Florida’s Senate in April passed what it calls a “Super Speeder Law.” Meant to curb exceptionally high-speed drivers, it gives law enforcement the opportunity to jail anyone caught going 50 mph above the speed limit or going over 100 mph—even if it’s their first offense. Despite only being in effect since July 1st, over 70 people have already been charged under the new rule.
Orlando news station WFTV 9 (via Carscoops) dug up arrest records for the past two months connected to the new law, known formally as House Bill 351. It found that 49 people were arrested for going at or above 100 mph, while another 22 people were charged for exceeding the speed limit by 50 mph or more.
Section 316.1922 of the law defines the above speeds as “dangerous excessive speeding,” and outlines the punishments for first-time offenders:
Upon a first conviction, by imprisonment for up to 30 days or by a fine of $500, or by both a fine or imprisonment.
Things only get worse if you get caught again. From the bill:
Upon a second or subsequent conviction, by imprisonment for up to 90 days or by a fine of $1,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment. A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this section that occurs within 5 years after the date of a prior conviction for a violation of this section shall have his or her driving privilege revoked for at least 180 days but no more than 1 year.
Amazingly, police couldn’t detain everyone they wanted to since the law went into effect. According to WFTV 9, deputies from several districts were prevented from making arrests “because the new charge code wasn’t yet in the system.” The first arrests reportedly didn’t happen until July 15.
Florida Highway Patrol told WFTV 9 it didn’t expect to see so many arrests following the new law’s implementation. The agency gave the news station several examples of “super speeders,” including a 20-year-old in a Dodge Charger clocked at 155 mph. There were two motorcyclists who were traveling 87 mph in a 35-mph zone. They also caught a 25-year-old allegedly traveling at 120 mph, who later told the officer “he thought the trooper was racing him.”
The new code, first introduced into the Florida legislature back in February, was pushed forward by lawmakers to deter speeders in residential neighborhoods and curb high-speed, often deadly highway crashes. Speed was a leading cause of fatal crashes in Florida throughout 2023, according to The Jaspon Firm, contributing to around 30 percent of incidents.
Whether arresting a handful of people per month will help has yet to be seen. In an analysis of Canadian laws passed in the late 2000s, the NHTSA reported that increasing the severity of penalties for “excessive” speeding did, in fact, reduce fatalities.
Top photo: FHP
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