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Let’s face it: speed is addictive. Once a car enthusiast or wild child gets a taste for pushing the envelope, it’s difficult to slow back down. Drivers in Florida, however, might want to mind their speedometers here soon. A new law will make it much more likely that “dangerous excessive speeding” will land you behind bars on your first offense. But Florida isn’t alone in its crusade for safer streets. 

You might want to think twice before speeding too much in the Sunshine State this July

It doesn’t take much to get a speeding ticket. Let your rate drift above the limit even a little bit, and a police officer may light you up with the “berries and cherries.” But that kind of scenario typically ends with a ticket or a warning. But Florida “super speeders” will be getting a lot worse than a slap on the wrist starting July 1st.

According to the CS/CS/CS/HB 351, a driver who “exceeds the speed limit by 50 miles per hour (mph) may face stricter penalties starting next month, even on a first offense. The bill holds that drivers may face up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $500 for a first conviction. The same goes for drivers who hit 100 mph or drive in a “manner that threatens the safety of other persons or property or interferes with the operation of any vehicle.”

As for follow-on violations, drivers could be looking at up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Frankly, those sorts of speeds could land a driver in the realm of a reckless driving charge. And other states aren’t shy about slapping reckless driving charges on drivers who exceed the speed limit by huge margins.  

Florida isn’t the only state with lead-footed drivers in the crosshairs

Florida might be cracking down on so-called “super speeders,” but other states have been at it for quite a while. In Delaware, for instance, a first-time reckless driving charge for excessive speeding could result in up to 30 days in jail and a fine. In Virginia, a reckless driving charge for letting your speedometer climb too high could send you to jail for up to one year. Yikes. Mind your speed, folks.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer, an admitted petrolhead, a survivor of classic cars, and an avid motorcyclist. Erik covers Tesla daily, including the Model Y and Cybertruck. Erik also covers Toyota, often discussing the Tundra, Tacoma, RAV4, 4Runner, and Camry. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and Humvees. Erik is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran, a former water survival specialist, and a former firefighter/EMT. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin.