An ARC zone speeding ticket is a ticket written in an Accident Reduction Corridor, also called a Travel Safe Zone, and the fine was almost 3 times higher than the fine for the same speed in a regular speed zone. The St. Louis ARC zone was set up in 2011, and the figures below come from the years it was in use, so check with the court on today’s amounts before you pay or appear.
This post explains what the ARC zone was, which towns were part of it, how much the fines were, how many points came with the ticket, and what is possible for a ticket you already have. It also covers the work zone and Travel Safe Zone rules that apply in Missouri now.
What Is an ARC Zone?
An ARC zone is an Accident Reduction Corridor, a stretch of highway where local police agreed to enforce speed limits more heavily and charge higher fines. Police departments in eight municipalities in north St. Louis County set up a 7-mile stretch of I-70 near the airport as an ARC zone, which many drivers also heard called a Travel Safe Zone.
The goal was to make drivers slow down where crashes were common. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, there were 3,000 crashes in 2009 in the east bound lanes of what became the ARC zone.
Where Was the ARC Zone in St. Louis?
The St. Louis ARC zone covered a 7-mile stretch of I-70 in north St. Louis County, and 8 municipalities took part: St. Ann, Berkeley, Cool Valley, Edmundson, Normandy, Northwoods, Woodson Terrace, and Pine Lawn.
Increased enforcement began on July 1, 2011. At that time, St. Ann Police Chief Richard Schrader told Fox 2 News that the extra patrols were “from now on.” Drivers also had little warning, because there were not many signs telling you that you were in the ARC zone, and the police patrolled the area heavily.
Does the ARC Zone Still Exist Today?
The ARC zone’s current status could not be confirmed from an official source, so everything above about the zone and the fine amounts below should be read as history from 2011 to 2014. Andrea has not found a current Missouri Department of Transportation or municipal listing that says the St. Louis ARC zone is still in effect or that it ended.
Here is what that means for you. If you were issued a ticket that mentions an “ARC zone” or a “Travel Safe Zone,” read the ticket and the court’s notice for the exact charge and fine, and call the municipal court clerk to confirm the amount. A ticket you already received stays your responsibility whatever the status of the zone.
Are Fines for ARC Zone Speeding Tickets Higher?
Yes, fines for ARC zone speeding tickets were much higher than the fine for the same speed in a regular speed zone, similar to a construction zone ticket or a school zone ticket. The fine varied by court.
For example, if you received an ARC zone ticket in St. Ann Municipal Court for driving 71 in a 60 mph zone, the original fine and court costs totaled $200. The same speed in a regular St. Ann speed zone would have cost only $71. The table shows the St. Ann ARC zone amounts published in 2011 and 2013.
| Miles Over the Limit | Total Fine and Court Costs (St. Ann ARC Zone) |
|---|---|
| 5-10 miles over | $150 |
| 11-15 miles over | $200 |
| 16-19 miles over | $250 |
| 20-24 miles over | $300 |
Source: Rogers Law Firm posts from September 2011 and February 2013, based on St. Ann Municipal Court amounts at that time. Amounts are history and may have changed.
St. Ann raised two of these amounts by $25 in January 2014, so that 11-15 miles over became $225 and 16-19 miles over became $275. Andrea wrote about that change in St. Ann fines, and it shows how quickly municipal fines can change.
How Many Points Does an ARC Zone Speeding Ticket Add?
An ARC zone speeding ticket adds 2 points to your Missouri driving record when you plead guilty in municipal court, which is the same number you would receive in a regular speed zone. The higher fine did not come with extra points.
Points matter because they add up. If you reach 8 points in 18 months, your Missouri license will be suspended for 30 days, if it’s your first suspension. Your license will be revoked for 1 year if you reach 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 24 months, or 24 points in 36 months. A guilty plea can also lead your insurance company to increase your rates. Andrea explains how the numbers work in Missouri ticket points.
Can an ARC Zone Speeding Ticket Be Fixed?
An ARC zone speeding ticket can possibly be fixed when an attorney negotiates a plea bargain deal with the Prosecutor and judge to reduce it to a non-moving, no-point infraction, such as “Illegal Parking.” Whether the reduction is offered depends on the court, the prosecutor, and your driving history, so Andrea cannot promise an outcome.
You still pay a fine and court costs, and the fine after a reduction is usually slightly higher than the original fine. However, no points are added to your driving record, and your insurance company will not see a moving violation. In many cases you do not need to appear in court, which Andrea explains on her traffic tickets page.
How Much Is the Fine After a Lawyer Reduces an ARC Zone Ticket?
