The law would impose a 25-foot zone of prohibition around law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical teams while they are in the course of their duties and protect them from impediments, threats, or harassment.
This “Halo Law” as reported by WESH is similar to one already passed in Louisiana earlier this year which requires that the first responders provide an audible, verbal warning to civilians instructing them not to approach them. Should the civilian(s) continue to violate the protected area they could be placed under arrest and face jail time and fines.
The bill, Florida SB184 explicitly states, “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: 1. Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform such duty; 2. Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or 3. Harass the first responder.”
The law provides that violation will be a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Florida Representative Alex Rizo, the bill’s sponsor explained the birth of the bill during a press conference in April,
“The genesis of what I lovingly call the ‘Halo law’ SB184 started four years ago when I was running for this office and I saw what was going on with the monetization basically of interactions with police. And it was people that would just get up into an officer’s face who was on duty… put that camera right up in there and for no reason other than to harass them was basically putting this back onto social media, monetizing these interactions. I was disgusted with that frankly.”
WATCH: Rep. @TeamAlexRizo, sponsor of legislation to prevent activists and onlookers from harassing and impeding law enforcement officers
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) April 12, 2024
"I was disgusted [seeing this] [...] There's got to be a protective halo around law enforcement."
"Instead of running from horror, they run… pic.twitter.com/OBjQ0mCyxY
He added, “There’s got to be a protective halo around law enforcement. And I figured it would make sense. I think that every single person that is standing here, every single person that has ever put on a badge is a Guardian Angel because Instead of running from horror, they run towards horror, and protect the rest of us.”
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