One of the problems here is that our measurements are not precise (both in-car measurements the driver can see, and even more so for the outside law enforcement measurements). Especially when we take into account that cars don’t have to be on cruise control, and often are not on cruise control.
That’s why it is also assumed that if one is close to the speed limit, there is more room for doubt.
Fines, actually, do tend to increase gradually in many US jurisdictions, but insurance points (which often tend to cost way more than fines) tend to have sharp step-wise increases (and plea-bargains are done around those insurance point thresholds, reflecting the measurement uncertainty once again). Your MAX does roughly correspond to the first increase from the minimal number of insurance points for speeding to the next level of insurance points.
One of the problems here is that our measurements are not precise (both in-car measurements the driver can see, and even more so for the outside law enforcement measurements). Especially when we take into account that cars don’t have to be on cruise control, and often are not on cruise control.
That’s why it is also assumed that if one is close to the speed limit, there is more room for doubt.
Fines, actually, do tend to increase gradually in many US jurisdictions, but insurance points (which often tend to cost way more than fines) tend to have sharp step-wise increases (and plea-bargains are done around those insurance point thresholds, reflecting the measurement uncertainty once again). Your MAX does roughly correspond to the first increase from the minimal number of insurance points for speeding to the next level of insurance points.