§ 47-11-801 — Basic rule - Maximum and minimum limits – Fines and

Oklahoma § 47-11-801

• Jurisdiction: Oklahoma
• Title 47: Motor Vehicles

Text

penalties. A. Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and any other conditions then existing. No person shall drive any vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than will permit the driver to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead. B. Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with subsection A of this section, the limits specified by law or established as hereinafter authorized shall be maximum lawful speeds, and no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of the following maximum limits: 1. On a highway, part of a highway, or on roads located on lands owned by a state beneficiary public trust, unless otherwise established in law, a speed established by the Department of Transportation on the basis of engineering and traffic investigations used to determine the speed that is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist on the highway, part of the highway, or road; 2. For a school bus, fifty-five (55) miles per hour on paved two-lane roads except on the state highway system, the interstate highway system, and the turnpike system where the maximum shall be sixty-five (65) miles per hour; 3. On any highway outside of a municipality in a properly marked school zone, twenty-five (25) miles per hour, during certain times as provided in Section 11-806.1 of this title and provided the zone is marked with appropriate warning signs placed in accordance with the latest edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways. The Department of Transportation may determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that a speed limit higher than twenty-five (25) miles per hour may be reasonable and safe under conditions as they exist upon a highway, and post an alternative school zone speed limit. The Department shall mark such school zones, or entrances and exits onto highways by buses or students, so that the maximum speed provided by this paragraph shall be established therein. Exits and entrances to controlled-access highways which are within such school zones shall be marked in the same manner as other highways. The county commissioners shall mark such school zones along the county roads so that the maximum speed provided by this paragraph shall be established therein. The signs may be either permanent or temporary. The Department shall give priority over all other signing projects to the foregoing duty to mark school zones. The Department shall also provide other safety devices for school zones which are needed in the opinion of the Department; 4. Twenty-five (25) miles per hour or a posted alternative school zone speed limit through state schools located on the state- owned land adjoining or outside the limits of a corporate city or town where a state educational institution is established; 5. Thirty-five (35) miles per hour on a highway in any state park or wildlife refuge. Provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not include the State Capitol Park area, and no person shall drive any vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour on any state or federal designated highway within such areas; and 6. For any vehicle or combination of vehicles with solid rubber or metal tires, ten (10) miles per hour. The maximum speed limits set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in Sections 11-802 and 11-803 of this title. C. The Transportation Commission is hereby authorized to prescribe maximum and minimum speeds for all vehicles and any combinations of vehicles using controlled-access highways. Such regulations shall become effective after signs have been posted on these highways giving notice thereof. Such regulations may apply to an entirely controlled-access highway or to selected sections thereof as may be designated by the Transportation Commission. A speed limit of seventy-five (75) miles per hour may be set in locations comprising rural segments of the interstate highway system by the Transportation Commission; provided, however, that speed is determined to be safe and reasonable after a traffic or engineering study has been completed by the Department. It shall be a violation of this section to drive any vehicle at a faster rate of speed than such prescribed maximum or at a slower rate of speed than such prescribed minimum. However, all vehicles shall at all times conform to the limits set forth in this section. Copies of such regulations certified as in effect on any particular date by the Secretary of the Transportation Commission shall be accepted as evidence in any court in this state. Whenever changes have been made in speed zones, copies of such regulations shall be filed with the Commissioner of Public Safety. D. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is hereby authorized to prescribe maximum and minimum speeds for trucks, buses and automobiles using turnpikes; provided, however, a speed limit of eighty (80) miles per hour may be set in locations comprising the turnpike system, as may be approved by the Authority. The regulation pertaining to automobiles shall apply to all vehicles not commonly classified as either trucks or buses. Such regulations shall become effective only after approval by the Commissioner of Public Safety, and after signs have been posted on the turnpike giving notice thereof. Such regulations may apply to an entire turnpike project or to selected sections thereof as may be designated by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. It shall be a violation of this section to drive a vehicle at a faster rate of speed than such prescribed maximum speed or at a slower rate of speed than such prescribed minimum speed. However, all vehicles shall at all times conform to the requirements of this section. Copies of such regulations, certified as in effect on any particular date by the Secretary of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, shall be accepted in evidence in any court in this state. E. The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of subsection A of this section, drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hillcrest, when driving upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic, or by reason of weather or highway conditions. The Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority may post, by changeable message sign or other appropriate sign, a temporary reduced speed limit for maintenance operations or when special hazards with respect to pedestrians, other traffic, an accident, by reason of weather, or other hazardous highway conditions exist. F. 1. No person shall drive a vehicle on a county road at a speed in excess of fifty-five (55) miles per hour unless posted otherwise by the board of county commissioners, as provided in subparagraphs a through c of this paragraph, as follows: a. the board of county commissioners may determine, by resolution, a maximum speed limit which shall apply to all county roads which are not otherwise posted for speed, b. the board of county commissioners shall provide public notice of the speed limit on all nonposted roads by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The notice shall be published once weekly for a period of four (4) continuous weeks, and c. the board of county commissioners shall forward the resolution to the Director of the Department and to the Commissioner of Public Safety. 2. The Department shall post speed limit information, as determined pursuant to the provisions of subparagraphs a through c of paragraph 1 of this subsection, on the county line marker where any state highway enters a county and at all off-ramps where interstate highways or turnpikes enter a county. The signs shall read as follows: ENTERING __________ COUNTY COUNTY ROAD SPEED LIMIT _____ MPH UNLESS POSTED OTHERWISE The appropriate board of county commissioners shall reimburse the Department the full cost of the signage required herein. G. Any person convicted of a speeding violation pursuant to subsection B or F of this section shall be punished by a fine as follows: 1. One (1) to ten (10) miles per hour over the speed limit as provided for in Section 11-801e of this title; 2. Eleven (11) to fifteen (15) miles per hour over the limit.............................................$20.00 3. Sixteen (16) to twenty (20) miles per hour over the limit.............................................$35.00 4. Twenty-one (21) to twenty-five (25) miles per hour over the limit........................................$75.00 5. Twenty-six (26) to thirty (30) miles per hour over the limit............................................$135.00 6. Thirty-one (31) to thirty-five (35) miles per hour over the limit.......................................$155.00 7. Thirty-six (36) miles per hour or more over the limit.................................................$205.00 or by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) days; for a second conviction within one (1) year after the first conviction, by imprisonment for not more than twenty (20) days; and upon a third or subsequent conviction within one (1) year after the first conviction, by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 1961, p. 383, § 11-801, eff. Sept. 1, 1961. Amended by Laws 1969, c. 200, § 1; Laws 1970, c. 336, § 1, emerg. eff. April 23, 1970; Laws 1973, c. 112, § 2; Laws 1996, c. 324, § 1; Laws 1999, c. 145, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 1999, c. 328, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 285, § 1, eff. July 1, 2000; Laws 2001, c. 133, § 1, emerg. eff. April 24, 2001; Laws 2001, c. 435, § 7, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 279, § 4, emerg. eff. May 26, 2003; Laws 2008, c. 319, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2015, c. 294, § 1, eff. July 1, 2015; Laws 2016, c. 163, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2016, c. 276, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2016; Laws 2018, c. 237, § 1; Laws 2019, c. 55, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019; Laws 2021, c. 40, § 1, emerg. eff. April 19, 2021; Laws 2025, c. 197, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2025. NOTE: Laws 1999, c. 299, § 1 repealed by Laws 2000, c. 285, § 5, eff. July 1, 2000.