Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday that will penalize Florida drivers for "excessively speeding" on state roadways.
Under the bill, drivers commit "dangerous excessive speeding" if they go 50 mph or more, 100 mph or more while passing or switching lanes, or exceed the limit by 35 mph or more on non-limited access roads.
Penalties include 30 days in prison or a fine of $500, or both, for a first offense.
Further penalties include up to 90 days in prison or a $1,000 fine, or both. If that conviction comes within five years of a prior conviction on the same offense, a driver loses their license for at least 180 days and up to one year.
Reps. Susan Plasencia (R-Orlando) and Danny Alvarez (R-Hillsborough County) sponsored HB 351 in the House. Sen. Jason Pizzo (I-Sunny Isles) carried the Senate version.
Sen. Pizzo explained its importance on the Senate floor back in April. Notably, Pizzo's bill was substituted for the House bill, which offered a jail sentence of 30 days instead of Pizzo's 90 days for a first excessive speeding offense.
His version also called for six months in prison for a second offense. The House version watered that down to 90 days.
Pizzo is a former state prosecutor. His harsher penalties might be an indication of that, as well as his run for Florida governor with a strong law and order prescense.
"You can't drive 50 miles over the speed limit and not think that's excessive and it's dangerous," Pizzo said. "You can't go ahead and pass somebody at 100 miles an hour in excess and think that's not dangerous and excessive speeding. And if you do, you gotta appear."
The law will take effect on July 1.
