VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County commissioners said they need more time to think about adopting a version of the “Stupid Motorist Law.”
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The idea, which is based on an Arizona law, would force people to pay fines if they get stranded while driving through floodwaters and need to be rescued.
Commissioners said there were still too many holes in the way Arizona’s law was written, and they don’t want to be the ones to define stupidity.
However, most did agree there should be a punishment for crossing floodwaters when you know you shouldn’t.
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Commissioners went back and forth Tuesday on a possible punishment for drivers who go through flood-prone areas with hurricane season just under a month away. They discussed the fines would recover the taxpayer dollars used for what could be unnecessary rescues.
Commissioners at first considered approaching Arizona state legislature about a similar bill in Florida.
“It would be stupid, pun intended, to waste more time on it,” Commissioner Troy Kent said.
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Commissioners voted to table any real decision for now and send the would-be local ordinance back to staff for clarification.
Since it would be a local ordinance, the citation wouldn’t be more than $500 as opposed to Arizona’s $2,000 fine.
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