When a driver exceeds the posted speed limit, police officers can conduct traffic stops and issue citations. Most drivers issued speeding tickets may choose to simply pay the fine. Virginia has a unique formula that requires drivers to pay court costs and then a fine of $6 for every mile per hour (mph) they exceed the posted limit.
Although paying a ticket is the equivalent of pleading guilty, many people think nothing of paying the fine, even though they may need to pay more for insurance in the future. They may also continue speeding without modifying their behavior in traffic at all.
Serious speed violations remain a major contributing factor to severe collisions. As such, state lawmakers have adopted a new law that takes effect on July 1st, 2026. The new law imposes a different penalty for drivers accused of extreme speeding offenses.
What does the new law change?
The new law allows the state to mandate the installation of a device intended to limit the speed of a vehicle after a severe speeding violation, making Virginia the first state in the country to impose this penalty. The new law forces drivers to participate in the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program by installing a device that limits the top speed of their vehicle.
This requirement specifically applies to any driver who exceeds the applicable speed limit by more than 20 mph. It also applies to anyone maintaining a speed above 100 mph. Installing a speed-limiting device in the vehicle is actually an alternative to the mandatory license suspension otherwise imposed.
The driver participating in the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program can only drive a vehicle with the speed-limiting device installed. If they get caught driving another vehicle, they could face additional penalties. Tampering with the device could lead to a separate Class One misdemeanor charge. The goal of this new law is to ensure that those exceeding the speed limit the most either stay off the road or slow down for the safety of others.
The new statute could have implications for those who want to fight traffic tickets, as well as those affected by speed-related car crashes. Reviewing a citation or crash with a legal professional can be beneficial for those impacted by speeding or traffic law enforcement in Virginia accordingly.
