ORLANDO, Fla. – A driver was placed in handcuffs last month after she was caught speeding due to an upset stomach, according to the Orlando Police Department.
Police released body-camera footage of the encounter from last month, which shows the encounter on the highway.
The video reveals that the driver — whose face is obscured — had been speeding at 136 mph.
“So what seems to be the hurry?” the officer asks.
“My stomach really hurts,” the driver answers.
Last year, a new law (HB 351) went into effect, which establishes “dangerous excessive speeding” as a criminal offense in Florida.
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It 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.
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.
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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
“Sorry, your stomach hurting is NOT an excuse to drive 100 mph on our roadways...” police wrote on Friday afternoon. “Slow down, Orlando, or suffer the consequences.”