Volusia County Council to pursue ‘stupid motorist’ ordinance

The ordinance, inspired by Arizona’s ‘stupid motorist’ law, would target drivers who bypass barricades to enter flooded streets or highways.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

The Volusia County Council voted 4-2 on Tuesday, May 2, to consider enacting an ordinance to recoup emergency response costs caused by drivers stranded on flooded streets during declared states of emergency.

The ordinance, inspired by Arizona’s “stupid motorist” law, would target drivers who bypass barricades to enter flooded streets.

County Councilman Danny Robins raised the topic at the council’s March 7 meeting, saying he hopes approving something similar to Arizona’s law would deter people from driving into floodwaters during storms.

Motorists who become stranded after driving onto flooded streets blocked with a barricade should be held accountable for the expense of getting them out of those situations, Robins said.

“You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes,” Robins said. “I want our people to be focused on the people that need it, not people making bad decisions with mommy and daddy’s four-wheel drive truck that they think they can get across the Taylor Road, Spruce Creek overflow there.”

According to a county memo, local governments in Florida have limited leeway to enact traffic regulations, are preempted by the state from assessing additional fines, fees, surcharges, or costs for violations, and cannot impose most fees for first responder services.

Under state law, the county may charge no more than $500 for a