Nearly four years after Utah made driving 105 mph or faster an automatic reckless driving crime, the verdict on the law is complicated. Troopers and prosecutors say the statute has clearly changed how the worst speeders get handled, yet the scariest behavior on Utah freeways is still very much alive. State enforcement data compiled by local reporting shows a spike in 105‑plus citations right after the law kicked in, followed by a gradual decline through 2025, even as officers keep pulling over drivers at jaw‑dropping speeds.
What the law did and why
The amendment that folded the 105‑mph threshold into Utah’s reckless driving code took effect May 4, 2022. The statutory language defines traveling 105 mph or greater on a highway as evidence of “willful or wanton disregard” for safety. As laid out in Utah Code §41‑6a‑528, that conduct is classified as a class B misdemeanor.
Lawmakers and law enforcement pushed the change after officials raised alarms about a post‑pandemic surge in extreme speeding and deadly crashes, a trend followed closely in local coverage at the time. Deseret News reported on the new penalty when the statute took effect.
Numbers show a peak, then a drop
State trooper tallies compiled by local reporting sketch out a mixed enforcement picture. About 897 citations for speeds above 105 mph were issued in the partial 2022 period after the law went live (May 4 through Dec. 31). That rose to roughly 1,370 in 2023, then slipped to approximately 1,164 in 2024 and about 874 in 2025, according to reporting that reviewed Utah Highway Patrol data. KSL TV compiled those year‑by‑year figures.
Earlier coverage from the same outlet showed a similar trend in related speed ranges. The Utah Highway Patrol told reporters that citations for drivers clocked between 100 and 105 mph fell nearly 29% from 2022 to 2023, while tickets for 105‑plus speeds dropped about 20% in that same period. Troopers described the law as “a good tool” for reining in the most dangerous behavior. KSL summarized UHP’s view and those percentage shifts.
On the road: recent stops and a new prosecution
Even with those declines, extreme examples keep surfacing. In early April, a trooper in Murray arrested a 20‑year‑old who was allegedly driving 112 mph on I‑15 and reportedly told officers he “drives like this all the time,” according to local reporting. KSL covered that stop.
Prosecutors in Box Elder County also filed reckless driving charges earlier this year after a driver was reported going more than 125 mph on I‑15 in January. At the same time, the Highway Patrol says it keeps seeing motorcycles and some cars at speeds well beyond legal and safe limits. Those recent cases and the broader statewide counts were detailed in reporting that reviewed UHP data and interviewed troopers. KSL TV reported on the Box Elder case and on troopers’ observations of motorcycle speeds in the Salt Lake Valley.
Legal stakes and enforcement tools
Under Utah law, reckless driving remains a class B misdemeanor. A conviction can bring criminal penalties and go on a driver’s record. The specific threshold and related enforcement language appear in the enacted bill and the revised code.
The 2022 legislation also tightened penalties for high‑speed racing and gave prosecutors additional tools, including potential vehicle seizure in certain racing cases. State lawmakers and Department of Public Safety materials describe those provisions as ways to deter repeat offenders and send a message that street racing at extreme speeds is not just a traffic ticket problem. See the enacted legislative text and statute for details. Legislative text and the state code explain the changes.
What troopers and traffic officials say drivers should know
Troopers tell reporters the 105‑mph rule gives them clearer grounds to arrest or charge motorists at the very top end of the speedometer. As holiday and summer travel ramp up, they keep repeating a simple request: slow down.
The Department of Public Safety and UHP have framed the statute as one tool among broader enforcement pushes and public‑education campaigns meant to reduce fatal crashes. State safety materials and agency reporting stress that speed is still one of the biggest factors in how severe a crash becomes. DPS reporting and local news coverage relay the agency’s safety message and enforcement priorities.
For Utah drivers, the bottom line is straightforward. The 105‑mph threshold turned certain extreme speeds into a criminal matter. The citation totals may rise or fall from year to year, but troopers say the risk to everyone on the road has not changed. The law gives them another lever to hold the fastest and most reckless drivers accountable. For everyone else, the safest move is still boring and effective: ease off the gas and leave a few extra minutes for the trip.
