Just when Florida highways thought they’d seen it all, January gave us a new contender in the “I was late for a flight” sweepstakes — one that clocked in at a blistering 114 mph and came complete with a courtroom cameo and a truly creative rationale straight out of a travel vlog gone wild.
It was a routine Tuesday for Flagler County deputies cruising the morning traffic when one driver, later identified as Boaz Sinuani from Israel, turned an early-morning interstate into what might politely be called a personal racetrack.
Deputy dash cams and radar clocks lit up as Sinuani’s rented sedan zipped past other motorists at 114 miles per hour, weaving through vehicles like a commuter with a jet engine under the hood.
Not In My Country
“You’re going to be late!” might as well have been emblazoned across his windshield. It was the phrase that Sinuani himself offered up when deputies finally brought him to a stop, nearly a minute and a half after the radar first lit up. Even then, he took his sweet time pulling over. Apparently, nobody had told him the slower you go, the quicker you stop mantra.
Once the vehicle was under control and the engine finally idling quietly, Sinuani delivered his explanation, and honestly, it’s a tough one to top: he was hightailing it to New York City — because he had a flight to catch.
Yes, you read that correctly: this wasn’t just a case of a heavy foot and poor judgment. According to deputies, Sinuani claimed that missing that flight was not an option, and that his speed was justifiable because in his home country there’s no speed limit on the highway. (We’ll unpack that in a moment.)
While Florida does have speed limits, and folks from other states or countries sometimes forget that fact, the “no speed limit” defense didn’t quite hold up. Deputies were quick to remind him that Florida’s super-speeder laws are very real, and they don’t care whether your final destination is JFK or any airport at all.
Sinuani was promptly booked under Florida’s super speeder statute, designed to slap hefty penalties on drivers caught going well above posted limits, especially when lives are at stake.
After booking, deputies tell us he was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he eventually posted his $150 bond and walked back out, presumably to catch… something.
The “No Speed Limit” Defense: Myth vs. Reality
Sinuani’s claim that “there’s no speed limit in Israel” might make for a fun party anecdote, but it’s not actually accurate. Most countries, and that includes Israel, have strict highway speed limits, just like the U.S. does.
The German Autobahn might have sections without posted limits, but that’s a whole different continent and set of rules.
Tourist hits 114 mph on Florida interstate, claims he was on his way to New York to catch a flight to Israel, which was scheduled to leave soon | B.S. said he was speeding because “there’s no speed limit on the highway in Israel.”
byu/DisruptSQ inTourismHell
You might want to read our story on Arizona’s new legislation seeking to create America’s first version of the German Autobahn, a stretch of highway with no speed limit at all.
In other words, Sinuani’s rationale might be better suited for travel blogs and late-night talk show monologues than as a legal defense. Still, you’ve got to admire the confidence with which the story was delivered. He went full throttle into the “my homeland highway rules are different” lane and left no turns untried.
Now What?
Florida’s super speeder laws are nothing to take lightly. Driving significantly above the posted limit, especially on interstates like I-95 or I-4, can be a serious public safety issue with real consequences.
From hefty fines to possible license suspension, and yeah — that little jail visit — the cost of going fast can outweigh any “I’m late for a flight” story you think you’ve got lined up.
So, the next time your commute starts feeling like a drag, try some good old playlist upgrades or caffeine. Not 114 mph plus excuses. And if you do plan on racing to catch a flight, leave a little extra time… or take a plane earlier. Your local traffic deputies will thank you.
Sources: Spot On Florida