What a Minnesota speeding ticket is
This page quotes the Minnesota Statutes (revisor.mn.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026): subdivisions 1, 1a, 2, 5a, 5d, and 6a of section 169.14, on speed limits, and subdivision 6 of section 171.12, on driving records. It also quotes rows and notes of the 2026 State Payables List for traffic and criminal offenses (Minnesota Legislative Reference Library copy, lrl.mn.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.
US overview: What a speeding ticket notice is. Contrast: What an NYC speeding ticket is · What a California speeding ticket is · What a Florida speeding ticket is · What a Pennsylvania speeding ticket is · What a Virginia speeding ticket is · What a Colorado speeding ticket is · What a Maryland speeding ticket is · What a Tennessee speeding ticket is · What a Washington speeding ticket is · What a New Mexico speeding ticket is · What an Arizona speeding ticket is · What an Illinois speeding ticket is · What an Alabama speeding ticket is · What an Iowa speeding ticket is · What a Texas speeding ticket is · What a Louisiana speeding ticket is · What an Oregon speeding ticket is · What a Rhode Island speeding ticket is · What a North Carolina speeding ticket is · What an Ohio speeding ticket is · What a Michigan speeding ticket is · What a Massachusetts speeding ticket is · What a South Carolina speeding ticket is · What a New Jersey speeding ticket is · What a Wisconsin speeding ticket is.
Another page quotes subdivisions 13 and 14 of section 169.14, on speed safety cameras, with other Minnesota sections on the traffic safety camera pilot program: Minnesota camera citations: what Minn. Stat. §§ 169.147, 169.14 and 169.06 say about the traffic safety camera pilot program.
The Minnesota Statutes text below is quoted from revisor.mn.gov as shown when retrieved on 29 Oct 2026. Each section page on the statutes site is headed “2026 Minnesota Statutes”. List rows are quoted cell by cell as printed, for the columns shown.
What Minn. Stat. § 169.14 says about speed limits
Minn. Stat. § 169.14 is headed “SPEED LIMITS, ZONES; RADAR.”
§ 169.14, subd. 1 is headed “Duty to drive with due care.” It reads: “No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions. Every driver is responsible for becoming and remaining aware of the actual and potential hazards then existing on the highway and must use due care in operating a vehicle. In every event speed shall be so restricted as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.”
§ 169.14, subd. 2 is headed “Speed limits.”
§ 169.14, subd. 2(a): “Where no special hazard exists the following speeds shall be lawful, but any speeds in excess of such limits shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful; except that the speed limit within any municipality shall be a maximum limit and any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful:”
- (1) “30 miles per hour in an urban district;”
- (2) “65 miles per hour on noninterstate expressways, as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 18b, and noninterstate freeways, as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 19;”
- (3) “55 miles per hour in locations other than those specified in this section;”
- (4) “70 miles per hour on interstate highways outside the limits of any urbanized area with a population of greater than 50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of transportation;”
- (5) “65 miles per hour on interstate highways inside the limits of any urbanized area with a population of greater than 50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of transportation;”
- (6) “ten miles per hour in alleys;”
- (7) “25 miles per hour in residential roadways if adopted by the road authority having jurisdiction over the residential roadway; and”
- (8) “35 miles per hour in a rural residential district if adopted by the road authority having jurisdiction over the rural residential district.”
§ 169.14, subd. 2(b): “A speed limit adopted under paragraph (a), clause (7), is not effective unless the road authority has erected signs designating the speed limit and indicating the beginning and end of the residential roadway on which the speed limit applies.”
§ 169.14, subd. 2(c): “A speed limit adopted under paragraph (a), clause (8), is not effective unless the road authority has erected signs designating the speed limit and indicating the beginning and end of the rural residential district for the roadway on which the speed limit applies.”
§ 169.14, subd. 2(d): “Notwithstanding section 609.0331 or 609.101 or other law to the contrary, a person who violates a speed limit established in this subdivision, or a speed limit designated on an appropriate sign under subdivision 4, 5, 5b, 5c, or 5e, by driving 20 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable speed limit, is assessed an additional surcharge equal to the amount of the fine imposed for the speed violation, but not less than $25.”
