{"data":{"id":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-843.31","jurisdiction":"us-fl","citation":"Fla. Stat. § 843.31","heading":"Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning.","body":"(1) As used in this section, the term:\n(a) “First responder” includes a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1), a correctional probation officer as defined in s. 943.10(3), a firefighter as defined in s. 784.07(1), and an emergency medical care provider as defined in s. 784.07(1).\n(b) “Harass” means 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.\n(2)(a) 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:\n1. Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform such duty;\n2. Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or\n3. Harass the first responder.\n(b) A person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.\nHistory.—s. 1, ch. 2024-85.","path":["CHAPTER 843 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE"],"source_url":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute\u0026URL=0800-0899/0843/0843.html","current_through":"2026 Florida Statutes","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:15:19Z","sha256":"61ff1a467055034f15aff988299cee08a24a3157cde12b56e8b874d2385e8964","source_id":"us-fl","stale":false,"prev":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-843.23","next":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-847.001"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}