Several laws went into effect in Florida this year, and one called the “Halo Law” gave added protections to first responders.
Known as Senate Bill 84, Halo Law went into effect on Jan. 1 and requires people to create a 25-foot buffer zone around law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical crews.
If a person is given a verbal warning not to approach and they still try and go into that no-go zone, then they could face a fine or jail time.
“You can video law enforcement officers, that’s your constitutional right,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “But you’ve got to stay out of their way while they’re doing their jobs.”
Bobby Block is the executive director of the First Amendment Foundation, who supports the law’s intent to protect first responders.
One of his main concerns regards whether people will be allowed to record their own interactions with law enforcement.
“When I take out my camera to film this activity, is that an action that could cause substantial emotional distress to someone? Therefore, I could be in jail for doing a job that is protected by the Constitution,” Block said.
Block questions some of the law’s language, mainly the part describing ‘harassment’ as causing “substantial emotional distress” to a first responder.
Other detractors of the new law shared their concerns.
But in March, The Rutherford Institute, a civil-liberties organization, warned that the “no-go zone” was unnecessary and could give police broad discretion to abuse the law.
“Riddled with vague terms and lacking explicit safeguards for protected First Amendment activities such as simply observing or recording the first responder’s actions, SB 184 not only stands to chill free speech activities but could also encourage government officials to undermine the very rights they are sworn to uphold and protect,” John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, wrote in a March 28 letter to DeSantis.
State lawmakers say this new law is meant to avoid people impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders.
“You can video law enforcement officers, that’s your constitutional right. But you’ve got to stay out of their way while they’re doing their jobs,” Judd said.
Back in July, over 100 new laws went into effect in Florida, and in October, several more went into effect as well.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
