Florida people; slow down

[PiZdETS]

And stop doing wheelies everywhere. RAE!
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...,6871280.story

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$1,000 fine for speeding 50 mph over limit takes effect in Florida

By Michael Turnbell and Sallie James |South Florida Sun-Sentinel October 5, 2008 Brazen motorcyclists and drivers now will be clobbered with a fine in the four figures — $1,000 and up — if they get busted for excessive speeding on Florida roads.

And for the bikers, there are additional new rules, including a ban on "popping wheelies," or lifting the front wheel off the pavement.

Under a Florida law that took effect this month, drivers face a $1,000 fine for going 50 mph over the speed limit.

Get caught a second time and you'll fork over $2,500 and lose your license for a year. You'll pay $5,000 for the third offense and forfeit your license for 10 years.

Previously, the harshest penalty was $250 for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 mph. That penalty is still in effect.

On the second day the new law went into effect, officers using airplanes to track traffic cited 80 people for excessive speeding in a 1 1/2 -hour period Thursday evening on the southern end of the Palmetto Expressway in Miami-Dade County.

One motorcyclist was clocked at 150 mph. A Ford Mustang hit 145 mph.

"I expected we'd see two or three, but there was one right after the other," said state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, who drafted the new law to deter speeders from turning highways into racecourses.

Lopez-Cantera's bill initially targeted reckless motorcyclists on racing-style motorcycles. But the Legislature broadened it to include all motorists after motorcycle riders complained it was discriminatory.

A second part of the law requires that motorcyclists keep both wheels on the ground at all times. Bike owners also must attach their license tags horizontally.

If the plate is mounted improperly, officers can fine the rider $1,000. The intent was to penalize riders with "flip-up" tags that can be turned so the tag isn't readable — a ploy used by speeders.

But it also might hurt riders with customized bikes, such as choppers with designs that might make normal plate mounting impossible, said James Lesniak, president of the southeast chapter of the local motorcycle rights group ABATE.

"You get a guy who pays $80,000 for his bike, rides it out of the shop the first day, and a few blocks away gets a $1,000 ticket," Lesniak said. "I think this is absolutely ridiculous."

"Big Ed" Youssef, president of the Outsiders Motorcycle Club, a sports bike club with about 50 members, said the law is unfair but probably necessary.

"You have a lot of independent riders going out there doing whatever they want," Youssef said. "The machines are so fast, police can't keep up with them. Unfortunately, a lot of good riders are going to get caught in the crossfire."

Have fun riding Florida peeps!!

[Mr Lefty]

this isn't new... Rae was telling me about this when I was down there...

good thing I didn't loop it down there or I'd have a fine to go along with my sprained ankle and busted bike

[Trip]

50 over, yeah, I could see why they would want to penalize that.

[jeeps84]

Damn that was slow.

[the chi]

Yep, this came into full effect this month. Let me tell ya, its got even the most law abiding of us rather nervous.

There is much more to it, lots of piddly shit. For example, they are able to ticket and/or arrest you if they feel you arent properly riding your motorcycle as well. Rumors have it that they may try and pull us over for one handing it, but technically as long as a foot is on each side of the bike, we're sposed to be within the law. ANd stuff like that...*sigh* One more way to make Florida riding great!

[marko138]

Sounds like a lot of bullshit.

[the chi]

Originally Posted by marko138

Sounds like a lot of bullshit.

It is. And VERY prejudiced towards bikers obviously. There are no rules like this governing cars, and I can certainly go almost as fast in my car as I can on my bike!! As for the custom guys, they ARE screwed with the new tag requirements...

[marko138]

That sucks. I'd be out-ski'z....post haste.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by The Chi

It is. And VERY prejudiced towards bikers obviously. There are no rules like this governing cars, and I can certainly go almost as fast in my car as I can on my bike!! As for the custom guys, they ARE screwed with the new tag requirements...

Tag requirements are standard in a lot of states as what ya'll are just now getting enforced to do. Oh well, get over and put your plate horizontal.

As far as prejudiced, lol, that's a joke right. I don't know why people complain about this shit. If you ride the speed limit, you have nothing to worry about, if you break the law, pay the piper. If you can't wear your big boy/girl pants and take the punishment, then you don't need to be breaking the law.

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Trip

Tag requirements are standard in a lot of states as what ya'll are just now getting enforced to do. Oh well, get over and put your plate horizontal.

As far as prejudiced, lol, that's a joke right. I don't know why people complain about this shit. If you ride the speed limit, you have nothing to worry about, if you break the law, pay the piper. If you can't wear your big boy/girl pants and take the punishment, then you don't need to be breaking the law.

Silly!! Im not complaining or stating that I wouldnt accept the punishment for breaking the law. What I am stating is that this stuff is ONLY for bikers. Not for cars at all! Its common thought that this is one of those "first steps to banning SB's" completely and many of the lil footnotes it has are silly things that we may already do without thinking of it as being illegal (like 1 handed riding).

The biggest issue here is the "fine line". There are so many items attached in this new law that the cops are actually given cheat sheets that say what the punishment is for a said violation. They can pull us over when they just "think" we are breaking the law. Which for those law abiders is fine, as I am usually such, but the thought of being pulled over for resting my feet on my frame sliders, standing up to rest my butt or adjust my pants, or riding with a hand on my hip makes me a tad nervous for those cops who want to take this law overboard and decide I look like i'm prepping to wheelie or some such which is a viable concern. In a state where the majority of riders are stunnas or squids, it would make anyone nervous!