Florida Passes HB 137, Speeders Face Vehicle Confiscation, Prison Time



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. The full text of the bill follows the jump.
Photography credit: Roger Jones
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.
While the bill was modified to include all vehicles before being passed into law, the anti-motorcycle language remains, specifically that referring to the revocation of a motorcycle endorsement, leading to some confusion. It's not known if car drivers will face the same license suspension as bike riders.
Jalopnik does not endorse dangerous driving, but its our belief that the best way to make roads safer is through education, not draconian enforcement. After all, isn't anyone with only a week or less of Driver's Ed and very little idea of how to control their vehicle in an emergency driving dangerously? [Via Hell For Leather]


Florida Bill HB 137, pre all-vehicles amendment:
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled

An act relating to offenses committed while operating a
motorcycle; creating s. 316.1926, F.S.; providing
additional penalties for certain offenses committed by a
person operating or in actual physical control of a motorcycle; requiring that the person be taken into
custody; providing for seizure and forfeiture of the
motorcycle; providing for revocation of the person's
privilege to operate a motorcycle; providing an effective
date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
Section 1. Section 316.1926, Florida Statutes, is created
to read:
[i]316.1926 Motorcycle offenses.--

(1) When a law enforcement officer charges a person with
reckless driving in violation of s. 316.192 or exceeding the speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more in violation of s. 316.183(2), s. 316.187, or s. 316.189 while operating or in actual physical control of a motorcycle, the officer shall arrest the person, take him or her into custody, and seize the motorcycle, which shall be subject to forfeiture under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.
(2) Upon conviction, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, the court shall revoke the person's
authorization and privilege to operate a motorcycle for a period of 10 years and order the person to surrender his or herdriver's license.
(a) If the person holds a Class A, Class B, or Class C
driver's license, the department shall issue a replacement
license, valid for the remainder of the person's unexpired
license period, without the endorsement to operate a motorcycle.
(b) If the person holds a C

 

Since Florida has decided to discriminate against bikers, I've decided to discriminate against Florida -- won't be traveling into that state in the future. Hope the rest of you do the same.

 

Damn government at its best again!!!!!
I am sure glad I sold my hayabusa if not I would be in serious trouble!!

 

Well, NO danger of that wacko "GUMBY" polluting your state down there. Guess there is a reason why it is at the "tail" end of the country. As in "bunghole". Chit in, Chit out. And you guys down there weren't camped out on your representatives doorstep? Glad you have nice weather, it MAY compensate for the rest of the state's anti-biker mentality.
I am NOT advocating speeding, don't do it myself. It is the "anti-biker" that is the subject here. So, buy a Vette, and then speed like h*ll. Geez.

 

I have no issue with the 30mph over but when they can seize on one LEO's charge-NOT CONVICTION of reckless then that becomes a little drastic.

 

Can't have motorcyles scaring all the retirees.

 

Man, it's insane. I thought it's bad here in Ontario,the law says /new law/ 30mph over posted limit suspension of the licence for a week /I think/ and confiscation of the vehicle also for a week,plus fine up to $10.000. But it doesn't distinguish between car and bike. Everybody's equal.Mat

 

Now I guess this will give riders a reason to try and outrun the fuzz. Watch the fatalities rise. Typical Florida statute. Half a mind goes into developing it and they are normally old minds.

Tennessee or Arizona is looking better and better. Been here since '78.

 

Good point, may cause some kid to bolt...........prison

 

Just shows you can easilypass laws as that carry rediculous punishments. As long as it only effects a small segment of the population, it will manage to get plenty of support from people that it will not impact. Especially if you can pass it off as a safety issue.