PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A motorcyclist clocked traveling more than double the speed limit told traffic deputies his excessive speed was simply the result of getting too caught up in his music. But under a strict state traffic law, that excuse did not stop him from being loaded into the back of a cruiser.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department arrested the operator after an officer clocked the motorcycle traveling at a staggering 110 mph in a clearly posted 45 mph zone. When deputies pulled the driver over, he reportedly blamed his headphones, claiming he was distracted by his music and did not realize how fast he was moving. Instead of riding home with a standard civil traffic citation, the driver was handcuffed and charged criminally under Florida’s “Super Speeder” law.

The arrest serves as a high-profile example of how local law enforcement agencies are utilizing the state’s Dangerous Excessive Speeding statute (House Bill 351). Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law to combat a rising tide of street racing and extreme highway speeds.

Any driver caught traveling 50 mph or more over the posted speed limit is no longer given a traditional ticket. The violation automatically triggers a criminal second-degree misdemeanor charge.

Driving 100 mph or faster also exposes motorists to criminal charges if the speed is combined with behavior that actively disrupts traffic or endangers the public. Because the motorcyclist was traveling 65 mph over the local limit, the case automatically crossed into criminal territory under the statutory guidelines.

A motorcyclist clocked traveling more than double the speed limit told traffic deputies his excessive speed was simply the result of getting too caught up (PSLPD)

The Port St. Lucie Police Department emphasizes that the state’s legal framework leaves zero room for the standard civil options motorists used to rely on.

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Under the Super Speeder guidelines, violators are completely blocked from simply paying a fine online or via mail to resolve the issue. Drivers must physically appear before a judge in criminal court. The legal penalties for a first-time conviction under the law are severe, carrying a maximum of 30 days in county jail, a $500 fine, and a permanent criminal record. For repeat offenders caught within a five-year window, the consequences escalate to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a mandatory driver’s license revocation lasting anywhere from six months to a full year.

CBS12 News is finding the statistics on arrests statewide and in St. Lucie County.