In just under a month, the Florida Highway Patrol has busted at least 26 “super speeders” under a new, harsher speeding law that adds arrests, hefty fines and even jail time for anyone going 50 mph over the limit or over 100 mph.
At least eight of them were caught during July’s “Operation Southern Slow Down,” the annual weeklong, multiagency event that flooded Florida streets and highways with law enforcement to discourage speeders, according to FHP Lt. Jim Beauford.
While official numbers from the operation for local law enforcement aren’t out yet, the Florida Highway Patrol issued eight of the new citations on top of six 50+ mph citations under the older statute.
“There have been 50 total 50+ mph citations this month under the older statute,” Beauford said in a July 26 email.
Last year, there were at least 2,620 tickets issued for driving more than 50 mph over the posted limit, 1,138 from FHP troopers, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) data. The number is likely higher, Beauford said, as some super speeders may have been ticketed under normal speeding codes.
Here are just a few of the drivers getting pulled over with triple-digit speeds this month:
The drivers were charged under the state’s new crime, “dangerous excessive speeding,” which applies to anyone exceeding the speed limit by 50 mph or more, or driving 100 mph or more in a reckless manner.
Also, any drivers who exceed the speed limit by 50 mph or more must now appear in court, rather than just paying a fine. The bill also allows law enforcement to impose additional fines for drivers going 30 mph or 50 mph over the posted limit at their discretion.
Speeding kills, Florida Highway Safety says
Speeding is a contributing factor in 26% of traffic fatalities nationwide, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said. In 2023, according to FHSMV data, there were 38,861 crashes related to speeding or aggressive driving on Florida highways, resulting in 437 deaths and 1,232 incapacitating injuries.
Speeding limits the time you have to react and slow or stop safely around an unexpected hazard, curve, vehicle or object in the roadway, the FHSMV said. Even driving at the posted speed limit can be speeding if conditions are bad due to weather, road construction or in poor light.
What is Florida’s new ‘super speeder’ law?
The new law, which went into effect July 1, does the following:
What are the fines for speeding in Florida?
According to Florida Statute 318.18:
However, each county or municipality can decide its own traffic fines, which can be higher. Fines are also increased, sometimes dramatically, for repeated offenses or for speeding through school zones, toll booths or construction zones. Fines will also increase if you commit other violations while speeding or if you are involved in an accident.
Felony speeders can see fines of $1,000 or more, and repeat offenders may have their licenses suspended for up to a year.
Speeding also adds points on your license.
How many points do I get on my license for speeding in Florida?
When you get a speeding ticket in Florida, you also get points against your driving record. Get enough and your license will be suspended or revoked, but even before that points can mean increased insurance rates.
Too many points bring penalties.
You can avoid points on your license by attending an approved driver improvement school and paying a fee, but you can only do that once in any 12-month period and no more than five times in a lifetime.
You can check the current number of points on your license here.
What are the standard Florida speed limit laws?
According to the website floridacarlaws.com:
Contrbuting: Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: ‘Super speeder’ law busts in Florida: How many in July? ‘Operation Slow Down’ nabs speeders
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
