Punta Gorda police arrested three drivers after radar clocked them at 96, 98 and 102 mph on the southbound U.S. 41 Gilchrist Bridge. The posted speed limit on that span over the Peace River is 45 mph, which means all three were traveling more than 50 mph over the limit. That detail matters more than it used to, because Florida’s Super Speeder law, in effect since July 1, 2025, makes driving 50 or more over the limit a criminal offense rather than a routine citation.
The penalties escalate quickly. A first conviction carries up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both. A second conviction within five years can mean up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and license revocation for 180 days to a year. Drivers cited for exceeding the limit by more than 50 mph must appear in court, so there’s no paying this one through an app. Punta Gorda police said the stops illustrate why officers monitor speeds on the bridge and warned that excessive speed cuts reaction time and endangers everyone else on the road.
The Gilchrist Bridge carries a lot of daily traffic, from retirees and snowbirds heading to Fishermen’s Village to workers crossing between Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte. It’s a short, open span with water on both sides, and police say that’s exactly why they keep watching it. These arrests are among the first high-profile tests of the new law locally, so the message is traveling fast: the bridge is not the place to test your acceleration. What do you think, is the new law the right tool to slow people down?
