H0351 creates a new offense in Florida law for “dangerous excessive speeding.” A driver commits the offense by either exceeding the posted speed limit by 50 miles per hour or more, or by driving 100 miles per hour or more in a manner that threatens the safety of people or property or interferes with another vehicle. The bill establishes criminal penalties for the offense, including up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine for a first conviction, and up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for repeat convictions.
The bill also makes related changes to traffic citation and court-appearance procedures. It amends s. 318.14 to allow, rather than require, an officer to write the applicable civil penalty and hearing information on certain citations, and it amends s. 318.19 to require a mandatory court appearance for persons cited for specified high-speed infractions, including exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph or more and violations of the new dangerous excessive speeding law. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill adds a new criminal traffic offense to chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes and expands the list of infractions that require a mandatory hearing under chapter 318. It also adjusts citation issuance procedures by making the inclusion of the civil penalty on certain citations discretionary rather than mandatory for officers. For repeat dangerous excessive speeding convictions within five years, the bill authorizes a driver’s license revocation period of 180 days to one year, directly affecting driving privileges and enforcement practices for law enforcement, courts, and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad overall support, with strong committee and floor votes in both chambers. It passed the House Government Operations Subcommittee 15-1, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee 13-4, the House State Affairs Committee 22-0, the House floor 75-38, and the Senate floor 37-0. The vote pattern suggests general agreement that extreme speeding warrants stronger penalties, though the House floor vote indicates some members had reservations about the approach or scope of the penalties.
Contention
The main point of contention is the balance between public safety and the severity of criminal penalties for speeding-related conduct. Supporters appear to favor creating a distinct offense for extremely dangerous driving and requiring mandatory court appearances for serious speeding infractions. Opponents likely focused on whether the bill over-criminalizes traffic behavior, whether the thresholds are appropriately set, and whether jail time and license revocation are proportionate responses. The narrower committee opposition and larger House floor dissent suggest the most disagreement centered on enforcement intensity and punishment levels rather than the general goal of deterring reckless speeding.