Florida law will create safety barrier for first responders, will go into effect on Jan. 1

[1srelluc]

Florida law will create safety barrier for first responders

A new Florida law will keep first responders safe by prohibiting a person from approaching any police, fire or EMS personnel while working on a call.

www.foxnews.com

A new law in Florida will support the need to keep first responders safe while working a call.

Senate Bill 184 will go into effect on Jan. 1 and will prohibit a person, after receiving a warning, from approaching a first responder engaged in the lawful performance of their job.

The law is aimed at helping police, fire and EMS personnel stay focused while performing critical first aid.

It will create a 25-foot barrier around the responder, keeping the public at bay. It also includes keeping the public from threatening and harassing the responders while they are trying to do their jobs.

Violators will receive a warning initially, but could face criminal penalties if they don't heed it.

It also specifies the definition of "first responder" to include law enforcement officers, a correctional probation officer, firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

Of course, the self-proclaimed "1st Amendment Auditors" and general "Lookie-Lous" are pissed about it as it deprives them of clicks.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a 1st Amendment auditor but here you go:

First Amendment Audits: Definition, Examples and More

You might see First Amendment audits pop up on YouTube and TikTok. But what are they? We answer that, and much more, in this guide.

www.freedomforum.org

Assholes in the way is more like it.

 

[airplanemechanic]

Florida law will create safety barrier for first responders

A new Florida law will keep first responders safe by prohibiting a person from approaching any police, fire or EMS personnel while working on a call.

www.foxnews.com

A new law in Florida will support the need to keep first responders safe while working a call.

Senate Bill 184 will go into effect on Jan. 1 and will prohibit a person, after receiving a warning, from approaching a first responder engaged in the lawful performance of their job.

The law is aimed at helping police, fire and EMS personnel stay focused while performing critical first aid.

It will create a 25-foot barrier around the responder, keeping the public at bay. It also includes keeping the public from threatening and harassing the responders while they are trying to do their jobs.

Violators will receive a warning initially, but could face criminal penalties if they don't heed it.

It also specifies the definition of "first responder" to include law enforcement officers, a correctional probation officer, firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

Of course, the self-proclaimed "1st Amendment Auditors" and general "Lookie-Lous" are pissed about it as it deprives them of clicks.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a 1st Amendment auditor but here you go:

First Amendment Audits: Definition, Examples and More

You might see First Amendment audits pop up on YouTube and TikTok. But what are they? We answer that, and much more, in this guide.

www.freedomforum.org

Assholes in the way is more like it.

Indiana and Arizona have passed similar laws, only to have them blocked by federal judges as illegal.

Louisiana already has this law. It's being challenged as unconstitutional as it violates the SCOTUS stated right to film the police. Since, from 25 feet away, you can't record audio well and possibly can't even get good video, it violates rights. It's already against the law the interfere with police doing their job, why this arbitrary buffer?

Why 25? Why not 26? Why not 24? Whose going to measure? What if you back away 25 feet from one LEO, only to get within 25 feet of another?

Here is a lawyers take on Louisiana's law on the same thing. It's being challenged in federal court.

 

[ReinyDays]

I disagree ...

25 feet isn't even half way across a typical residential street ... 50 feet would be across the street ... everyone's telephone should reach that far ...

The good 1A Auditors have telephoto lenses ... their point is just recording government activity ... that can be done easily at 50 feet ... with decent optics ...

"Across the street" is close enough ... ask your state representative for this "50 feet" limit along with the new improved 0.05 BAC limits on drunk driving ... or just make me Emperor of the World and I'll fix everything ...

 

[odanny]

Should be a felony to assault a first responder. Maybe in some states it is.

 

[pknopp]

Todays cell phones can take high quality video from 25 feet no problem. That's even if this law stands. 25 feet is less than a first down away from what one is filming.

I say if it even stands. I can see the case now. "The officer was committing a crime and you are telling me his partner can tell me I can't film it from where I was standing"?

Politicians like to crow about passing things like this which in reality doesn't do much.

 

[1srelluc]

Run "police tape" 25 feet out.

Cross it without an OK and you get arrested. Problem solved.

 

[Crepitus]

Florida law will create safety barrier for first responders

A new Florida law will keep first responders safe by prohibiting a person from approaching any police, fire or EMS personnel while working on a call.

www.foxnews.com

A new law in Florida will support the need to keep first responders safe while working a call.

Senate Bill 184 will go into effect on Jan. 1 and will prohibit a person, after receiving a warning, from approaching a first responder engaged in the lawful performance of their job.

The law is aimed at helping police, fire and EMS personnel stay focused while performing critical first aid.

It will create a 25-foot barrier around the responder, keeping the public at bay. It also includes keeping the public from threatening and harassing the responders while they are trying to do their jobs.

Violators will receive a warning initially, but could face criminal penalties if they don't heed it.

It also specifies the definition of "first responder" to include law enforcement officers, a correctional probation officer, firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

Of course, the self-proclaimed "1st Amendment Auditors" and general "Lookie-Lous" are pissed about it as it deprives them of clicks.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a 1st Amendment auditor but here you go:

First Amendment Audits: Definition, Examples and More

You might see First Amendment audits pop up on YouTube and TikTok. But what are they? We answer that, and much more, in this guide.

www.freedomforum.org

Assholes in the way is more like it.

