Florida Super Speeder Law: Dangerous Excessive Speeding Charges

By Daniel D. Nawara, Sarasota criminal and DUI defense attorney. Last updated October 5, 2026.

Since July 1, 2025, driving far over the speed limit in Florida can be more than a ticket. Under section 316.1922, Florida Statutes, often called the super speeder law, "dangerous excessive speeding" is a charge that carries possible jail time and requires you to answer in court.

This page explains what the law covers, the penalties, and what to do if you were cited or arrested in Sarasota or Manatee County.

What counts as dangerous excessive speeding

The statute covers two situations. A person commits dangerous excessive speeding by operating a motor vehicle:

in excess of the speed limit by 50 mph or more, or
at 100 mph or more in a manner that threatens the safety of other persons or property.

The two are different. The first depends only on the speed and the posted limit, such as 80 in a 30 or 120 in a 70. The second applies at 100 mph or more, but the State also has to prove the driving threatened other people or property. Speed alone is not enough for that second type.

Penalties under section 316.1922

First conviction: up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both.
Second or later conviction: up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
Second or later conviction within 5 years of a prior one: the court must also revoke your driving privilege for at least 180 days and up to 1 year.

There are costs beyond the sentence. A conviction goes on your driving record, insurance companies can see it, and it can cause problems for people who drive for work or hold a commercial license.

This is not a ticket you can just pay

An ordinary speeding ticket is a civil infraction. You can pay it, elect a driving school, or ask for a hearing. Dangerous excessive speeding is different. It carries possible jail time, so it is handled as a criminal traffic charge with a required court date. An officer can arrest you at the scene or release you with a notice to appear.

Missing the court date can lead to a warrant and a suspended license. Pleading guilty or no contest at the first hearing to get it over with can leave you with a conviction that counts against you for years, and it becomes the prior that triggers a license revocation if it ever happens again.

How these cases are defended

Every case turns on its facts, but these are common places to look:

How the speed was measured. Radar, laser, pacing and aircraft timing each have rules. Florida law requires speed measuring devices to be approved, tested and operated by trained officers. If the records do not hold up, the speed reading may not either.
The actual speed limit. The 50 mph gap depends on the posted limit at that exact spot. Speed zones change, signs go missing, and construction zones are not always properly marked.
Which car, which driver. In traffic, on a multi-lane road, or at night, the officer has to have clocked the right vehicle and identified the right driver.
Whether anyone was actually threatened. For the 100 mph type, the State has to prove a threat to people or property. An empty highway at 3 a.m. is a different case from weaving through traffic.
The stop itself. If the stop or what followed was unlawful, evidence can be challenged.
The outcome. In the right case a lawyer may be able to negotiate a reduction to a civil infraction or another result that avoids a conviction for this offense. No outcome can be promised.

What to do if you were cited or arrested

Find your court date on the citation or notice to appear and do not miss it.
Do not just pay it or plead at the first hearing without talking with a lawyer.
Write down what you remember now: the road, traffic, weather, where the officer was, what the officer said about how your speed was measured.
Save anything that helps: dashcam video, GPS or app data, the names of passengers.
Do not post about it on social media.
Call a defense lawyer before the court date.

Frequently asked questions

Is dangerous excessive speeding a crime in Florida?

It carries possible jail time and a required court appearance, which makes it very different from a civil speeding ticket. Treat it as a criminal charge.

Will I be arrested?

You can be. Officers may arrest at the scene or issue a notice to appear with a court date. Either way you have to answer the charge in court.

Will I lose my license?

The statute requires revocation, for 180 days to 1 year, on a second or later conviction within 5 years of a prior one. A first conviction can still affect your record and insurance.

I was going over 100 but not 50 over the limit. Does the law apply?

It can, but only if the State proves you drove in a manner that threatened the safety of other persons or property.

Is this the same as reckless driving?

No. Reckless driving is a separate offense under section 316.192 with its own elements and penalties. Depending on the facts, an officer may charge one, the other, or both.

Do I have to go to court?

Yes, a court date is required. In many cases a lawyer can appear for you at some hearings. Ask about that when you call.

Talk with a lawyer before your court date

Nawara Law defends criminal traffic cases in Sarasota, Manatee and the surrounding counties. Call or text (941) 920-5514, nights and weekends too, or request a free consultation with former prosecutor Daniel D. Nawara. Have your citation in front of you when you call.

General information only, not legal advice. No outcome is guaranteed. Contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.