More than 7,000 tickets for speeding were handed out on Florida roads during July's "Operation Southern Slow Down," according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
At least eight of those unlucky drivers were busted under Florida's 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, on top of six 50+ mph citations under the older statute, FHP Lt. Jim Beauford said in an email.
Among the drivers ticketed, one person was busted going 113 mph on I-4 in Seminole County, according to an FHP social media post. Another was arrested for hitting 116 on State Road 528 in Orange County.
A total of 87 people were arrested for DUI, Beauford said.
"Operation Southern Slow Down" ran from July 14-19 statewide in a coordinated effort between state and local law enforcement and corresponding agencies in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The annual event seeks to "reduce speed-related fatalities and serious injury crashes by targeting speeding and aggressive driving violations," according to an FDOT news release.
The FHP's Troop D, which covers Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Brevard, and Volusia counties along the Interstate 4 corridor, handed out 1,069 of those citations, Beauford said, and 12 of the DUIs.
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.
'Super speeder' law in effect in Florida
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.
Last year, there were at least 2,620 tickets issued statewide for driving more than 50 mph over the posted limit, 1,138 of them from FHP troopers, according to FHSMV data. The number is likely higher, Beauford said, as some super speeders may have been ticketed under normal speeding codes.
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.
Anyone convicted of dangerous excessive speeding can face a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail, or both
Second or subsequent offenses mean up to 90 days in jail, a fine of $1,000, or both
Anyone caught doing it again within five years after a prior conviction will have their driver's license revoked for at least six months
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.
New laws in Florida: More than 150 new Florida laws went into effect July 1. Here's the list, what each one means
What is Florida's new 'super speeder' law?
The new law, which went into effect July 1, does the following:
Creates the crime of "dangerous excessive speeding" as anyone operating a motor vehicle:
In excess of the speed limit by 50 mph or more
At 100 mph or more in a manner that threatens the safety of other persons or property or interferes with the operation of any vehicle
Adds penalties for dangerous excessive speeding:
First conviction: Imprisonment for up to 30 days or a fine of $500 or both
Second or subsequent conviction: Imprisonment for up to 90 days or fine of $1,000 or both
Convictions of dangerous excessive speeding within five years of a prior conviction will result in the driver's license getting revoked for at least 180 days but not more than one year.
Requires a mandatory hearing before a court official for anyone driving more than 50 mph over the speed limit
Allows the law enforcement officer to decide the appropriate civil penalty for anyone driving more than 30 mph or 50 mph over the limit
What are the fines for speeding in Florida?
According to Florida Statute 318.18:
1-5 mph over the limit: Warning
6-9 mph over the limit: $25
10-14 mph over the limit: $100
15-19 mph over the limit: $150
20-29 mph over the limit: $175
30 mph over the limit and above: $250
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.
Speeding: 3 points
Racing on highway (even as a passenger or someone involved in organizing it): 3 points
Driving too fast for conditions: 3 points
Speeding more than 50 mph over the limit: 4 points
Reckless driving: 4 points
Speeding that resulted in a crash: 6 points
Too many points bring penalties.
12 points within 12 months: 30-day suspension
18 points within 18 months: Three-month suspension
24 points within 36 months: One-year suspension
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:
20 mph: school zones
30 mph: urban district or street
55 mph: all roads and highways unless otherwise posted
60 mph: two-lane sections of highways and freeways
70 mph: freeways, interstate highways, and other roads if posted
Contrbuting: Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Super speeders caught in 'Operation Southern Slow Down'
Comments