A dramatic crackdown on extreme speeding is unfolding in the US state of Florida, and a new investigative report is revealing just how serious authorities are about getting reckless drivers off the road.
In a segment reported by investigative journalist Katie LaGrone for WFLA-TV, law enforcement footage shows what happens when drivers push their luck far beyond the speed limit.
The video captures several drivers being stopped after clocking speeds well into the triple digits, and the explanations they offer once the flashing lights appear are often as shocking as the speeds themselves.
An Olympian in the Crosshairs
One of the most talked-about cases involved Olympic track star Sha’Carri Richardson. According to authorities, a deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office stopped Richardson after allegedly recording her driving at 104 miles per hour.
Body camera footage shows the tense roadside interaction as the officer questions the driver about her speed.
At one point, the officer tells her she had been traveling at 104 mph. The driver insists she was not intentionally speeding and pleads for leniency. The officer, however, does not budge. Instead of issuing a simple citation, the situation escalates under Florida’s strict new law targeting excessive speeding.
Richardson was taken into custody and informed she would need to post a $500 bond. While the Olympic sprinter has since pleaded not guilty, her case highlights how aggressively authorities are enforcing the state’s latest anti-speeding measure.
The “Super Speeder” Law
The law in question is Florida’s “super speeder” statute, which took effect earlier this year. It dramatically increases penalties for drivers who exceed the posted speed limit by 50 mph or more, or who drive more than 100 miles per hour.
Under the legislation, excessive speeding is no longer treated as a simple traffic violation. It is now considered a criminal offense.
Investigators say the law has already had a significant impact. Roughly 2,000 drivers across Florida have been criminally charged since the statute went into effect.
Video clips shared by law enforcement agencies across the state reveal just how extreme some cases have been. Officers have pulled over drivers traveling at speeds well above 100 mph. Some have reached 140 mph or more.
Many of those drivers have offered explanations that range from unusual to outright unbelievable.
Unbelievable Excuses
One driver told officers he was speeding because he had an appointment with his barber and did not want to miss his haircut. Another driver said he needed to hurry because he had a flight to catch in New York. We also ran that story. Others insisted they simply had no idea they were driving that fast.
Court records reveal a mix of offenders. Some are repeat drivers who have attempted to flee from police during high-speed pursuits. Others are first-time offenders who claim they lost track of their speed while trying to get somewhere quickly.
One recent case involved a teenager in Clearwater who was arrested after allegedly driving at 129 miles per hour. When questioned by officers, the teen reportedly said he was trying to get back to work on time after a slow stop at a McDonald’s drive-through.
A Clear Message From Law Enforcement
For law enforcement, these incidents illustrate why the tougher law was introduced in the first place.
Sergeant Steve Gaskins of the Florida Highway Patrol says the speeds officers are seeing leave little doubt that drivers know exactly what they are doing.
According to Gaskins, traveling at 140 mph is not something that happens accidentally. He explains that drivers moving that fast are deliberately pushing their vehicles to dangerous extremes.
In the past, officers might have issued a citation and sent the driver on their way. But the new law allows police to remove those drivers from the road immediately and take them to jail. Authorities believe the tougher consequences send a stronger message to anyone tempted to treat public highways like racetracks.
The penalties are serious. Drivers convicted under the super speeder law could face up to 30 days in jail. Repeat offenders could face a jump to 90 days in jail, along with hefty fines.