Florida police busted dozens of drivers for speeding 50 mph over the limit in July
July was a big month for Floridians with the need for speed. Most notably, the state began enforcing its new “Super Speeder” law. Since then, police in the Sunshine State have been hauling Florida drivers off to jail for excessive speeding, not just slapping them with hefty fines. Now, data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) suggests that the police have charged more than two dozen motorists under the new law.
Florida cops have busted dozens of drivers for excessive speeding since the state’s new law went active one month ago
Florida is taking speeding pretty seriously. For starters, police agencies in the state launched “Operation Slow Down,” putting more law enforcement officers on the road with the intent of curbing speed-related deaths and injuries.
But Operation Slow Down is only part of the equation. Florida also launched its Super Speeder law, which targets excessive speeding with not only larger fines, but also jail time.
Per the new law, excessive speeders can face criminal charges for driving at 100 mph or 50 mph over the posted speed limit. And the penalties are tough, right from the first offense.
First-time offenders can find themselves behind bars for up to 30 days. Subsequent offenders can expect up to 90 days in the slammer, as well as a fine structure.
At least 26 super speeders busted
According to The Florida Times-Union, law enforcement has busted at least 26 drivers under the new anti-speeding law. However, the exact number of drivers jailed under the new law isn’t clear.
However, 16 of the violators were reportedly stopped in Northeast Florida, around Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Shockingly, it took just two minutes for a heavy-footed Floridian to break the new speeding law by driving 104 mph in a 70 mph zone. Just four mph over the threshold of the law, two minutes after it took effect.
And the data suggests that Florida has something of a speed problem. The FHSMV reports that speed played a role in 38,861 crashes in 2023, directly causing 437 deaths and 1,232 serious injuries.
