Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill aimed at curbing dangerous speeding by imposing additional fines on drivers who exceed the speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more.

House Bill 111, sponsored by Reps. Kevin Miller and Rodney Creech, focuses on what lawmakers consider extreme speeding, beyond existing penalties. While current law addresses speeding violations with fines and potential points on a driver's license, HB 111 would create an additional layer of financial consequence for those who significantly exceed posted speed limits.

Under the proposed legislation, if a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph or more, the court would impose a fine $200 higher than the usual amount for the violation.

The bill includes an exception for indigent drivers. If an offender files an affidavit stating they are unable to pay the additional fine, and the court determines they are indigent, the extra fine would be waived.

The bill does not change existing speed limits, which include:

• 20 mph in school zones during specified hours.
• 25 mph in most residential areas within municipalities.
• 55 mph on highways outside of municipalities.
• Various speeds on freeways and expressways, depending on location and type.

Instead, HB 111 adds a punitive measure for those who drastically disregard those limits.

The bill has been sent to a House committee for review.