Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 843.31 (2025)
Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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843.31 Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning.—
(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.
Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 843.31
M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd§843.31(2a1)OBSTRUCTINTERFERE WITH FIRST RESPONDER ON DUTY
§843.31(2a2)INTIMIDATIONTHREATEN FIRST RESPONDER W PHYSICAL HARM
§843.31(2a3)HARASSING COMMUNICATIONHARASS FIRST RESPONDER ON DUTY
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1
case (1 in the last 5 years), 2025–2025 · leading case: Dalton v. City of Largo (M.D. Fla. 2025).
Dalton v. City of Largo (M.D. Fla. 2025). “§ 843.31(1)(b).4 As to all three offenses, Dalton fails to plausibly allege that Blitz arrested her without probable cause.”
— 843.31(1)(b) — 1 case
Dalton v. City of Largo (M.D. Fla. 2025). “§ 843.31(1)(b).4 As to all three offenses, Dalton fails to plausibly allege that Blitz arrested her without probable cause.”
— 843.31(2)(a) — 1 case
Dalton v. City of Largo (M.D. Fla. 2025). “§ 843.31(1)(b).4 As to all three offenses, Dalton fails to plausibly allege that Blitz arrested her without probable cause.”
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