Speed Limits
G.S. 20-141 — 35 in town, 55 outside, and a misdemeanor above 15 over or above 80
In North Carolina, no one drives faster than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions. Unless another limit is set, the limit is 35 miles per hour inside municipal limits and 55 miles per hour outside them. The Department of Transportation may set a higher limit on interstate and controlled access highways after an engineering study, but not above 70 miles per hour, and only once signs are posted.
More than 15 over, or over 80, is a crime. Driving on a highway more than 15 miles per hour over the limit, or over 80 miles per hour, is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
- Speeding in a highway work zone posted with a penalty sign adds a $250 penalty to the others.
- Speeding on school property above a posted lower limit is an infraction with a $250 penalty.
- Where signs post a minimum on the interstate and primary system, it is 40 miles per hour in a 55 zone and 45 miles per hour in a zone of 60 or more.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 20-141 — Speed restrictions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.