Scott Revving Up Veto Pen For Faster Highway Speed Bill

May 14, 2014

Six days after a Florida Highway Patrol trooper gave an impassioned request against the proposal during the funeral service for a fellow trooper, Gov. Rick Scott said he will veto a measure that could increase speeds on state highways.

Scott told reporters after the state Cabinet meeting Tuesday that he will “stand with law enforcement” and veto the bill (SB 392), which has yet to be forwarded to his desk by state lawmakers.

“I’m going to stand with law enforcement and I want everybody to stay safe,” said Scott, who noted he had heard a wide range of opposition to the bill that would have allowed the Florida Department of Transportation to consider hiking maximum speed limits by 5 mph.

Scott added that comments last week against the bill by Trooper Tod Cloud were also “convincing.”

During a May 8 funeral ceremony for FHP Master Trooper Chelsea Renee Richard in Ocala, Cloud used his comments to tell Scott, who was in attendance, that the legislation “wasn’t a bright idea,” according to the Gainesville Sun.

Cloud was “very concerned about troopers being out there on the highway and people driving too fast,” Scott said. “By doing this we’re doing the right thing for our troopers and the right thing for law enforcement. I’ve been to too many law enforcement funerals.”

Richard was killed May 3 after being struck by a pickup truck while she was finishing up work on an earlier traffic accident on Interstate 75 near Ocala.

During the legislative session that ended earlier this month, the speed-limit proposal faced opposition from lawmakers at every stop in the committee process before being passed by a narrow 58-56 vote in the House and a more comfortable 27-11 Senate vote.

Shortly after Scott’s veto comments were reported, St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, one of the sponsors of the measure, tweeted he will bring the proposal back next year.

“I am proud of the bipartisan support we received on SB 392 and I look forward to continuing this discussion next year,” Brandes tweeted.

Kevin Bakewell, vice president of AAA Auto Club South, which sought a face-to-face meeting with Scott to lay out their opposition to the bill, said the veto “will undoubtedly prevent injuries and save lives on our roadways.”

“Speed-related crashes are a major contributing factor in traffic crashes including 30 percent of traffic fatalities,” Bakewell said.

Sen. Jeff Clemens, a Lake Worth Democrat who also sponsored the bill, argued during session that a 5 mph increase is unlikely to impact road safety.

by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida

Comments

6 Responses to “Scott Revving Up Veto Pen For Faster Highway Speed Bill”

  1. bigbill1961 on May 15th, 2014 5:27 pm

    Unfortunately, we do not have annual vehicle inspections in Florida to keep unsafe vehicles off the road. Increasing the speed limit will also increase the potential for disaster.

  2. Vulcanrider on May 15th, 2014 1:10 pm

    Yeah, that way only the Highway Patrol can run 80 on the Interstates. Don’t even try to tell me they don’t…

  3. Jane on May 15th, 2014 5:21 am

    There are enough serious accidents with the speed limit where it is, and people speed. Increased speed=more serious accidents and more deaths. Speed kills.

  4. RealityCheck on May 14th, 2014 9:09 am

    That trooper did not die as a result of a speeding motorist. I really don’t understand why she was mentioned by Scott. Maybe to drum up fear….accidents happen at all speeds.

  5. just listening on May 14th, 2014 8:10 am

    The speed limit does not need to be increased!!!!!!! Slow down folks and smell the roses.

  6. 429SCJ on May 14th, 2014 2:39 am

    Good, most of these drivers around here would be dangerous on a go cart track, exceedingly more so on our local roads at 80 and 90 mph.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News