Frequently Asked Questions About ARC Zone Speeding Tickets

An ARC Zone speeding ticket is a ticket issued in an Accident Reduction Corridor (sometimes called a Travel Safe Zone), and if you are caught speeding in the ARC Zone in St. Louis, your fine will be almost 3 times higher than if you were in a regular speed zone.

Where is the ARC Zone in St. Louis?

Eight municipalities make up the St. Louis ARC Zone:  St. Ann, Berkeley, Cool Valley, Edmundson, Normandy, Northwoods, Woodson Terrace, and Pine Lawn. The ARC Zone encompasses a 7-mile stretch of I-70 in north St. Louis County near the airport.

These municipalities banded together and established the ARC Zone/Travel Safe Zone to encourage drivers to slow down in areas where there have been lots of accidents. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, there were 3,000 car crashes in 2009 in the east bound lanes of what is now the ARC Zone.

Be warned:  there aren’t many signs to notify you that you are in the ARC Zone, and the police heavily patrol this area. 

Are Fines for ARC Zone Speeding Tickets Higher?

Just like a construction zone ticket or school zone ticket, the fine for a Missouri ARC Zone speeding ticket is much higher than the fine would be if the ticket had been issued for the same speed in a regular speed zone.

St. Louis ARC Zone speeding ticket fines vary by court, but here is an example:  If you receive an ARC Zone speeding ticket in St. Ann Municipal Court for driving 71 in a 60 mph zone, the original fine and court costs total $200. If you had received that same ticket in St. Ann for driving the same speed in a regular speed zone (not an ARC Zone), your total fine and court costs would have been only $71.

Total fines and court costs for speeding in the St. Ann ARC Zone:

5-10 miles over – $150

11-15 miles over – $200

16-19 miles over – $250

20-24 miles over – $300

Can I Get My ARC Zone Speeding Ticket Fixed?

A traffic law attorney can negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecuting attorney to have your ARC zone speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point infraction, such as “Illegal Parking.” (Sometimes this is called getting a ticket “fixed.”)

You will have to pay a fine and court costs, and the fine after your ticket is reduced to “Illegal Parking” will be slightly higher than the original fine. However, no points will be added to your driving record, and your insurance company will never know you received the ticket.

How Much is the Fine for an ARC Zone Ticket After a Lawyer Gets It Fixed?

Here are some examples of the fines and court costs you will pay after your attorney gets your ARC zone speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving, no-point infraction:

If you hire an attorney for your St. Ann ARC Zone speeding ticket for driving 71 in a 60 mph ARC Zone (original fine = $200), your new fine and court costs will total $260 after the ticket is reduced to “Illegal Parking.”

For an ARC Zone speeding ticket in Pine Lawn for driving 71 in a 55 mph ARC Zone, the original fine and court costs total $250. If your attorney is able to get the ARC Zone ticket reduced to “Illegal Parking,” your total fine and court costs will be $275.

For an ARC Zone speeding ticket in Normandy for driving 70 in a 55 mph ARC Zone, the original fine and court costs total $250. After your attorney negotiates a plea bargain to have your ticket amended to “Illegal Parking,” the total fine and court costs will be $315.

How Many Points for an ARC Zone Speeding Ticket?

Two points are added to your Missouri driving record for an ARC Zone speeding ticket. This is the same amount of points you would receive if your ticket had been issued in a regular speed zone.

If you accumulate 8 points within 18 months, your Missouri driver’s license will be suspended for 30 days, if it’s your first suspension. Your license will be revoked for 1 year if you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, 18 points within 24 months, or 24 points within 36 months.

As noted above, if you hire an attorney to get your ARC Zone ticket reduced to a parking violation, you will pay a fine that is slightly higher than the original fine, plus court costs, but no points will be added to your driving record.

What If I Already Paid My Fine?

In many cases, an attorney can withdraw your guilty plea and get your ARC Zone ticket fixed, even if you have already paid the fine. Please note:  it is much more difficult to withdraw your guilty plea if you were represented by an attorney or if too much time has passed since you paid the fine.

How Do I Get a Price Quote to Have My ARC Zone Ticket Fixed?

Call St. Louis speeding ticket lawyer Andrea Storey Rogers at (314) 724-5059 for a price quote to get your ARC Zone speeding ticket fixed. In most cases, Andrea can also give you an estimate of the fine and court costs that you will pay after your ticket is reduced to a parking violation.

For more information about Missouri traffic tickets, you can go to the Traffic Law Resources page, where there is a link to a list of all Missouri traffic ticket fines, points, and penalties.