What a Delaware speeding ticket is

This page quotes the Delaware Code (delcode.delaware.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026): subsections (a) to (c) of section 4169 of Title 21, on specific speed limits and penalties. It also quotes Section 3 of House Bill No. 363 as amended (legis.delaware.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026), a Justice of the Peace Court document on fines, costs and assessments with sample traffic cases and the court’s traffic FAQ page (courts.delaware.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026), and part of the Division of Motor Vehicles driver license violation page (dmv.de.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026). It does not apply them to any notice. Read any court, charge, speed limit, alleged speed, section number, and amount shown on your notice. Confirm what your notice says.

Another page quotes section 4170A of Title 21, on electronic speed monitoring systems, and subsection (d) of section 4101 of Title 21, on traffic light signal monitoring, with Delaware Department of Transportation program pages: Delaware camera citations: what 21 Del. C. §§ 4101(d) and 4170A say about red light cameras and electronic speed monitoring.

The Delaware Code text below is quoted from delcode.delaware.gov as shown when retrieved on 29 Oct 2026. Each page of the Code site is headed “Delaware Code Online”. Court document rows are quoted cell by cell as printed, for the columns shown.

What 21 Del. C. § 4169 says about specific speed limits

21 Del. C. § 4169 is headed “Specific speed limits; penalty [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 488, § 3].”

21 Del. C. § 4169(a): “Where no special hazard exists, the following speeds shall be lawful, but any speed in excess of such limits shall be absolute evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful for all types of vehicles:”

(1) “25 miles per hour in any business district;”
(2) “20 or 25 miles per hour in any residence district, at the discretion of the agency owning the roadway;”
(3) “20 miles per hour at all school zones where 20 mph regulatory signs are posted and state the time periods or conditions during which the speed limit is in effect; such conditions may include when children are present or while 1 or more warning lights flash;”
(4) “50 miles per hour on 2-lane roadways;”
(5) “55 miles per hour on 4-lane roadways and on divided roadways.”

21 Del. C. § 4169(b): “Whenever the Department of Transportation shall determine, on the basis of engineering studies and traffic investigations or upon the basis of a federal law or directive by the Congress or the President, that a maximum speed limit set pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in any particular place on the state maintained highway system is greater or less than is reasonable or safe, the Department shall declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereat, which limit shall be effective when posted. Such maximum limit may be declared to be effective either part or all of the time and differing limits may be established for different times of the day, for different types of vehicles, for different weather conditions and when other significant factors differ. Such maximum limits may be posted on fixed or variable signs. Any speed in excess of such displayed limits shall be absolute evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page quotes all of subsections (a) and (b). Section 4169 has another subsection, (d), on a part of State Route 1, that this page does not cover. This page does not list the speed limits posted on particular roads, and it does not say whether a sign is posted at a particular place.

What House Bill No. 363 says about a lower speed limit on residential roadways

House Bill No. 363, as amended by House Amendment No. 1, is headed “AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL SPEED LIMITS.” Its Section 3 reads: “This Act is effective immediately, but a lower speed limit on residential roadways may not be enforced until the agency or entity with responsibility for the roadway has posted new signage with the updated speed limit on the roadway.”

That is the bill’s statement. The bill detail page lists the status “Signed 9/8/26” and, under “Volume:Chapter:”, the entry “85:488”. This page does not quote Sections 1 and 2 of the bill, and it does not say which roads have a lower speed limit or where new signage is posted.

What 21 Del. C. § 4169(c) says about penalties

21 Del. C. § 4169(c): “Penalties for violation of this section are as follows:”

(1) “Whoever violates this section shall for the first offense be fined $20. For each subsequent offense, the person shall be fined $25. A subsequent violation, before being punishable as such, shall have been committed within 24 months after the commission of the prior offense.”
(2) “Any person violating this section who exceeds the maximum speed limit by more than 5 miles per hour but less than 16 miles per hour shall pay an additional fine of $1.00 per mile, if such violation is a first offense, or $2.00 per mile, if such violation is a subsequent offense, for each mile in excess of the maximum speed limit.”
(3) “Any person violating this section who exceeds the maximum speed limit by more than 15 miles per hour but less than 20 miles per hour shall pay an additional fine of $2.00 per mile, if such violation is a first offense, or $3.00 per mile, if such violation is a subsequent offense, for each mile in excess of the maximum speed limit.”
(4) “Any person violating this section who exceeds the maximum speed limit by more than 19 miles per hour shall pay an additional fine of $3.00 per mile, if such violation is a first offense, or $4.00 per mile, if such violation is a second offense, for each mile in excess of the maximum speed limit.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page quotes all of subsection (c). This page does not cover section 4105(f) of Title 21, on highway construction or maintenance areas. This page does not say what amount applies to a particular notice, and it does not calculate an amount for any speed.

What the JP Court document says about fines, costs and assessments

The JP Court document is headed “Explanation of Fines, Costs and Assessments”. It states, under “Court Costs:”: “Cases handled through the voluntary assessment mail-in, or online payment procedures carry court costs of $20.00. Cases taken before a judge for a plea or trial incur a court cost of $35.00. Court costs are suspendable in whole or part.”

