A Florida woman was arrested after deputies said she was caught driving more than 100 mph while racing to pick up pizza before a restaurant closed.
Yazmin Erazo, 21, of Holiday, was stopped Thursday night by Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies after radar showed her speeding at 107 mph in a 55 mph zone on U.S. Highway 19 in Palm Harbor, according to local authorities.
Deputies said Erazo admitted she was rushing to reach Little Caesars before the store closed. She was arrested and charged under Florida’s new excessive speeding law, which took effect July 1, and was later released on bail.
Under the new statute, Florida House Bill 351, drivers can face criminal charges if they exceed the speed limit by more than 50 mph or drive 100 mph or more in a manner deemed dangerous to others. The offense is now classified as a criminal violation, not just a traffic infraction.
A first offense carries penalties of up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, while repeat violations can lead to up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000. A second conviction within five years could also result in a license suspension of up to one year.
Because the offense is criminal, convictions appear on background checks, which can affect employment, housing applications, and professional licenses.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that speeding-related fatalities have surged 43 percent statewide between 2013 and 2023, with the majority involving male drivers aged 16 to 25. In Alachua County alone, authorities have recorded 71 crashes this year linked to speeding and aggressive driving, resulting in four serious injuries and two deaths.
The new law was designed to curb extreme speeding after law enforcement across the state reported a sharp rise in dangerous driving behaviors during and after the pandemic.
the-independent.com
