The hawaii speeding ticket cost depends on exactly how fast you were going over the limit, where you were ticketed, and the court costs your county adds on top. This guide breaks down the real hawaii speeding ticket cost in plain English — the exact base fine for each speed bracket, the fees added at the courthouse, the school-zone and work-zone penalties, and the point and insurance hit that follow. All figures are estimates for general guidance, verified against Hawaii sources as of June 2026.
In This Hawaii Guide:
Hawaii Speeding Ticket Cost by Speed Bracket
Here is the typical hawaii speeding ticket cost in Hawaii, broken down by how far over the posted limit you were caught driving. These are base fines from the Hawaii fine schedule — your final total will be higher once court costs and fees are added.
| How Fast Over the Limit | Typical Base Fine |
|---|---|
| 1-10 mph over | 57-62 base fine (civil infraction under HRS 291C-102; total with court costs approximately 150-200) |
| 11-20 mph over | 122 base fine (civil infraction; total with court costs and surcharges approximately 200-250) |
| 21+ mph over | 122-200 base fine for 21-29 mph over (civil infraction); 500-1000 for 30+ mph over (excessive speeding, petty misdemeanor under HRS 291C-105) |
| Court costs & fees (added) | 82 approximately in mandatory court costs and surcharges added to every ticket; additional 10 neurotrauma surcharge if more than 10 mph over the limit |
How Hawaii speed limits work: Absolute speed limit — any speed exceeding the posted limit is a violation per se regardless of road conditions
What a Hawaii Speeding Ticket Really Costs
The number printed on your citation is rarely the full hawaii speeding ticket cost. Once you add court costs and mandatory fees (about 82 approximately in mandatory court costs and surcharges added to every ticket; additional 10 neurotrauma surcharge if more than 10 mph over the limit), the out-the-door total is higher than the base fine. And the fine is only the upfront part — the points and the multi-year insurance increase usually cost you more over time than the ticket itself.
First offense vs. repeat: Under HRS 291C-161 for basic speeding: 1st violation up to 200 fine; 2nd violation within 1 year up to 300; 3rd+ within 1 year up to 500. For excessive speeding (HRS 291C-105): penalties escalate over a 5-year look-back window with mandatory jail time for 3rd+ offenses
Beyond the fine, a Hawaii speeding ticket adds about 0 — Hawaii does not use a license points system points to your license and stays on your record for 10 years on the official driving record; most insurers use a 3-5 year look-back period. See our Hawaii driving points guide for the full point and suspension rules.
School Zones, Work Zones & Enhancements
School zone: Flat 250 fine plus up to 100 trauma system fund surcharge plus 25 safe routes to school surcharge (not a doubling — Hawaii uses a separate flat fine structure under HRS 291C-104)
Work zone: Flat 250 fine plus up to 100 trauma system fund surcharge (same statute HRS 291C-104; not a doubling)
When a Hawaii Speeding Ticket Becomes Reckless or Criminal
Going far over the limit can turn a simple ticket into a criminal charge. In Hawaii, 30 mph over the posted limit OR 80 mph regardless of posted limit (HRS 291C-105); petty misdemeanor — 1st offense: 500-1000 fine, up to 30-day license suspension, 36 hours community service or 48 hours to 5 days jail; 2nd offense within 5 years: 750-1000 fine, mandatory 30-day suspension, 120+ hours community service or 5-14 days jail; 3rd+ offense within 5 years: 1000 fine, 90-day to 1-year license revocation, 10-30 days jail A criminal speed charge carries much higher fines, more points, and possible jail time, so the Hawaii speeding ticket cost is far higher at the top brackets.
How a Ticket Affects Your Insurance in Hawaii
In Hawaii, a speeding ticket typically raises your car-insurance premium by about UNVERIFIED — varies by insurer; national averages suggest 20-30 percent but no Hawaii-specific verified figure available for three years or more — often costing far more than the ticket itself. Insurers treat a speeding conviction as a sign of higher risk, so the surcharge can outlast the points on your license. A ticket can raise your premium for years — compare cheaper car insurance at Car Cover Guide before you decide whether to just pay your Hawaii ticket.
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How a Hawaii Speeding Fine Is Calculated
The Hawaii speeding ticket cost is built from several parts, which is why two drivers going the same speed can owe different totals. The base fine is set by how far over the limit you were — that is the number in the table above. On top of that, courts add court costs and administrative fees, and many counties tack on local surcharges or assessments that fund court technology, victim programs, or state safety funds. The result is an out-the-door total that is usually well above the base fine.
Speed limits themselves work in one of a few ways. Under an absolute speed limit, going even one mph over is a violation. Under a prima facie limit, you can argue the posted speed was unsafe for the conditions, while a basic speed law simply requires a speed that is reasonable and prudent.
Knowing which rule Hawaii uses can matter if you decide to contest the ticket. Whatever the base fine, the real Hawaii speeding ticket cost includes the points and the multi-year insurance increase, not just the amount on the citation.
If you are comparing the Hawaii speeding ticket cost against your other options, remember the cheapest path is not always paying the fine. A higher fine you can dismiss through traffic school may cost less overall than a smaller fine you simply pay, because paying locks in the points and the insurance increase. Run your numbers before you decide.
What to Do About Your Hawaii Speeding Ticket
Once you have a Hawaii speeding ticket, you generally have three choices, and the right one depends on the points involved, your driving record, and your insurance:
- Pay it — the fastest option, but paying is an admission of guilt that adds points and can raise your premium for years.
- Fight it — contesting can get the ticket reduced or dismissed, especially if the officer does not appear or the evidence is weak. See how to fight a speeding ticket in Hawaii.
- Take traffic school — if you qualify, a state-approved course can keep points off your record. See the Hawaii traffic school guide.
Before deciding, it helps to know the full cost — use our speeding ticket cost calculator and the Hawaii points guide to see how close a ticket puts you to a suspension. There is no single right answer for everyone; the best choice depends on how many points the ticket adds, what your record looks like, and how much your insurance would rise.
Other Hawaii rules to know: Hawaii has no points system — one of the few states without one. Maximum posted speed limit statewide is only 60 mph. Excessive speeding is sentenced WITHOUT the possibility of probation or suspension of sentence. A mandatory driver retraining course is required for all excessive speeding convictions.
The 80 mph absolute threshold for excessive speeding is particularly impactful because Hawaii’s highest posted limit is 60 mph. Surcharges fund the neurotrauma special fund and trauma system special fund. Fines may vary slightly by county (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii County, Kauai).
Official Hawaii Sources & Resources
- Hawaii DMV: https://www.courts.state.hi.us/self-help/traffic/traffic_cases
- Hawaii Court Fine Schedule: https://www.courts.state.hi.us/fines-calculator
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Statute reference: HRS 291C-102 (basic speeding), HRS 291C-104 (school and construction zone speeding), HRS 291C-105 (excessive speeding), HRS 291C-161 (general penalties)
This Hawaii speeding ticket cost guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Always confirm the exact amount on your citation with the court listed on it.
More Hawaii Traffic Ticket Guides
- Hawaii Driving Points & Suspension
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in Hawaii
- Hawaii Traffic School & Dismissal
- Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator
- All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Fines, points, and procedures are estimates for general guidance and change when state laws change. Always verify the exact amount and process with your state DMV or the court listed on your citation, and consult a licensed traffic attorney in your state for advice on your specific situation.