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Establishing the Rules of the Road

Whether your goal is a hyper-realistic simulation with strict law enforcement or a high-speed racing environment across the American highways, customizing these core mechanics is essential. American Truck Simulator (ATS) allows for granular control over police activity and vehicle performance through its server configuration.

Difficulty

Beginner Friendly

Time

5 Minutes

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Modifying Global Server Rules

The primary behavioral constraints for your server are defined within the server_config.sii file.
1

Access the File Manager

Log in to your Game Panel, select your ATS server, and navigate to the Files tab.
2

Locate the Configuration File

Find and open the server_config.sii file located within your server’s configuration directory.
3

Control Traffic Offences

Locate the traffic_offence parameter to manage police interactions:
  • true: Players receive monetary fines for speeding, red-light violations, and collisions (Sim-Ready).
  • false: Law enforcement actions are disabled, and no fines are issued (Arcade-Ready).
4

Define Speed Constraints

Find the truck_speed_limit line to establish vehicle caps:
  • 0: Disables the internal speed limiter entirely.
  • 65.0: Implements a hard cap at 65 MPH (or your preferred numerical value).

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Defining Your Community Tone

The combination of these settings directly influences the type of drivers your server will attract.
For a serious trucking experience, we recommend enabling traffic_offence and setting a realistic truck_speed_limit (typically 65.0 or 75.0 MPH). This configuration rewards disciplined driving and promotes synchronized convoy maneuvers.

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Server Initialization

Updates to these variables are not dynamic and require a full server restart to take effect. Always verify these settings before publicizing a scheduled event to ensure a consistent experience for all participants.

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Technical Details

In the server_config.sii file, speed is generally calculated in kilometers per hour internally, even if your in-game dashboard displays MPH. Ensure you verify the in-game behavior after setting a custom limit.
Note that the server-side speed limiter acts as a hard cap. If a player has their own local limiter enabled at a lower speed, they will still be restricted by their client settings.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: January 2026 | ATS: Your server, your rules.