Don’t Be Surprised By New Florida Driving Laws

By Andy Alcock
July 1, 2013

Tallahassee, FL – They’re scattered throughout Tallahassee.

There are cameras ready to take your picture if you run a red light at intersections like Killearn Center Boulevard and Capital Circle Northeast.

“We get a lot of people that call and say yep, watched the video ran the light, I just need more time to pay,” said city of Tallahassee spokeswoman Michelle Bono.

Now violators will get that time.

The new law now in effect means you will have 60 instead of 30 days to pay the ticket.

There’s also a new easier municipal appeals process where you can challenge a ticket.

But if you lose, you’ll have to pay the fine and court costs.

The city is still determining what that cost will be.

Under the new law, it could be up to $250.

“There’s now more time, there’s now an appeals process, but the best choice is to choose not to run that red light at all,” said Bono.

Law enforcement officers are also hoping you choose not to text while driving.

A new law set to go into effect in October makes it a secondary offense.

“If I pull you over for speeding and at the same time I saw that you’re texting I could give you a citation for texting,” said Tallahassee Police Officer Dave Northway. “But I can’t pull you over if I just pull up beside you and just see you’re texting,” he said.

The first offense for texting while driving is a $30 fine plus court costs.

If you do it again within five years, it’s $60 plus court costs.

You can also get a ticket for texting while driving if you’re involved in an accident and someone spots you doing it before the crash.