Florida’s new “super speeder” law has only been live since July, but it’s already producing viral moments. The Sun published dashcam footage of 28-year-old Kiara Molina Rucci, who was clocked at 116 mph before breaking down in tears, pleading with troopers for leniency. Her excuse? She was rushing to see her son, who she claimed had been bitten by a pit bull. The officer didn’t bite, and she was promptly cuffed.
The clip is embarrassing to watch — a sobbing, desperate monologue to avoid a ticket — but it also puts Florida’s new enforcement push squarely in the spotlight.
A Law With Teeth, Not Just Tickets
Under the super speeder law, anyone caught exceeding 100 mph or driving more than 50 mph over the posted limit faces fines up to $1,000 and as much as 90 days in jail for repeat offenses. This is what drivers deserve for being so silly and inconsiderate in the first place.. In the first month, 49 drivers were caught at 100 mph or more, and 22 exceeded the 50-over threshold.
Florida isn’t alone in ramping up punishments. Elsewhere in the U.S., one state has already floated a controversial new law that threatens speeders with imprisonment, prompting debates about whether tougher sentencing genuinely improves safety or simply fills court dockets.
Why This Meltdown Resonates
Drivers might laugh off minor infractions, but the truth is that speeding is one of the most commonly broken laws on U.S. roads. Surveys show tailgating, rolling stops, and heavy-footed acceleration top the list across generations. A quick look at insurance data also reveals that certain brands — Subaru, Volkswagen, and Dodge in particular — rack up more tickets than others.
The viral Florida video hit home because it felt so raw — a driver realising in real time that excuses won’t outweigh the evidence of reckless speed. Emotional appeals can’t rewrite the math: speeding is a factor in nearly half of Florida’s road deaths this year.
Why It Matters Beyond Florida
The bigger takeaway is that states are re-evaluating how to get through to drivers who treat highways like racetracks. Lenient fines haven’t worked, awareness campaigns haven’t stuck, and speed cameras only cover so much ground. Florida’s experiment is harsher, but it’s also designed to shock people into awareness.
Does humiliation and the threat of jail time work as deterrents? Early numbers will tell. But for now, Florida has made its position clear: drivers caught at 116 mph won’t be leaving with just a ticket and a warning. They’ll be leaving in cuffs.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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