Local police in Florida are becoming more vocal about their use of a new state law designed to crack down on those who drive too fast. The law, which makes driving 50 miles per hour over the speed limit or exceeding 100 miles per hour a criminal offense punishable by jail time, has been used to arrest several drivers in recent weeks.
Super Speeder Law
The super speeder law, passed by the state legislature last year, is being hailed as a valuable tool by law enforcement. Port St. Lucie police released video showing officers using the law to arrest a 25-year-old, Alex Tatum, who was clocked driving 110 mph. In recent weeks, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three other drivers for speeds of 114, 115, and 140 mph.
According to Dr. Mario Rueda, a trauma surgeon at St. Mary’s Medical Center, the dangers of extreme speeding are very real. Rueda said that he can usually tell how fast drivers were going by how badly they’re injured, and that the higher the speed, the more energy and therefore the closer to death.
Rick Morris, a former deputy police chief in West Palm Beach, believes that the super speeder law will force drivers to slow down and be safer. Under the law, drivers caught more than twice automatically lose their license for at least six months.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
