Speeding Ticket Lawyer in St. Louis
Speak With Us for FREE – 314-827-6222
Paying the ticket is pleading guilty
A speeding ticket usually comes with a way to pay it online or by mail. Before you do, know what payment means. Under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 37.49, paying the full fine and costs before your first court date counts as a guilty plea and a waiver of trial. Missouri assesses points after a conviction or a forfeiture of collateral, so once you pay, the points follow.
Paying might still be the right call, but it should be a choice you make knowing the cost to your record.
What Missouri law says about speeding
Missouri's speed limits are in RSMo 304.010. As of August 28, 2026, the maximum on rural interstates and freeways is 75 mph. The maximum is 60 mph on interstates, freeways and expressways in urbanized areas. Cities, counties and the state can set other limits, and the posted limit is presumed to be the legal one.
How serious a state-law speeding charge is depends on how fast you were going:
| How far over the limit | Classification under state law | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|
| 5 mph or less | Infraction (RSMo 304.009) | Fine only, no points |
| More than 5 mph, under 20 | Class C misdemeanor | Up to 15 days in jail and a $750 fine |
| 20 mph or more | Class B misdemeanor | Up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine |
The maximums come from Missouri's general sentencing statutes (RSMo 558.011 and 558.002).
Many tickets in the St. Louis area are written under a city or county ordinance rather than state law. Those go to municipal court, where state law limits the fine for most minor traffic tickets. See our municipal court guide.
How many points is a speeding ticket?
Points come from RSMo 302.302 and DOR's current point table (Form 899):
| Conviction | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 5 mph or less over the limit | 0 |
| Speeding more than 5 mph over, under state law | 3 |
| Speeding more than 5 mph over, under a county or city ordinance | 2 |
| Endangerment of a highway worker or an emergency responder | 4 |
If the reporting court certifies that the violation caused a personal injury or property damage, 2 more points are added. If the same act broke both state law and a local ordinance, points can be assessed for one, not both.
Points add up. Eight points in 18 months means a suspension. See Missouri points and license suspension.
When the speed is much higher
The faster you were going, the fewer protections apply:
- 20 mph or more over makes a state charge a class B misdemeanor instead of a class C.
- More than 19 mph over takes a municipal ticket out of the "minor traffic violation" category (RSMo 479.350). That means the $225 cap on fines and costs, and the limits on jail for minor traffic tickets, no longer apply.
- 15 mph or more over is a "serious traffic violation" for a commercial driver under federal rules, and two of those within three years mean a 60-day disqualification. See CDL tickets.
Work zones, emergency zones and school zones
Missouri adds penalties in several kinds of zones:
- Work zones. For any moving violation in a construction or work zone, the court adds $35 to the fine for a first conviction and $75 for a later one. For speeding or illegal passing when highway workers are present and the required signs are posted ("Minimum $250 fine for speeding or passing in this work zone when workers are present"), the added fine is $250 for a first conviction and $300 for a later one (RSMo 304.582).
- Endangering a highway worker. Going 15 mph or more over the limit in a work zone while workers are present can be charged as endangerment of a highway worker. It carries a fine of up to $1,000 and 4 points (RSMo 304.585). If a worker is hurt or killed, the charge becomes aggravated endangerment, with a fine of up to $5,000 (injury) or $10,000 (death) and 12 points.
- Active emergency zones. The same rules apply, with a fine of up to $1,000 and 4 points, for going 15 mph or more over the limit in an active emergency zone where emergency responders are working (RSMo 304.894).
- Travel safe zones. Where MoDOT has posted "Travel Safe Zone — Fines Doubled" signs, the court may double the fine (RSMo 304.590).
- School zones. A municipal ticket for a violation in a school zone is not a "minor traffic violation" under state law, so the $225 municipal cap doesn't apply. Check the ordinance of the city that wrote the ticket for its own penalties.
None of these added fines changes the points or the court costs.
What outcomes are possible
Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a result. Outcomes that may be available:
- An amended charge. Prosecutors in many municipal courts may offer to amend a speeding ticket to a non-moving or equipment violation. Under RSMo 302.302, equipment violations don't carry points. Whether that's offered depends on the court, the speed and your driving record.
- A driver improvement program. For some violations, including speeding, the court may let you complete an approved driver-improvement course instead of taking the points. This is allowed once in any 36-month period, and the course must be finished within 60 days of the conviction. It isn't available for violations in a commercial vehicle or for anyone who holds or needs a CDL.
- A trial. You have the right to make the city or state prove the charge.
How we help
We look at the ticket, the speed alleged, the court and your driving record. Then we tell you what a conviction would cost you in points and what options are realistic. Where the court allows it, we can appear for you so you don't have to take time off work. Call 314-827-6222 or contact us before your court date.
Back to Traffic Tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many points is a speeding ticket in Missouri?
It depends on how fast you were going and who charged you. Going 5 mph or less over the limit carries no points. Going more than 5 mph over carries 3 points if you're convicted under state law, or 2 points under a city or county ordinance. Two more points can be added if the court certifies that the violation caused an injury or property damage.
Can I just pay my speeding ticket online?
Often you can, but paying the full fine before your court date counts as a guilty plea. The conviction then goes on your record and DOR assesses the points. Talk to a lawyer before you pay if you're worried about points, your insurance or a CDL.
Is speeding a crime in Missouri?
Under state law, speeding more than 5 mph over the limit is a misdemeanor. It's a class C misdemeanor, or a class B misdemeanor if you were 20 mph or more over. Going 5 mph or less over is an infraction. Tickets written under a city or county ordinance are ordinance violations, handled in municipal court.
Do I have to go to court for a speeding ticket?
Not always. Missouri's court rules let a plea be entered without the defendant present when the court, the prosecutor and the defendant agree, and many minor tickets are resolved that way through a lawyer. Each court sets its own practice, so check before you skip a court date.
How much more is a speeding ticket in a work zone?
If highway workers were present and the required warning signs were posted, Missouri law adds a $250 fine for a first speeding conviction in a work zone and $300 for a later one, on top of the regular fine. Going 15 mph or more over the limit in a work zone with workers present can also be charged as endangerment of a highway worker, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 and 4 points.
