TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new Florida law is about to kick into high gear, creating much harsher penalties for “dangerous” speedsters.
The law (HB 351) establishes a new criminal offense under state statutes: “dangerous excessive speeding.”
More specifically, the offense refers to situations where drivers:
- Go at least 50 mph over the speed limit
- Speed at 100 mph or more in a way that threatens the people or property around them
While reckless driving is already a crime in the state of Florida, courts have already held that simply speeding too much doesn’t necessarily count.
[BELOW: Check out how this new law aims to punish major speeders in the state]
In addition, speeding itself is generally considered a noncriminal traffic infraction, punished primarily with fines.
As a result, HB 351 will finally make it so that excessive speeding is an arrestable offense. This is in addition to any applicable fines for speeding.
Under this law, someone who commits “dangerous excessive speeding” can be punished as follows:
- Upon a first conviction
- Up to 30 days in jail;
- A fine of $500; or
- Both
- Upon subsequent convictions
- Up to 90 days in jail;
- A fine of $1,000;
- Both
- Upon subsequent convictions within five years
- Revocation of his/her driving privileges between 180 days to a year
A previous version of this law’s sister bill included a provision allowing law enforcement to impound a driver’s vehicle for 30 days if used to recklessly drive, as well as harsher penalties for convictions. However, lawmakers ultimately decided to cut those rules out of the proposal.
Regardless, HB 351 is slated to take effect on July 1 alongside over 120 other new laws. You can find the full list of those laws here.