As of October 1st, anyone caught doing 30mph over the speed limit in Florida faces vehicle confiscation, five to ten years in prison and a ten-year license suspension. Bill HB 137, which was signed into law earlier today, was originally targeted at motorcyclists, but was amended at the last minute to include all vehicles.
Originally introduced by State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who developed an irrational fear of bikers after he witnessed some pulling wheelies and driving dangerously during a ride-along with Miami police, HB 137 has become known as the Anti-Biker Bill due to its discriminatory nature.
Defending motorcyclists during hearings at the state legislature, a representative of ABATE, a motorcycle lobby group, argued that the motorcycle specific penalties far outweighed those for motorists who violate a rider’s right of way, killing or injuring them.
Recently a motorcycle doing approximately 160 mph slammed into a large Ford SUV on US 19 near where I live. It hit so hard, that it bent the SUV in half killing both the motorcyclist and the SUV driver. This incident might have added fuel to the fire.
Found by KD Martin.
We already have a problem in Florida with motorcycles running from the police. This is going to make it much much worse. I would never run from the police, but if I knew that I was going 30mph over the limit and was going to face 5-10 years in prison I would run like hell.