Most drivers who use Howland Boulevard in Deltona, Florida, had a similar reaction after seeing the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office video.
It wasn’t just a surprise that someone was arrested for speeding. It was disbelief that anyone managed to hit triple-digit speeds on one of the city’s busiest commercial roads in the middle of the day. In the comments, several local residents said they struggle to even reach the posted speed limit because of traffic, red lights, and the constant flow of vehicles along the corridor.
The arrest quickly sparked a debate online. Some commenters focused on the speed itself. Others focused on where it allegedly happened. More than a few residents described Howland Boulevard as a roadway where excessive speeding has become a regular complaint, with one person joking that it has become “Howland International Speedway” while another called it the “Deltona 500.”
Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows deputies stopping a driver they say was traveling more than twice the posted speed limit. The situation became even more serious once deputies learned who else was riding in the vehicle.
Deputies Say Driver Was Going 105 MPH in a 45 Zone
Embedded video of the arrest follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies clocked a black SUV traveling 105 mph on Howland Boulevard, where the posted speed limit is 45 mph. Body camera video released by the agency shows deputies conducting the traffic stop and taking the driver into custody.
“Because you were doing 105 on a city road in the middle of the day,” a deputy told the driver after he asked why he was being arrested.
The driver was identified as 44-year-old Daniel Alphonse. Deputies said the stop occurred along a busy commercial stretch of Howland Boulevard, lined with businesses and frequently traveled by local drivers.
Deputies Found a 5-Year-Old Child in the Back Seat
During the stop, deputies said they discovered Alphonse’s 5-year-old son riding in the back seat of the SUV.
“You were going 105 mph in a 45 mph speed limit zone through traffic with your son in the back seat of the car,” a deputy told the driver in the footage.
The child appeared unharmed and was later seen speaking with deputies. Many of the strongest reactions online centered on the child’s presence in the vehicle. Several commenters said the allegation of speeding was troubling on its own, but became even more concerning once they learned that a young child was involved.
Alphonse Faces Child Neglect and Speeding Charges
Alphonse was booked into the Volusia County Jail on charges of child neglect, reckless driving, and operating a vehicle more than 50 mph over the posted speed limit.
Jail records show his total bond was set at $6,000, including $5,000 for the child neglect charge and $500 each for the speeding and reckless driving charges.
The speeding-related charge stems from Florida’s new “super speeder” law, which applies to drivers accused of traveling 50 mph or more above the posted speed limit.
Residents Say Excessive Speeding Is a Frequent Complaint
The sheriff’s office post generated hundreds of comments, many from residents who said speeding on Howland Boulevard has become a regular problem.
Some said they routinely see drivers weaving through traffic, while others called for increased traffic enforcement on Howland Boulevard, Newmark Drive, and nearby residential streets. Several residents shared stories of vehicles flying past them at what they described as dangerous speeds, while others questioned how anyone could reach 105 mph on a roadway known for congestion and traffic signals.
One commenter joked that “Howland Boulevard is not the Autobahn.” Another wrote that they would be lucky to reach the speed limit, as they seemed to hit every red light. Others said they were thankful deputies stopped the SUV before anyone was hurt.
One comment, in particular, seemed to capture why so many people reacted so strongly to the video. Thanking the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, a resident wrote, “My daughter and grandkids are on the road daily. If he doesn’t have any regard for his own kid, he surely doesn’t have regard for anyone else’s.”
In many ways, that’s exactly why we share stories like this. Every driver, passenger, motorcyclist, cyclist, and pedestrian has to share the same roads. If someone is allegedly willing to take that kind of risk with their own child in the vehicle, it raises obvious concerns about the risks they may pose to everyone else around them.
Traffic laws only work when they’re enforced, and dangerous driving declines only when there are real consequences. Just as importantly, stories like this serve as a reminder to stay alert behind the wheel. Most drivers follow the rules, but it only takes one reckless decision from another motorist to change lives forever.