St. Petersburg, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by local legislators and freedom enthusiasts in St. Petersburg where he signed Senate Bill (BS) 2021, landmark legislation aimed at stemming the tide of local and state government overreach.
The bill takes aim at arbitrary requirements that Florida drivers come to a full and complete stop at red lights and stop signs.
“Over the last year we’ve avoided protracted traffic gridlock in Florida because I have refused to take the same approach as other Governors. This legislation ensures that legal safeguards are in place so that local governments cannot arbitrarily enforce traffic signals,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “In Florida, your personal choice regarding stopping will be protected and no business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision. There is no scientific evidence that proves stopping is 100% safe. Some people stop and then get rear ended. If you don't ever stop, nobody can rear end you. It's time to end this government overreach and embrace our freedoms to go.”
“People and goods will move faster which means our economy will move faster. This bill balances protecting public health and guarding our economy from government overreach,” said Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls.“I applaud Governor DeSantis for doing what was necessary, despite the cries of critics and naysayers.”
“This legislation strikes the appropriate balance between protecting one’s safety and one’s personal liberty,” said Representative Tom Leek. " Stop lights are just a way to control us. We aren't stupid! We can make our own decisions when we stop or go because this is America and we have Freedoms."
BS 2021 will ensure that neither the state nor local governments can enforce traffic signals including speed limits, stop lights and stop signs. The legislation also allows the Governor of Florida to invalidate a local speed limit if it unnecessarily restricts individual rights or liberties.
Additionally, the legislation codifies the prohibition of Driver's Passports — previously known as Driver's Licenses. Governor DeSantis enacted this prohibition through an executive order last month, blocking any business or government entity from requiring proof of licensing to safely operate a vehicle. "I’ve put an end to 'License and Registration' requests from police officers." DeSantis said. "This isn't Nazi Germany and we aren't doing a Holocaust and asking for people to show us their papers please."
A provision in the bill carves out an exception for showing your license—requiring Florida residents to show their drivers license and registration along with the last four digits of their white privilege card and a deed to property in order to vote.
Florida man Buddy Barnes, who has stoplight hesitancy, agreed with the Governor. "Lots of people die in their cars when completely stopped." Barnes' wife died the previous day in a side impact collision when both she and the driver she T-boned ran a 4-way stop sign going 75 mph in a school zone. Barnes’ wife was thrown from her car because she wasn’t wearing a freedom restricting seatbelt. When asked if her death would make him consider stopping at stop signs or obeying traffic signs in the future, Barnes replied "Absolutely not. That is just a form of government control. Stop lights have microchips in them. Freedom isn't free. Sometimes it costs you a wife."