A new speeding law, House Bill No. 7260, is now headed to the Senate after successfully passing through the state House. This law is cracking down on Excessive Speed. If passed, drivers caught speeding over 100 mph could face fines of up to $1,000, have their cars impounded, and even face jail time.
Why Lawmakers Are Targeting Extreme Speeders
Lawmakers are targeting drivers who are speeding dangerously and excessively because speeding has been a menace on Connecticut roads. According to The University of Connecticut Crash Data Repository, there were over 5,600 speed-related accidents last year, and 55 of them were fatal.
One of the horrendous accidents was the April 2025 Waterbury crash, where a high-speed car smashed into a storefront, killing all four passengers. Attorney General William Tong called out such recklessness and stressed the need to protect families from reckless drivers.
State Rep. Donna Veach said that drivers are driving dangerously at breakneck speeds, thus the need for tougher rules to make roads safer.
What Are the Penalties?
The new law will introduce a category called “excessive reckless driving” for speeds over 100 mph. The penalties will also be harsher than the current reckless driving law, which starts at 85 mph.
For a first offense, a driver will pay between $200 and $600 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both, and four points on their license.
Repeat offenders will face up to $1,000 fine, one year imprisonment, and have their vehicle impounded for 48 hours. Additionally, one will also have to pay for storage and towing costs.
This law aims to crack down on repeat speeders and stop them from endangering other road users. The law will apply to private roads, municipal roads, public highways, school roads, and parking lots with ten or more spaces.
The Push to Stop “Super Speeders”
According to State Representative Irene Haines (R-34), a sponsor of House Bill No. 7260, speeding has been rampant on Connecticut roads.
“I have a friend on the state police reckless driving task force (who) was telling me one morning for two hours, he stopped 20 people driving in excess of 100 mph,” said Haines.
State Rep. Donna Veach, also a sponsor of House Bill No. 7260, had her earlier proposals included in this bill. Some of her proposals include the introduction of hefty fines and license points for speeds as low as 87 mph.
Why Speeding Remains a Stubborn Problem in Connecticut
While speed-related crashes have dropped by 30% since 2015, Connecticut still has a lot to do. According to The AAA Foundation’s Traffic Safety Culture Index, only 49% of drivers think going 15 mph over the highway limit is dangerous, while the rest don’t see speeding as dangerous. This is the attitude of most rivers, especially middle-aged men.
According to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, speeds spiked after the pandemic because of drops in traffic volumes that made roads feel freer.
The Road Ahead for Connecticut’s Excessive Speeding Crackdown
The bill has already passed the state House and now awaits Senate approval. If it passes, it will go to Governor Ned Lamont for signing. Already, it has received unanimous support in the House, which is a good sign.
Meanwhile, states like Virginia have introduced modern technologies like Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) in cars to monitor speeds for reckless drivers. Although Connecticut has not embraced this technology yet, there are speed cameras installed in cities like Middletown to catch speeders and issue thousands of tickets.
How to Stay Safe
To avoid these strict penalties, you should:
- Adhere to posted speed limits, especially near schools and residential areas.
- Avoid using your phone while driving or changing lanes recklessly.
- If you get issued a ticket but think it is unfair, talk to a traffic attorney or gather evidence like photos to prove your innocence.
While we wait for the new proposed bill to become law, it is important to drive safely to make Connecticut’s roads safer for all road users.