Utah's 105 mph+ Reckless Driving Law Sees Decline in Citations

Utah Highway Patrol urges drivers to slow down as summer travel season approaches.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:03am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a car speedometer needle pointing past 105 mph, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually illustrates the dangers of excessive speeding.A stark visual reminder of the dangers of extreme speeding on Utah's roads, as authorities work to curb this reckless behavior.Taylorsville Today

Utah's 2022 law that increased penalties for driving over 105 mph has led to a decline in citations for excessive speeding, according to data from the Utah Highway Patrol. While the number of citations has fallen each year since the law took effect, troopers continue to arrest drivers going over 100 mph, which they warn can lead to crashes and fatalities.

Why it matters

Excessive speeding on Utah's roads poses a serious threat to public safety, and the state's new law aimed at curbing this behavior appears to be having some impact, though the issue persists. As the busy summer travel season approaches, officials are urging drivers to slow down and obey speed limits to prevent tragedies.

The details

The Utah law, which went into effect in May 2022, classifies speeds over 105 mph as reckless driving, punishable by jail time and fines. Data shows the number of citations issued by the Utah Highway Patrol for driving over 105 mph has declined each year since the law was enacted, from 897 in 2022 to 874 in 2025. However, troopers continue to arrest drivers going over 100 mph, including one man reported to be traveling 112 mph who allegedly told the trooper he speeds 'all the time.' In another recent case, a man was charged with reckless driving for reportedly going over 125 mph on I-15.

  • The Utah law went into effect in May 2022.
  • In 2022 (May 4 - Dec. 31), troopers issued 897 citations for driving over 105 mph.
  • In 2023, troopers issued 1,370 citations for driving over 105 mph.
  • In 2024, troopers issued 1,164 citations for driving over 105 mph.
  • In 2025, troopers issued 874 citations for driving over 105 mph.

The players

Utah Highway Patrol

The state law enforcement agency that has been enforcing the 105 mph reckless driving law and issuing citations to drivers exceeding that speed.

Maj. Chamberlin Neff

A Utah Highway Patrol major who has warned that driving over 105 mph can lead to crashes and injuries or fatalities.

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What they’re saying

“'It ends one of two ways. Number one, you can meet a state trooper if you're driving over 105mph, and that state trooper can write you a ticket or that state trooper can take you to jail. Or you could crash and really injure yourself or ultimately die.'”

— Maj. Chamberlin Neff, Utah Highway Patrol Major

What’s next

The Utah Highway Patrol will continue to monitor and enforce the 105 mph reckless driving law as the busy summer travel season approaches, urging drivers to slow down and obey speed limits to prevent crashes and fatalities.

The takeaway

While Utah's law increasing penalties for driving over 105 mph has led to a decline in citations, the issue of excessive speeding persists on the state's roads, posing a serious threat to public safety. Officials are hopeful the law will continue to deter reckless driving behavior, but enforcement and driver education remain crucial to preventing tragedies.