§ 843.18, Fla. Stat. · Chapter 843. OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE
Boats; fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.
Text — 2026 Florida Statutes
(1) It is unlawful for the operator of any boat plying the waters of the state, having knowledge that she or he has been directed to stop such vessel by a duly authorized law enforcement officer, willfully to refuse or fail to stop in compliance with such directive or, having stopped in knowing compliance with such a directive, willfully to flee in an attempt to elude such officer. Any person violating this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(2) Any violation of this section with respect to any vessel shall constitute such vessel as contraband which may be seized by a law enforcement agency and which shall be subject to forfeiture pursuant to ss. 932.701-932.704.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
s. 1, ch. 80-160; s. 1, ch. 82-210; s. 29, ch. 87-243; s. 11, ch. 87-392; s. 1347, ch. 97-102.
Source of truth
- Edition
- 2026 Florida Statutes
- Official file
- https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0800-0899/0843/0843.html
- Text hash
- sha256 a3f2e7d76d07a439478cbf8655b612d059e5eba851e6e1fb3e3db3dbe3ed99a5
- Composed by
- compose_v2.py 2026-10-04: the Legislature's structured HTML read in document order; verify_v2.py's independent reading agrees character for character
- composed from the Legislature's structured HTML (one source of text; no PDF extraction); a second, independent reading of the same bytes agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
The Florida Statutes
- § 775.082, Fla. Stat.Penalties; applicability of sentencing structures; mandatory minimum sentences for certain reoffenders previously released from prison.Printed as s. 775.082
- § 775.083, Fla. Stat.Fines.Printed as s. 775.083
- § 775.084, Fla. Stat.Violent career criminals; habitual felony offenders and habitual violent felony offenders; three-time violent felony offenders; definitions; procedure; enhanced penalties or mandatory minimum prison terms.Printed as s. 775.084
- § 932.701, Fla. Stat.Short title; definitions.Printed as ss. 932.701-932.704
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.