The fine after a reduction to “Illegal Parking” was higher than the original fine, and the amount depended on the court. These are examples from the years the zone was in use.
- St. Ann: driving 71 in a 60 mph ARC zone, the original fine and court costs were $200. After a reduction to “Illegal Parking,” the total was $260.
- Pine Lawn: driving 71 in a 55 mph ARC zone, the original total was $250. After a reduction, the total was $275.
- Normandy: driving 70 in a 55 mph ARC zone, the original total was $250. After a reduction, the total was $315.
Source: Rogers Law Firm posts from September 2011 and February 2013, based on each municipal court’s amounts at that time.
Points stay on a Missouri driving record for years and can increase your insurance rates, so many drivers weigh that against the cost of a reduction. Andrea can give you an estimate of the fines and court costs for your ticket.
What If You Already Paid the Fine?
If you already paid the fine, an attorney can possibly withdraw your guilty plea and then work to get the ticket amended, even though the fine was paid. A withdrawal is a more expensive and lengthy process than fixing a ticket before you plead, and it is more difficult if too much time has passed or if an attorney represented you when you pleaded guilty.
Andrea describes the steps in withdrawing a guilty plea. If you plan to do this, call as soon as possible, because the time since your plea matters.
How Do Missouri Work Zone Fines Work Today?
Missouri work zone fines add to the regular fine under RSMo 304.582. According to that statute, a moving violation inside a construction or work zone brings an additional $35 fine on a first conviction and $75 on a later one. If a highway worker was in the zone at the time of a speeding or passing violation, the additional fine is $250 instead of the $35 fine.
The $250 worker-present fine applies only if the Missouri Department of Transportation or its contractor posted the required signs. Local courts may also set their own construction zone amounts, as Andrea described in construction zone fines when the City of St. Louis raised its fine in 2016.
What Is a Travel Safe Zone Under Missouri Law?
A Travel Safe Zone is a stretch of highway that the Missouri Department of Transportation has marked where a highway safety analysis shows more fatal or disabling crashes than predicted for similar roads. Fines for moving violations in a posted zone are doubled once “Travel Safe Zone, Fines Doubled” signs are up.
This is a separate state law, and the ARC zone was a local program run by the municipalities. The two are easy to confuse because drivers and news reports used “ARC zone” and “Travel Safe Zone” for the same I-70 stretch. Andrea covered a later zone in Travel Safe Zone, a 4-mile stretch of I-70 in St. Charles County where fines doubled starting April 4, 2016.
Other Double Fine Zones You May See
Some cities have double fine zones of their own, separate from the state Travel Safe Zone law. Andrea wrote about the Ballwin double fine zones in double fine zones.
For a commercial driver, the stakes are higher. A CDL holder who collects points faces a possible suspension or downgrade of the commercial license, and Andrea’s CDL tickets page explains how she helps drivers keep points off the record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Penalty for Speeding in a Construction Zone in Missouri?
The penalty for speeding in a construction zone in Missouri is the regular speeding fine plus an additional fine under RSMo 304.582. The additional fine is $35 for a first conviction, and it is $250 when a highway worker was in the zone and the required signs were posted.
How Many Points Is a Speeding Ticket in Missouri?
A speeding ticket in Missouri adds 2 points in municipal court and 3 points in state court. Reduction to a non-moving, no-point infraction keeps those points off your record.
Is a Speeding Ticket a Misdemeanor in Missouri?
A speeding ticket in Missouri can be prosecuted in municipal court or in state court, and the court that handles it affects the points and the penalty. The ticket tells you which court, so read it and call the clerk or Andrea if you are unsure.
Is It Worth Fighting a Speeding Ticket in Missouri?
Fighting or reducing a speeding ticket in Missouri is worth considering when points would increase your insurance cost or push you toward a suspension. A reduction to a no-point infraction is possible in many courts, and Andrea can tell you what is realistic for your court.
Can You Pay an ARC Zone Ticket Without Going to Court?
Many municipal courts let you pay a speeding ticket without a court appearance, but paying is the same as pleading guilty, which adds the points. Speak with an attorney before you pay if you want to keep the ticket off your record.
The Bottom Line
An ARC zone ticket cost far more than a regular speeding ticket, but the points were the same, and a reduction to a no-point infraction is possible. The ARC zone itself is dated history unless the court tells you otherwise, while the Missouri work zone and Travel Safe Zone laws are current.
Andrea handles every call and every case personally. She offers a free consultation with a flat fee price quote up front. She can also give you an estimate of the fines and court costs. Call The Rogers Law Firm to talk about your ticket.
You can see how flat fee pricing works on the pricing page.