The document states, under “Fines:”: “Speeding penalties are found at 21 Del. C. §4169(c).” It also states: “Fines are typically suspendable in whole or part at the discretion of the judge.”

The document states, under “Fund to Combat Violent Crime (Police Fund):”: “This $15.00 assessment is required under 11 Del. C. §4101(h) and may not be suspended.”

The document states, under “Court Security Fund:”: “This $10.00 assessment funds physical security measures and security personnel for the Justice of the Peace Court.”

The document states, under “Transportation Trust Fund Fee (TTF):”: “The TTF fee is computed as 50% of the base fine and is suspendable only up to the same percentage as the base fine is suspended. It is authorized under 11 Del. C. §4101(g).”

The document states, under “Victims Compensation Fund:”: “VCF is computed at 18% of the base fine or $10.00, whichever is greater.”

The document states, under “Videophone Fund:”: “This $1.00 assessment offsets the cost of the statewide videophone system used extensively in the criminal justice community.”

The document states, under “Voluntary Ambulance Company Fund Fee:”: “This $10.00 assessment is required under 11 Del. C. §4101(j) and is assessed for all Title 21 violations to include traffic and civil violations.”

Those are the document’s statements. Each of those paragraphs has other sentences that this page does not cover, and the document has other paragraphs, including paragraphs on the DELJIS Fund and the Seat Belt Assessment, that this page does not cover. This page does not quote section 4101 of Title 11, and it does not quote any court rule.

What the JP Court document lists as sample traffic cases

The document lists, under “Sample Traffic Cases” and “Fines, Costs and Statutory Assessments”, “Sample #1” and “Sample #2”. Sample #1 is headed “Speeding 9MPH Over Limit (First Offense)” and “(Paid by Voluntary Assessment - Mail-in)”. Sample #2 is headed “Speeding 15MPH Over Limit (Second Offense)” and “(Paid after Court hearing)”. This page shows each line’s words and its cells for the two samples as printed; in the document, each amount cell is printed after a “$” sign.

Line	Sample #1	Sample #2
“Fine:”	“29.00”	“55.00”
“Court Costs:”	“20.00”	“35.00”
“Victims Compensation Fund:”	“10.00”	“10.00”
“Videophone Fund:”	“1.00”	“1.00”
“Transportation Trust Fund Assessment:”	“14.50”	“27.50”
“Court Security Fund:”	“10.00”	“10.00”
“Ambulance Fund:”	“10.00”	“10.00”
“Fund to Combat Violent Crimes (Police)”	“15.00”	“15.00”
“Total”	“109.50”	“163.50”

Those are the document’s sample cases. They are samples printed in the document; this page does not say what amount appears on a particular notice. The document has other samples, Sample #3 and Sample #4, that this page does not cover. This page does not say whether a newer version of the document exists, and it does not calculate an amount for any speed or any notice.

What the JP Court FAQ page says about voluntary assessment

The JP Court FAQ page states, under “What can I do when I get a traffic ticket?”: “If you have been given a voluntary assessment ticket (check your ticket to see whether you have been offered a voluntary assessment), you may either:”

“pay your ticket by voluntary assessment, without having to go to court; or”
“plead not guilty and go to court”

The FAQ page continues: “If you have not been offered or have not agreed to a voluntary assessment, you must appear in court at the time, date, and place indicated on your ticket.”

The FAQ page states, under “What are all of the fees added to my traffic ticket?”: “When you get a traffic ticket there are other fees in addition to the fine.”

The FAQ page states, under “How do I pay by voluntary assessment?”: “You must pay the total amount in full in U.S. dollars within 30 days of the date you received the ticket.”

Those are the court page’s statements. The FAQ page has other questions and answers, and other sentences in these answers, that this page does not cover. This page describes the Justice of the Peace Court voluntary assessment path only; it does not cover the Court of Common Pleas or any Alderman’s Court, and it does not state any amount from those courts.

What the DMV page says about point credit

The DMV page states, under “Point Credit”: “A speeding violation of 1 to 14 mph over the posted speed limit may not be assessed points, IF”

“It is the first violation within any 3-year period; and”
“The ticket is paid through the Voluntary Assessment Center or Alderman’s Court recorded as “guilty mail in” or through an online payment.”

The DMV page continues: “Only applies to Class D license holders; CDL holders will receive points.”

That is the agency page’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy. The DMV page has other parts, including a table, other text under “Point Credit”, and text under “Serious Speeding Violations”, that this page does not cover.

Paths the notice describes (not which to choose)

Read which law enforcement officer or agency issued your notice, the court named on it, the charge, the date, any amount, whether a voluntary assessment is offered, and the response instructions printed on it. We do not tell you which path to choose or what step to take.

Violation.com does not collect Delaware fines, court costs, or assessments. If you upload a speeding notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.

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Sources retrieved 29 Oct 2026:

Not legal advice. Not a law firm. Not affiliated with a government agency. Information Only.

Information on this page was last checked against official sources on November 8, 2026.