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Gov. Scott Vetoes Speed Limit Bill

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — A bill that would have raised the speed limits on some Florida highways to 75 miles per hour has come to a screeching halt.

On Monday Gov. Rick Scott followed through on his pledge to veto the legislation. He said last month that he would do so if it reached his desk in response to pleas from highway troopers and the state's sheriffs.

The bill (SB 392) would not raise speed limits automatically, but would allow the Department of Transportation to increase them when it saw fit.

The bill also allowed the department to raise the limit from 65 to 70 mph on rural, four-lane divided highways and up to 65 mph on other roads.

Legislators only approved the bill after a contentious debate, where opponents said raising Florida's speed limits would embolden motorists to drive faster.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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