§ 843.31, Fla. Stat. · Chapter 843. OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE
Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning.
Text — 2026 Florida Statutes
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(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).
(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.
(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:
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.
(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.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
s. 1, ch. 2024-85.
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 e22faa9688ed133ed414df2869a11a48cf81af12d4357ebcee9cd61fe1128f57
- 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
- § 784.07, Fla. Stat.Assault or battery of law enforcement officers and other specified personnel; reclassification of offenses; minimum sentences.Printed as s. 784.07(1)
- § 943.10, Fla. Stat.Definitions; ss. 943.085-943.255.Printed as s. 943.10(1); s. 943.10(3)
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.