Council Bluffs Resident Issued the Fastest Speeding Ticket Ever in Iowa

If you've got a need for speed, Iowa has lots of open roads where you can really put the pedal to the floor or ratchet up that throttle.   Believe me, driving around Cedar Rapids, you know why they have speed cameras.

I feel like I may be the only person doing the speed limit or even being within a reasonable number that's near the speed limit.  Sometimes I do get my speed up, if the speed limit is 55, I'll go 58, I know, I'm a menace to society.

If the traffic is really moving, I'll try to keep up.  Iowa raised the speed limit on rural interstates from 65 to 70 in 2005. The trouble is many drivers in Iowa see 55, 65, or even 70 and view it as a suggestion.  In 2015, the legislature looked at possibly raising the rural speed limit to 75 but it was tabled when law enforcement raised concerns about traffic crashes.

I lived in one state over for 20 years, Illinois, and I'm not saying people there don't speed BUT when there was just a blazing hot speeder, the vehicle usually had Iowa tags.  My wife and I lived right off I-80 and drove a stretch of interstate daily. We had a going wager when we were passed or tailgated by someone who was extra speedy, would they have Iowa tags? My wife is from Cedar Rapids and I guess it just made her feel more at home, thanks Iowa!

Vroom Vroom!

Now that we know Iowans prefer to have their vehicles in rabbit mode rather than turtle.  What is the fastest speed someone has been ticketed for in the great state of Iowa?  In 2022, Iowa State Patrol issued a ticket to a young rider who was traveling at 122 mph near Waterloo.

The teen was only given a $515, fine.  I say only because at that speed the rider could have been arrested for reckless driving.  Reading through the laws, it seems the officers have discretion here and can make a judgment not only based on speed but other factors such as weather, road conditions, and traffic.  Most of the time speeding infractions in Iowa are misdemeanors but can be elevated to felonies if injury or death is a result of the speeding.  If you're cited for speeding in Iowa.  The fine structure goes like this according to Cedar-Rapids.org:

• 11–20 mph over: $75 
  
• 21–25 mph over: $100 
  
• 26–30 mph over: $250 
  
• 31+ mph over: $500
• Work zone: If you are speeding in a work zone, the fine will double. For example, driving 11–20 mph over the speed limit in a work zone will result in a $150 fine.
• School zone: Speeding violations in school zones usually result in a $100 fine.

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This is the text included with the picture (Racing to gymnastics with precious cargo(your 5-year-old daughter) at 31 MPH OVER the speed limit is a dangerous choice.  Slow down, plan ahead, and always Prioritize safety above all else.) Teach safe driving early by setting a good example)

According to the Iowa State Patrol, a driver was cited for going 164 mph but no further information is available regarding that traffic infraction..

There was a decent try in October of this year at 144 mph caught by ISP Air Wing.  That driver on I-35 was charged with speed and reckless driving. However, that case may be in question because the stopwatch used (seen in the picture below) was set to KM instead of miles. Even with it being set to miles his speed would have still been 90 MPH but not the whopping 144 MPH he was charged with.

In 2009 a motorcycle rider by the name of James Foldenauer has a semi-official record as the fastest convicted speeder in the state of Iowa.  He was seen riding his orange Suzuki motorcycle at peak speed going 188 mph.   The ISP Air Wing followed him home to Council Bluffs and the ISP arrested him there.