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A worrisome increase in driving fatalities has inspired crackdowns on speeding laws all over the country. Violators will find themselves facing larger fines and even jail time. Supporters celebrate the stricter enforcement as a measure to make the roads safer, while critics argue that the new regulations are out of control. One state in particular will even charge you for going even one mile per hour over the posted limit.
Increase in Driving Fatalities
Driving fatalities have increased over the course of the past few years, and were particularly high during the pandemic. Increased speeding, impaired and distracted driving, and reckless driving have all contributed to this concerning increase. To combat it, several states across the U.S. have started implementing stricter driving laws.
Super Speeder Laws in Florida and Georgia
Florida and Georgia were on the forefront of the movement towards safer driving with the implementation of “Super Speeder” laws. These regulations target those going 85 MPH or more. IN Florida, anyone going 100 MPH or more may even be arrested in addition to being slapped with a hefty fine.
Speeding Could Result in Jail Time
In Florida, anyone exceeding the speed limit by 50 mph or more will be fined between $500 and $1,000 and can receive 30 to 90 days in jail. While these laws target the “super speeders” who are going well over the posted speed limit, another state has enacted a law that punishes any driver who speeds, even by only one MPH.
Nebraska’s New Speeding Laws
Nebraska is the next state to implement these harsher regulations against dangerous driving. The state rolled out several new laws that went into effect in early September. The new law classifies driving more than double the posted speed limit as reckless driving, which will receive harsher penalties.
Fines For Going 1MPH Over The Limit
The most shocking of the new regulations is that anyone going even one to five miles over the posted speed limit can be fined $50 in addition to paying court costs. Additionally, drivers going anywhere from five to ten miles over the limit can be fined $75 plus court costs. These fines continue to increase based on speed, up to $400.
Large Jump From Previous Law
The new measure (LB530) is a far cry from the previous law, which fined drivers only $10 for going one to five miles over the posted limit and $25 for going five to ten miles over. State patrol believes the previous penalties were too low for drivers to make a concerted effort to actually slow down.
Expanding the “Move Over” Law
In addition to the harsher speeding fines, Nebraska expanded the “move over” requiremnt to include all stopped vehicles and road users, instead of only emergency vehicles. Drivers must move over one lane or slow down so long as it is safe to do so.
A Glance at the Numbers
The Nebraska State Patrol reported more than 55 drivers speeding over 100 MPH in just the two weeks leading up to the implementation of the new regulations. They feel confident that the stricter enforcement will urge drivers to slow down and drive more carefully.
Keeping Streets Safe
The harsher penalties and tightened speeding laws in Nebraska and in other states are an effort to prevent reckless driving and fatal accidents. Though some may be annoyed with the strict penalties, authorities believe they are necessary to decrease the fatal accidents that continue to occur as a result of reckless driving.