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Florida ‘super speeders’ may face stiffer penalties

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Florida ‘super speeders’ may face stiffer penalties


Florida lawmakers want to pump the brakes on drivers exceeding the speed limit.

A new bill looks to increase the penalties for so-called super speeders. House Bill 351 defines super speeders as anyone driving 50 mph or more over the speed limit or driving 100 mph. Representative Susan Plasencia introduced the bill.

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Why you should care:

The first offense could land you in jail for up to 90 days, or a fine of $500, or both. The second time, you could go to jail for up to six months, pay a fine of at least $5,000, or face both jail time and the fine.

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You’ll also get your license suspended for one year. 

READ: Accused driver offered plea deal for DUI crash that killed 19-year-old motorcyclist

In Orange County in January, deputies cited 101 drivers for going 100 miles per hour or more. In January of last year, they cited 29. Orange County Sheriff John Mina is a big supporter of the bill and says one of his priorities this year is to push for a law to increase penalties for super speeders.

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What they’re saying:

“We put these signs out all the time that say, ‘Hey, you know, drive like your kids live here,’” Sheriff Mina said. “And if you’re going that fast in a residential area, that’s what I as a parent and that’s where most residents are concerned, you know, you’re going to hit a kid. You’re going to hit a dog. You’re going to you’re going to kill somewhere,” Sheriff Mina said. 

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What’s next:

The bill is currently in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee. If the bill is passed and the governor signs it into law, it will go into effect July 1. 

The Source: This story was written with information gathered by FOX 13’s Kailey Tracy. 

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‘The naughty list:’ Wrong tag leads to arrest of wanted Central Florida man

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‘The naughty list:’ Wrong tag leads to arrest of wanted Central Florida man


VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A wanted Central Florida man was caught after deputies noticed that his car had a wrong tag, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

In a release on Wednesday, deputies said they initially spotted a car with a tag that didn’t belong on it.

“A little research showed (the driver) had an open warrant for occupied burglary,” the release reads. “He tried to accelerate and ram his way out of trouble, but that only led to more charges.”

Body-camera footage shows deputies confront and ultimately catch the driver, identified as 33-year-old Dillon Cottrell.

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Dillon W. Cottrell, 33, of Bunnell (Volusia Sheriff’s Office)

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies also recovered a trafficking amount of fentanyl and other drugs.

Now, Cottrell faces charges of burglary, criminal mischief, fleeing law enforcement, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, and obstructing law enforcement.

He is held without bond. His passenger, Kelli Jo Hands, was also arrested, deputies added.

Kelli Jo Hands, 39, of DeLand (Volusia County Jail)

“Both are still in jail and most likely spending Christmas there,” the release concludes.

Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.



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Grand Rapids police chief is candidate for Florida job: Eric Winstrom faced early trial

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Grand Rapids police chief is candidate for Florida job: Eric Winstrom faced early trial


GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Just weeks into his new job, Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom – sharing a small apartment with his wife and two children – was told that an officer was just involved in a shooting.

A former commander for Chicago Police Department, Winstrom had dealt with many shootings involving police.

Officer Christopher Schurr shot and killed Black motorist Patrick Lyoya after a Feb. 4, 2022, traffic stop. Schurr, a white officer, shot Lyoya in the back of the head.

Winstrom, who was named this week one of three finalists for police chief in Pensacola, Florida, recalled the tragedy in Grand Rapids in an MLive video 13 months after the killing.

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He became chief in Grand Rapids on March 7, 2022.

Protesters march through downtown Grand Rapids after a mistrial was declared in the Christopher Schurr murder trial after the jury could not come to a unanimous decision on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Schurr was charged with second-degree murder after killing Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop in 2022. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

He described the shooting as “just like a slap across the face and a wake-up call because I had been involved in so many of these difficult situations in Chicago. So I was like, ‘Oh, OK, I guess we’re doing this here so quick’ and it was I would say a progression of sadness.”

Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom talks to media Tuesday, Nov. 11 after officers and an 18-year-old man exchanged gunfire in a Southeast Grand Rapids neighborhood. (John Agar | MLive)John Agar

He met with Lyoya’s family in his office, “crying literally with them.” He knew that Schurr, who was ultimately acquitted by a Kent County jury of second-degree murder, and his family were devastated, too.

Winstrom fired Schurr after charges were filed.

He knew that his officers had strong feelings, with many supporting Schurr, who said he acted in self-defense when Lyoya gained control of his Taser.

GR Fatal Stabbing 11.6.24
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom responds to the scene of a fatal stabbing. (Joel Bissell|MLive)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Winstrom, who often responds to serious crime scenes, said: “I’ll say that this department – I’m sure everybody’s got their opinions – but from what I’ve seen they’ve handled it professionally … have not let it impact job performance at all which was something that I was really afraid of.”

That has happened in other U.S. cities after controversial police shootings. Lyoya’s supporters held many protests, particularly when the officer was on trial.

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Windstrom said that calls to defund police can lead to a ‘mass exodus’ of officers, which data shows results in increasing violence in minority neighborhoods.

He said that “officers in Grand Rapids, whether they agree with my decision to fire Christopher or not, come to work every day. They just do a phenomenal, professional job. I’m really proud of them.”

Winstrom is a finalist for the Pensacola job with Brian Dugan, a former Tampa police chief, and Erik Goss, the acting deputy chief in Pensacola, the Pensacola News Journal reported.

The selection process will occur Jan. 12 to 14.

Winstrom declined an MLive request for comment on Wednesday, Dec. 24, but issued a statement the previous day.

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He asked for patience while he considered what is best for him and his family. He said he will be “engaged here as ever” during the process and “I remain fully committed to ensuring the City of Grand Rapids is a community where people feel safe and are safe at all times.“

City Manager Mark Washington appointed Winstrom nearly four years ago knowing “that he was a highly qualified, top-tier professional in the field of public safety. While he hadn’t served as a Chief of Police, his potential was evident.”

Washington added: “Given the significant progress he has led within the Grand Rapids Police Department – specifically in advancing constitutional policing, enhancing transparency, and centering the department’s commitment to serve all residents – it is certainly not surprising that other communities would seek out his leadership and expertise.”



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Florida man charged in racially motivated attack plot

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Florida man charged in racially motivated attack plot


Federal agents arrested a 20-year-old Sarasota man after finding Nazi propaganda, pipe bombs, guns, ammunition, a pressure cooker, and instructions for making explosives inside his home. Investigators also discovered an index card outlining plans for a racially motivated attack, including placing motion-activated bombs for police. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.



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