A woman accused of driving 116 miles per hour broke down in tears and pleaded with officers to let her go after being arrested under Florida’s new “super speeder” law, according to police footage.
The law, which took effect on July 1, targets the most reckless drivers—including those like Kiara Molina Rucci, who police say was nearly doubling the speed limit.
“I was going 116 and he won’t give me a chance,” Rucci, 28, cried from the back of a patrol car, as seen on dashcam video. She rocked back and forth, sobbing and trying to reason with the trooper.
“I got a legit call that my son got bit in the face by a pitbull,” she said. Despite her pleas, the officer stayed firm. “Please! You don’t have to be so mean,” she begged.
According to WOFL, Rucci was caught speeding in a 65-mph zone.
Under the new law, drivers clocked at 50 miles per hour over the speed limit—or driving 100 miles per hour or faster—face a $500 fine, 30 days in jail, or both. Repeat offenders can receive fines up to $1,000 and as much as 90 days behind bars, in addition to license suspension.
Migdalisis Garcia of the Florida Highway Patrol said the number of violations in the first month was higher than expected. In July alone, 49 drivers were cited for going 100 mph or more, and another 22 were caught driving at least 50 mph over the limit, according to WFTV.
“When crashes happen at these speeds, it’s not survivable,” Garcia warned.
Other New Driving Laws Taking Effect August 1, 2025
Several states are also rolling out tougher traffic rules:
- North Dakota: New speeding fine structure, with penalties increasing for drivers exceeding the limit by 16+ mph; interstate speed limits raised to 80 mph.
- Florida: Teen drivers must now log 50 hours of education, complete a four-hour traffic course, and pass vision/hearing tests with parental consent.
- Louisiana: Drivers moving even 1 mph under the limit in the left lane can face fines starting at $150 and possible jail time for repeat offenses. The state also introduced a hands-free law banning handheld phone use while driving, with fines up to $250 in school or construction zones.
- North Carolina: Ignition interlock devices required for drivers convicted of DWI.
- Minnesota: Speed enforcement cameras begin operating in Minneapolis and Mendota Heights, with repeat violations leading to escalating fines.
- Oregon (Newport): Police may tow vehicles with an unpaid parking ticket older than 45 days or four unresolved citations.
In July, another driver, Miguel Arturo Peña, was arrested for allegedly going 113 mph in a 60-mph zone.
So far in 2025, Florida has reported 1,249 traffic fatalities and over 300,000 crashes. State officials say speeding and aggressive driving alone have caused 181 deaths and more than 460 serious injuries.
