Hailey Heseltine
news@greenepublishing.com
Florida's recent “Halo Law” (SB 184 Impeding, Threatening, or Harassing First Responders) went into effect last year, changing how bystanders can legally observe and interact with working first responders.
SB 184 defines “first responders” as including law enforcement officers, correctional probation officers, firefighters and emergency medical care providers. The law requires bystanders to, after receiving a verbal warning from a working first responder, remain or retreat to at least 25 feet away from the responder.
Per the bill's language, “It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and willfully violate such warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder with the intent to: impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform such duty; threaten the first responder with physical harm; or harass the first responder.” It defines harassment as “to willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.”
Breaking the “Halo Law” is considered a second degree misdemeanor. Under Florida law, punishments for a second degree misdemeanor include up to 60 days in a county jail, fines up to $500 and 6 months of probation.
Note that SB 184 does not prohibit bystanders from taking photos, audio recordings or videos, provided that the bystanders doing so remain out of the 25-foot range if asked to by the first responders.