That is the statute’s statement. This page quotes all of subdivisions 1 and 2. Section 169.14 has other subdivisions that this page does not cover, including § 169.14, subd. 4, headed “Establishment of zones by commissioner.”, and § 169.14, subd. 5, headed “Zoning within local area.” This page does not quote section 160.02, section 609.0331, or section 609.101, it does not list the speed limits posted on particular roads, and it does not say whether a sign is erected at a particular place.
What Minn. Stat. § 169.14 says about school zones and work zones
§ 169.14, subd. 5a is headed “Speed zoning in school zone; surcharge.” § 169.14, subd. 5a(d): “Notwithstanding section 609.0331 or 609.101 or other law to the contrary, a person who violates a speed limit established under this subdivision is assessed an additional surcharge equal to the amount of the fine imposed for the violation, but not less than $25.”
§ 169.14, subd. 5d is headed “Speed limit in work zone when workers present.” § 169.14, subd. 5d(a): “Notwithstanding subdivision 2 and subject to subdivision 3, the speed limit on a road having an established speed limit of 50 miles per hour or greater is adjusted to 45 miles per hour in a work zone when (1) at least one lane or portion of a lane of traffic is closed in either direction, and (2) workers are present. A speed in excess of the adjusted speed limit is unlawful.”
§ 169.14, subd. 5d(d): “A work zone speed limit under paragraph (c) is effective on erection of appropriate regulatory speed limit signs. The signs must be removed or covered when they are not required. A speed in excess of the posted work zone speed limit is unlawful.”
§ 169.14, subd. 6a is headed “Work zone speed limit violations.” It reads: “A person convicted of operating a motor vehicle in violation of a speed limit in a work zone, or any other provision of this section while in a work zone, shall be required to pay a fine of $300. This fine is in addition to the surcharge under section 357.021, subdivision 6.”
That is the statute’s statement. Subdivision 5a has other paragraphs, (a) to (c), on school speed limits, signs, and a definition, that this page does not cover. Subdivision 5d has other paragraphs, (b), (c), and (e), that this page does not cover. This page does not quote subdivision 3, section 357.021, section 609.0331, or section 609.101.
What Minn. Stat. § 169.14, subd. 1a says about license revocation for extreme speed
§ 169.14, subd. 1a is headed “License revocation for extreme speed.” It reads: “The driver's license of a person who violates any speed limit established in this section, by driving in excess of 100 miles per hour, is revoked for six months under section 171.17, or for a longer minimum period of time applicable under section 169A.53, 169A.54, or 171.174.”
That is the statute’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy. This page does not quote section 171.17, section 169A.53, section 169A.54, or section 171.174.
What Minn. Stat. § 171.12, subd. 6 says about certain convictions not recorded
Minn. Stat. § 171.12 is headed “DRIVING RECORD; FILING; PRIVATE DATA.” § 171.12, subd. 6 is headed “Certain convictions not recorded.”
§ 171.12, subd. 6(a): “Except as provided in paragraph (c), the department must not keep on the record of a driver any conviction for a violation of a speed limit of 55 miles per hour unless the violation consisted of a speed greater than ten miles per hour in excess of the speed limit.”
§ 171.12, subd. 6(b): “Except as provided in paragraph (c), the department must not keep on the record of a driver any conviction for a violation of a speed limit of 60 miles per hour unless the violation consisted of a speed greater than five miles per hour in excess of the speed limit.”
§ 171.12, subd. 6(c): “This subdivision does not apply to (1) a violation that occurs in a commercial motor vehicle, or (2) a violation committed by a holder of a class A, B, or C commercial driver's license or commercial driver learner's permit, without regard to whether the violation was committed in a commercial motor vehicle or another vehicle.”
That is the statute’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy. This page quotes all of subdivision 6. Section 171.12 has other subdivisions that this page does not cover.
