2025 Will Be Remembered As A Big Year For FL Traffic Enforcement Laws

Lawmakers took aim at repeat offenders, reckless drivers, school zone violators, and even teens just getting started. The changes affect all corners of the road, and ignoring them could mean steep fines, loss of license, or time behind bars.

Wave One — July 1, 2025: Criminal Speeding, Teen Driver Overhaul, Move Over Law Expansion

This first wave began mid-year with legislation focused on reducing fatal crashes and curbing aggressive driving. HB 351 passed with bipartisan support and took effect July 1, ushering in several landmark changes.

Check out our map tracking speed camera activations around the state.

Super Speeder Law — Now a Criminal Offense

Under section 316.1926 of the Florida Statutes, Florida now classifies certain extreme speeding violations as criminal acts.

Before this law, even driving over 100 miles per hour was often treated as a civil citation. Now?

• Driving 50 mph or more above the posted limit or any speed over 100 mph automatically becomes a criminal traffic offense

• First-time offenders face a mandatory court appearance, up to 30 days in jail under section 775.082, and fines reaching $500 under section 318.18

• Second or subsequent violations within 5 years elevate the charge. Offenders face up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1000, plus driver license suspension under section 322.27

The law essentially draws a legal line between speeding and reckless disregard for life, making it easier for officers to press criminal charges without proving intent.

Teen Licensing Gets Stricter

Prior to July 1, teens only needed to complete a four-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education course and pass a written test.

Now, Florida Statute 322.56 requires:

• Completion of a full driver education course approved by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

• Vision and hearing exams administered by the state

• A signed parental consent form

• A passing score on the Class E knowledge exam

This change intends to reduce crash rates among teen drivers, who statistically are at higher risk during the first year of solo driving.

Move Over Law — A Much Bigger Net

Florida’s “Move Over” statute, section 316.126, was once limited to emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and sanitation trucks. Now it applies to any vehicle displaying hazard lights or warning signals along the roadside.

Under the new version of the law, drivers must:

• Move over one lane when possible

• If unable to move over safely, slow to 20 mph under the posted limit or to 5 mph when the limit is 20 mph or less

Violators face a fine, points on their license, and heightened insurance premiums. Officers have ramped up ticketing in major metro areas already.

Wave Two — October 1, 2025: DUI Refusal Charges, Enhanced Felonies, Automated Enforcement

The second wave of 2025 reforms came into force October 1 and shifted the legal framework of DUI enforcement and vehicle-related homicide cases. These changes focus on holding repeat and high-risk drivers accountable with new charging powers and expanded criminal exposure.

Refusing a Breath or Blood Test Is Now a Crime

Trenton’s Law, named after a child killed by an impaired driver, transformed Florida Statute 316.1939. Previously, refusing a chemical DUI test resulted in a one-year license suspension under administrative law.

Now, refusal is its own standalone criminal offense:

• First refusal is a second-degree misdemeanor under Florida Statute 316.1939(1), punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine

• Second or subsequent refusals are now first-degree misdemeanors under 316.1939(2), with penalties reaching 1 year in jail and a $1000 fine

Most notably, prosecutors do not need to prove that the person was impaired. Simply refusing the test is sufficient for prosecution.

DUI Manslaughter — Repeat Offenders Face 30 Years

Another major update was made to section 782.071 and section 316.193(3). It targets individuals with prior DUI or BUI convictions who cause a fatal crash.

If someone previously convicted of DUI causes a death in a new crash:

• The charge becomes a first-degree felony instead of second-degree

• Sentence exposure jumps from 15 years to a maximum of 30 years

• Judges now have more flexibility to deny bond and issue harsher sentencing

This is a powerful shift that allows the court to treat repeated recklessness as intentional criminal behavior, especially in deadly cases.

School Zone Speed Cameras Statewide

Section 316.0776 authorizes the installation of automated speed enforcement systems in school zones. These systems:

• Use radar to detect speed violations

• Capture license plate data and issue citations by mail

• Activate only during designated school hours and flashing beacon times

Tickets issued through these systems carry no points but must still be paid or contested in court. Fines vary by jurisdiction but typically start at $100.

Though less severe than criminal charges, these tickets are designed to build habits and increase school zone compliance using quiet but persistent enforcement.

Other Quiet but Serious Changes

Several additional reforms have come into play that drivers may not even notice until they are cited.

License Plate Obstruction Laws Now Tighter

Florida Statute 316.605 now prohibits:

• Tinted plate covers

• Flipped or rotating plates

• Frames or devices that obscure any part of the plate, including toll evasion mechanisms

Drivers caught using any modification intended to defeat toll cameras or law enforcement readers face civil penalties, and in some cases, misdemeanor charges for intent to evade detection.

Restitution in Hit and Run Cases

Under updates to Florida Statute 316.027, drivers who flee the scene of a crash involving injury can now be ordered to pay restitution regardless of criminal conviction. This includes:

• Medical expenses

• Ambulance costs

• Long-term rehabilitation fees

This change gives victims a path to compensation in civil court even if prosecutors do not secure a guilty verdict.

Unauthorized Vehicle Lighting Now a Criminal Issue

If you install red or blue lighting on your vehicle, especially strobes that mimic police vehicles, expect trouble. Changes to section 316.2397 now allow:

• Misdemeanor charges for using unauthorized lights

• Immediate impoundment of the vehicle in certain cases

Police have been instructed to look for aftermarket lighting that creates confusion or impersonates emergency vehicles.

Why 2025 Is a Turning Point

Florida did not just adjust fines or raise fees. This was an aggressive campaign to convert administrative rules into criminal law and to widen the surveillance net.

• Many infractions that were once fixable by paying a ticket now require a court appearance

• First-time offenders are no longer shielded from jail

• Automated enforcement is expanding beyond tolls and red lights

Two waves of change have made traffic law in Florida more complex, more punitive, and less forgiving.

If you are facing any charge under these new laws — whether a DUI refusal, Super Speeder violation, or school zone camera ticket — your case is entering an environment where stakes are higher than ever before.

And that is why 2025 will not fade from memory. It is the year Florida drew a line in the asphalt and told drivers to step carefully or suffer the legal consequences.