Florida’s New “Dangerous Excessive Speeding” Law: A Closer Look at HB 351
By Florida Night Train
If you spend your days on Florida’s roads—whether behind the wheel of a delivery truck, navigating your daily commute, or riding a motorcycle on the open road—you’ve probably heard the buzz about House Bill 351 (HB 351). The bill, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 23, 2025, promises to crack down on extreme speeding in the state. For many, that sounds like a no-brainer. But for those of us who work and ride on these roads every day, the reality might be more complicated with increased incentives to take risks for some.
What the Law Actually Says
HB 351, known as the “Dangerous Excessive Speeding” law, takes aim at drivers who exceed the posted speed limit by 50 mph or more, or who hit speeds of 100 mph and above in a way that endangers others or disrupts traffic flow. If you ask me, ~100mph is pretty common traffic flow in certain pockets of Florida. Under the new law, those caught for the first time could face up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both. Repeat offenders face even steeper penalties—up to 90 days in jail, fines of $1,000, and a possible one-year driver’s license revocation.
Unlike typical speeding tickets that can be paid by mail, these citations require a mandatory court appearance. Lawmakers say the new law is about sending a clear message: extreme speeding isn’t just a traffic violation, it’s a serious criminal offense.
A Push for Safer Roads
Supporters of HB 351 point to the sobering statistics: Florida saw a surge in fatal crashes involving excessive speed in 2024, and lawmakers argue that simply slapping drivers with civil fines isn’t enough. Representative Susan Plasencia, who sponsored the bill, said during legislative debate, “We have to do more to hold drivers accountable. Dangerous speeding is a threat to everyone on the road.”
Law enforcement agencies across Florida agree. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County called the law “a common-sense measure” to protect the traveling public from drivers who treat highways like personal racetracks. For them, this is about reducing the chances of horrific crashes and saving lives.
For Everyday Drivers and Riders, the Stakes are Higher
On paper, it’s hard to argue with the need to curb reckless driving. But for those of us who make our living on the road—truckers, delivery drivers, sales professionals, bikers—it’s not that simple. The reality is that this law could have unintended consequences that put us at even greater risk.
Here’s the part that worries me—and a lot of others I’ve talked to. When the penalty for getting caught goes from a fine to jail time, it changes the whole calculus for a driver who sees those flashing lights in the mirror.
Think about it: if you’re already facing the possibility of losing your job, paying hefty legal fees, and spending time in jail, what’s to stop you from trying to outrun the law? It’s a dangerous mindset—one that can lead to high-speed chases, more crashes, and more innocent lives in jeopardy. How about cracking down on slow drivers? Maybe we could have road protests whereby on any given day at any given location, a call to rally peacefully in protest doing exactly the speed limit and no less no more on all lanes of a highway? That might demonstrate speed limits maybe should be revisited? Left lane 80 to 100mph, middle lane 70 to 80mph, and right lane 65 to 70mph? How about that???
The “Might as Well Run” Mentality
I’ve been riding motorcycles for years, and I’ve talked to plenty of bikers and long-haul truckers who share a similar worry. It’s not about excusing reckless driving—none of us want to share the road with someone who thinks they’re invincible. But the reality is that when people feel cornered, they make desperate decisions. How many times are we stuck in a fast lane behind a lost tourist or an aging driver who actually impede traffic to a point that it endangers others? Has Representative Susan Plasencia factored these in?
A veteran truck driver I know summed it up this way: “If I’m going to jail anyway, I might as well take my chances and make a run for it.” That’s not the kind of logic you want taking root on already dangerous roads.
We’ve all seen how quickly a police chase can turn deadly. A car or bike running from the law doesn’t just put themselves at risk—it endangers everyone in the vicinity: commuters heading home after a long day, families out for a Sunday drive, and guys like me just trying to make it to the next job site safely. I can pretty much guarantee runaways stats will increase significantly with deaths and injuries attached to those incidents.
A Real Burden for Working Drivers
There’s another angle to this that hits close to home for anyone who depends on their license to earn a living. If you’re a trucker or a delivery driver, a license suspension doesn’t just mean you can’t drive—it can mean you can’t pay the rent.
Critics of the bill, like Micah Smith from the Florida chapter of the ACLU, argue that the harsh penalties could disproportionately affect working-class drivers who don’t have the means to fight the charges in court. “We’re worried about low-income drivers who can’t afford the fines and end up losing their livelihoods,” Smith said.
Will the Law Actually Work?
Supporters of HB 351 believe that the risk of jail time will make people think twice before flooring it on the highway. And for some drivers, it might. But the question is whether that deterrent effect outweighs the new risks the law might create.
There’s no denying that excessive speeders are a menace on the road. But by turning what used to be a civil infraction into a criminal offense, the state might be setting the stage for more dangerous encounters between law enforcement and drivers who panic. I would bet that’s exactly what is about to happen.
From my perspective as someone who lives and breathes these roads, I’m not convinced that adding the threat of jail time is the magic bullet for road safety. If anything, it seems like it could push drivers—especially those with a lot to lose—into making split-second emotional decisions that put everyone in harm’s way.
A Biker’s Take
As a biker, I’ve seen my share of high-speed antics on the roads, and I’ve had to dodge more than a few cars weaving through traffic like they’re in a race. But I also know what it’s like to feel the weight of a system that doesn’t always consider the human factor.
We’re all for safety—no one wants to see another motorcyclist, commuter, or trucker taken out by a reckless driver. But the fear is that this law might create more of the very thing it’s meant to stop: chaos and danger on the roads.
The Road Ahead
HB 351 goes into effect on July 1, 2025. Whether it ends up making our roads safer or adding a new layer of risk is something we’ll all be watching closely. In the meantime, those of us who ride and drive for a living are bracing for a new reality: one where the price of a single bad decision just got a whole lot steeper.
For bikers, truckers, and anyone else who calls the highway their office, the stakes have never been higher. We want to see fewer crashes and more respect on the road—but we also want laws that make sense for the real world we live and work in every day.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the numbers on a speedometer—it’s about the lives behind the handlebars, behind the wheel, and behind the next delivery you make.
Source: Florida Senate
www.facebook.com/floridanighttrain
IG: FloridaNightTrain