What the 2026 State Payables List lists for speeding
The 2026 State Payables List file is headed “2026 STATE PAYABLES LIST” and “TRAFFIC/CRIMINAL”, and its pages state: “Effective 1/1/2026.” This page does not say whether a newer list exists.
The list states, under Policy A: “All petty misdemeanor offenses in violation of statute or administrative rule are payable. The fine amount for all of these petty misdemeanor offenses is an amount set annually by the Judicial Council, unless another fine amount is specified for that offense on the state payables list, plus applicable surcharges and law library fee.” That is the list’s statement. Policy A has another sentence, on the petty misdemeanor amount for the year, that this page does not cover.
The list states, under Policy B: “Petty misdemeanor offenses enhanced to misdemeanor violations are payable at the fine amount set for the petty misdemeanor, unless otherwise specified on the state payables list, except when enhanced to a misdemeanor under Minn. Stat. § 169.89, subd. 1(1), for a violation committed in a manner or under circumstances so as to endanger or likely to endanger any person or property. Payable offenses charged by citation are presumed to be payable, unless the endangerment box is checked. Offenses charged by complaint are not payable.” That is the list’s statement. This page does not quote section 169.89.
Above its rows for section 169.14, the list prints two notes: “On speeds in excess of 30 miles over the limit, the officer should note "endangerment."” and “Speeding Surcharge: If driving 20 mph or more in excess of the speed limit, surcharge equivalent to the base fine or $25, whichever is greater, is applicable. (See below.)” That is the list’s statement.
For section 169.14, subdivisions 2(a)(1) to 2(a)(8) and subdivision 4, the list prints “***” in the amount columns of each row. Below those rows, the list prints “169.14, subd. 5” in its statute column; on the next line, it prints “*** = Driving faster than posted speed limit”, and the list lists these rows. This page shows each row’s words and its cells in the columns for fine, speeding surcharge, general surcharge, law library fee, and total, as printed; the list’s offense level column (“P” in each row) and DPS certification column are columns that this page does not cover.
| Row | Fine | Speeding surcharge | General surcharge | Law library fee | Total column |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “1 - 10 miles over limit” | “40.00” | (no entry) | “75.00” | “0.00” | “115.00” |
| “11 - 14 miles over limit” | “50.00” | (no entry) | “75.00” | “0.00” | “125.00” |
| “15 - 19 miles over limit” | “60.00” | (no entry) | “75.00” | “0.00” | “135.00” |
| “20 - 25 miles over limit” | “70.00” | “70.00” | “75.00” | “0.00” | “215.00” |
| “26 - 30 miles over limit” | “100.00” | “100.00” | “75.00” | “0.00” | “275.00” |
| “31 miles and above over limit unless endangered checked*” | “150.00” | “150.00” | “75.00” | “0.00” | “375.00” |
For section 169.14, subdivisions 5d(a) and (d), the list lists this row, with the same columns shown:
| Row | Fine | Speeding surcharge | General surcharge | Law library fee | Total column |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Speeding in work zone” | “300.00” | (no entry) | “75.00” | “0.00” | “375.00” |
That is the list’s statement. Each row shown above prints “0.00” in its law library fee column. This page does not cover law library fees, including any county law library fee, and it does not say whether one is assessed on a particular notice. The list has other rows for section 169.14 that this page does not cover, including rows for subdivision 1, subdivision 3(a), subdivision 5a(b), subdivision 5i(b), subdivision 8, and subdivision 13; the rows for subdivision 13 are quoted on the camera citations page linked above. This page does not quote the list’s other policies, notes, or surcharge items, it does not say what amount a particular court sets, it does not say whether a particular offense is payable, and it does not calculate an amount for any speed or any notice.
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, 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 Minnesota fines or surcharges. If you upload a speeding notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.
Sources retrieved 29 Oct 2026:
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/169.14
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/171.12
- https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2026/mandated/261480/2026-Traffic-Criminal-Payables-List-Payables-List-FINAL.pdf
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 3, 2026.