defaults, school zones, and camera enforcement.
Speed limits in nearby states
- New York speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- Ohio speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- New Jersey speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- Maryland speed limit — interstate, rural highway, and city limits.
- West Virginia 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.