Yeah that's probably not gonna pass constitutional muster.

Hasn't in other states at least.

LEO still gonna hafta let the public watch, sorry.

 

[Crepitus]

Run "police tape" 25 feet out.

Cross it without an OK and you get arrested. Problem solved.

They gonna run that tape while subduing a suspect?

 

[Crepitus]

Should be a felony to assault a first responder. Maybe in some states it is.

It's a felony to assault someone period most places.

 

[1srelluc]

They gonna run that tape while subduing a suspect?

No, but they can run it to secure an accident scene.

 

[Darkwind]

Interfering with life saving efforts is NOT a 1st Amendment right.

 

[drudge X]

Ain't gonna work. Police will have no control over crowd. What is the police on scene gonna do? Threaten to cite bystanders or focus on the suspect? This law will create more tension and nobody will win.

 

[Crepitus]

No, but they can run it to secure an accident scene.

Gonna cut off all the traffic on the main road through town?

 

[airplanemechanic]

Run "police tape" 25 feet out.

Cross it without an OK and you get arrested. Problem solved.

A problem that doesn't exist. They gonna do this for every traffic stop? What if the guy pulls over in front of your house and your house is less than 25 feet from the curb? Is it 25 feet from the cop or from the scene? Can the cop make you leave your house if it's less than 25 feet from him? What if its in an apartment, can he evacuate apartments on either side and behind because they are less than 25 feet from him?

Did you even watch the video I posted?

You don't have a right to tell citizens to stand back some arbitrary amount. They have a right to film police and they can't do it from 25 feet. If you're 25 feet away and I'm having a conversation with someone at a low volume, you WILL NOT hear us. That is a VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO FILM POLICE.

 

[ReinyDays]

Should be a felony to assault a first responder. Maybe in some states it is.

Yeah ... it's a felony to assault anyone here in Oregon ... just the police can't be bothered ...

 

[airplanemechanic]

I disagree ...

25 feet isn't even half way across a typical residential street ... 50 feet would be across the street ... everyone's telephone should reach that far ...

The good 1A Auditors have telephoto lenses ... their point is just recording government activity ... that can be done easily at 50 feet ... with decent optics ...

"Across the street" is close enough ... ask your state representative for this "50 feet" limit along with the new improved 0.05 BAC limits on drunk driving ... or just make me Emperor of the World and I'll fix everything ...

Wrong. Each lane is 12 feet, so 25 feet is completely across the street from a cop. With his back turned to you, you CANNOT hear or see what is going on. He CANNOT restrict you from seeing or hearing that. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW. Use your phone and film someone having a conversation from 25 feet away. You WILL NOT be able to hear what they say unless they yell. What if he turns and starts walking toward you? Now you have to run away? I mean it's absurd.

How are you going to enforce this? They would have to prove you were within 25 feet. What if you were 24'10"? How would they prove it? Without a tape measure on the ground at that moment, it's impossible.

It's a stupid feel-good law that is unconstitutional and illegal.

 

[ReinyDays]

Todays cell phones can take high quality video from 25 feet no problem. That's even if this law stands. 25 feet is less than a first down away from what one is filming.

I say if it even stands. I can see the case now. "The officer was committing a crime and you are telling me his partner can tell me I can't film it from where I was standing"?

Politicians like to crow about passing things like this which in reality doesn't do much.

25 feet is even less than a standard machine gun ammo belt ... "the whole nine yards" ...

Generally, we have to follow police orders ... and sue afterwards if that order was illegal ... and police generally don't have time to issue illegal orders ...

I'm a construction guy and we confront anyone who gets too close ... just over the property line ... and we don't call no damn pussy police to deal with the problem ... if you get my drift ... [rubs fist in other hand] ...

 

[airplanemechanic]

25 feet is even less than a standard machine gun ammo belt ... "the whole nine yards" ...

Generally, we have to follow police orders ... and sue afterwards if that order was illegal ... and police generally don't have time to issue illegal orders ...

I'm a construction guy and we confront anyone who gets too close ... just over the property line ... and we don't call no damn pussy police to deal with the problem ... if you get my drift ... [rubs fist in other hand] ...

Cute story but police are held to a higher standard and must comply with constitutional law. There is no property line on public property thus the cops have no right to tell you to get back that far. Just far enough where you don't interfere directly.

Did you watch the video I posted? It's only about 11 minutes long.

 

[1srelluc]

Gonna cut off all the traffic on the main road through town?

Possibly, depending on the scene.

Why do you hate EMSs, Firemen, and such?

 

[Seymour Flops]

If someone were intent on harming a police officer, or interfering with an arrest, this law will not stop them. If they're not afraid of committing felony assault on an LEO, they won't be intimidated by a five hundred dollar fine.

So this law seems tailored to cop watchers and first amendment Youtubers. This is government saying "sure this activity is legal, but we don't like it, so let's make it illegal."

How many examples are there of police officers being hurt by otherwise law-abiding citizens who decide to record them performing their duties? It seems that some of them think that being recorded is the harm, and indeed it can harm people who act inappropriately under the color of law.

The police officers who arrested George Floyd were video recorded by several people who were much closer than 25 feet and not one officer was harmed.