Troopers say the suspect had a small child in the back seat when he was arrested.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Tampa man was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol after troopers say he was clocked driving over 100 mph on the eastbound Gandy Bridge.
According to an arrest affidavit, Angel Martinez, 35, was stopped around 7:39 p.m. Monday after a trooper observed him traveling at a high rate of speed in a posted 55‑mph zone. FHP reportedly clocked his speed at 114 mph.
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Martinez had a small child in the back seat, the affidavit states.
Officials say Martinez told them he was speeding because his child had defecated and that he was “just reading the road” to get home.
Martinez was arrested on a charge of dangerous excessive speeding.
Last year, a “Super Speeder” law went into effect, targeting drivers going 50 mph or more over the posted speed limit, or who travel at 100 mph or higher, regardless of the speed limit.
Under the law, those violations are no longer infractions — they are now criminal offenses.
The first offense can carry up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine and a mandatory court appearance.
A second offense within five years could mean up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, along with a license revocation of up to one year.
Previous 10 Tampa Bay News information contributed to this report.