The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Transportation
BILL: SB 1210
INTRODUCER: Senator Martin
SUBJECT: Traffic Infractions Resulting in a Crash with Another Vehicle
DATE: March 24, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Johnson Vickers TR Pre-meeting
2. JU
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 1210 requires a mandatory hearing for a person cited for running a red light or a stop sign
which resulted in a crash with another vehicle. For a first offense, there is a civil penalty of $500,
in addition to other penalties. For a second offense, there is a civil penalty of $1,000, in addition
to any other penalties, and the person’s driver license must be suspended for six months. For a
third or subsequent infraction, there is a civil penalty of $1,000, in addition to any other
penalties, and the person’s driver license must be suspended for one year.
The bill requires persons found to have run a red light or stop sign resulting in a crash with
another vehicle to carry the same additional insurance as is required for convictions and certain
pleas relating to driving under the influence.
The bill has a fiscal impact on both state and local governments. See Section V., Fiscal Impact
Statement for details.
This bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Requirements for Vehicles to Stop
Florida law requires the driver of any vehicle to obey the instructions of any applicable official
traffic control device unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
1
A violation is a noncriminal
1
Section 316.074(1), F.S. There are also exceptions granted to drivers of authorized emergency vehicles.
REVISED: BILL: SB 1210 Page 2
traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation.
2
The statutory base fine is $60,
3
but with
additional fees and surcharges, the total penalty may be up to $159.
4
Florida law also requires that the driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection with a stop sign
to stop before entering the intersection.
5
A violation is a noncriminal traffic infraction,
punishable as a moving violation. The statutory base fine is $60,
6
but with additional fees and
surcharges, the total penalty may be up to $159.
7
Traffic Infractions Requiring a Mandatory Hearing
Any person cited for any traffic infraction listed below must appear before a designated official
for a hearing:
• Any infraction which results in a crash that causes the death of another;
• Any infraction which results in a crash that causes serious bodily injury
8
of another;
• Any infraction of passing a school bus on the side of the bus where children enter or exit the
bus while the bus is displaying a stop signal;
9
• Any infraction related to unsecured loads;
10
or
• Any speeding infraction involving exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph or more.
11,12
Motor Vehicle Insurance Requirements – Driving Under the Influence
Section 324.023, F.S., provides that in addition to any other statutory insurance requirement,
every owner or operator of a motor vehicle, and who, regardless of adjudication of guilt, has
been found guilty of or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to driving under the
influence
13
must establish and maintain insurance or other ability to respond in damages for
liability on account of motor vehicle accidents of:
• $100,000 for bodily injury to, or death of, one person in any one crash;
• $300,000 because of bodily injury to, or death of, two or more persons in any one crash; and
• $50,000 in property damage in any one crash.
2
Section 316.074(6), F.S.
3
Section 318.18(3)(a), F.S.,
4
Florida Association of Clerks of Court, 2024 Distribution Schedule, p. 48.
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.flclerks.com/resource/resmgr/publicationsanddocuments/2024_Distribution_Schedule_-.pdf
(last visited March 19, 2025).
5
Section 316.123(2)(a), F.S. There is an exception for when directed to proceed by a police officer or a traffic control signal.
6
Section 318.18(3)(a), F.S.,
7
Florida Association of Clerks of Court, 2024 Distribution Schedule, p. 48.
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.flclerks.com/resource/resmgr/publicationsanddocuments/2024_Distribution_Schedule_-.pdf
(last visited March 19, 2025).
8
Section 316.1933(1)(b), F.S., defines the term “serious bodily injury” to mean an injury to any person, including the driver,
which consists of a physical condition that creates a substantial risk of death, serious personal disfigurement, or protracted
loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
9
Section 316.172(1)(b), F.S.
10
Sections 316.520(1) and (2), F.S.
11
Sections 316.183(2), s. 316.187, or s. 316.189, F.S.
12
Section 318.19, F.S.
13
Section 316.193, F.S. This provision applies to convictions and pleas after October 1, 2007. BILL: SB 1210 Page 3
These higher insurance limits must be carried for a minimum of three years. If such person has
not been convicted of driving under the influence or a felony traffic offense for a period of three
years from the date of reinstatement of his or her driving privileges for the driving under the
influence offense, the owner or operator is no longer subject to these additional insurance
requirements.
14
Relevant Crash Data
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ (DHSMV) crash report database
identified the following type and number of crashes in 2023 related to running red lights or stop
signs:
15
First
Driver
Action
Crashes
with
Fatalities
Crashes with
Incapacitating
Injuries
Crashes with
Non-
Incapacitating
Injuries
Crashes with
Possible
Injuries
Crashes
with
No
Injuries
Total
Crashes
Ran Red
Light
84 681 6,067 7.889 30,324 33,045
Ran Stop
Sign
57 422 2,063 4,065 12,962 19,569
Total 141 1,103 8,130 11,954 43,286 52,614
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill requires a mandatory hearing for the offense of running a red light or a stop sign
resulting in a crash with another vehicle.
16
The bill provides that if a person is required to appear before a designated official and has been
found to have committed the infraction of running a red light or a stop sign resulting in a crash
with another vehicle, the designated official must impose a civil penalty of:
• For a first infraction, $500 in addition to any other penalties.
• For a second infraction, $1,000 in addition to any other penalties and the person’s driver
license must be suspended for six months.
• For a third or subsequent offense, $1,000 in addition to any other penalties and the person’s
driver license must be suspended for one year.
The bill requires persons found to have committed such infractions to maintain the same
insurance as is currently required for convictions and certain pleas for driving under the
influence for a minimum of three years.
This bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
14
Section 324.023, F.S.
15
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2023 Crash Report, p. 32
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_facts_2023.pdf (last visited March 19, 2025).
16
Section 316.003(109), F.S., defines the term “vehicle” to mean every device in, upon, or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except personal delivery devices, mobile carriers, and devices used
exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. BILL: SB 1210 Page 4
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Drivers who violate the provisions of the bill will experience a negative fiscal impact
associated with increased penalties and additional insurance requirements. There may
also be additional indeterminate economic costs associated with driver license
suspensions.
C. Government Sector Impact:
State and local governments will experience an indeterminate positive fiscal impact as a
result of the additional revenues associated with the enhanced civil penalties provided for
in the bill.
There may be an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on the court system due to the
significant number of additional mandatory hearings that would be required by the bill.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
On line 116, there may need to be an “or” added at the end of that line. BILL: SB 1210 Page 5
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 318.14, 318.19, and
324.023.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.