• Florida deputies say a Corvette reached 130 mph in a posted 45 mph zone.
  • Driver was arrested under the state’s new Dangerous Excessive Speeding law.
  • A first conviction under the law can bring jail time, fines, or both.

“What the hell are we doing?” Those were the first words out of the mouth of a St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputy as he walked up to the Corvette. It’s a good question too because, according to the officer, the Corvette driver was going 130 mph (209 km/h) in a 45 mph (72 km/h) zone. Whether the driver knew it or not in that moment, his trip to jail was already booked.

According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the black mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette was stopped after deputies allegedly recorded it traveling 85 mph (137 km/h) over the posted speed limit. The driver was arrested at the scene and transported to the St. Johns County Jail.

Read: Florida Drivers Stunned As Dozens Jailed Under Harsh New Super Speeder Law

The sheriff’s office also released body camera footage of the stop, showing the deputy greeting the driver with the now-viral line before explaining why he had been pulled over. While the interaction remained calm, the consequences were anything but.

The arrest was made under Florida’s Dangerous Excessive Speeding law, often referred to as the “Super Speeder” law. The legislation makes it a criminal offense to exceed the posted speed limit by 50 mph (80 km/h) or more, or to drive faster than 100 mph (161 km/h) in a manner that endangers people or property. According to deputies, the Corvette driver allegedly met both criteria.

It’s easy to criticize the way speeding laws are enforced, especially in Florida, where many roads are long, straight, wide, and often lightly traveled. Even so, there’s little debate that driving at 130 mph on a public road dramatically increases the risk to, at the very least, the driver. At that speed, a vehicle covers roughly 190 feet (58 m) every second, leaving almost no time to react to traffic, debris, or a pedestrian entering the roadway.

For drivers tempted to see what their performance car can do, Florida’s new law raises the stakes considerably. A first conviction can result in up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both. Authorities have not identified the driver or announced whether additional charges will be filed. As with any criminal case, the allegations remain accusations until proven in court.

Florida Showed A Corvette Driver What 85 MPH Over The Speed Limit Gets You
Photos: FHP