LAKELAND, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis just signed a new law in Florida giving first responders and law enforcement the right to demand people back up at least 25 feet to let them do their job.
Proponents say it’s a matter of safety, but critics call it a veiled attempt to keep people from recording alleged misconduct.
Civil rights proponents say that were not for video, many of their allegations of police misconduct would likely be ignored.
“The motive is what we're looking at. It's what is the intent,” Pastor Clayton Cowart said, who heads the Poor Minority Justice Association in Polk County.
Pastor Cowart says in recent years they’ve presented local police departments with several videos alleging police misconduct.
In some cases, the images led to disciplinary action.
“We have several videos where people have been assaulted and beaten. And the video becomes the voice for the people,” Cowart said.
The new bill gives law enforcement the authority to issue a warning, and if a person doesn’t stay back at least 25 feet, they could be subject to a second-degree misdemeanor charge and spend up to 60 days in jail.
“I certainly feel that many people will be intimidated. I believe that many people will be discouraged once this is enforced,” Cowart said.
Some also question how officers will be able to accurately determine a distance of 25 feet.
Sponsors of the law point to disturbances like last year’s melee in South Florida and say first responders need to be able to do their jobs without interference.
“People will see that this has no implication at all about tramping on people’s First Amendment rights,” State Representative Alex Rizo (R) Miami said. “This is about safety.”
But those who had opposed the bill in Tallahassee say it could have a chilling effect.
“The statute threatens criminal punishment for anyone who is brave enough to do what those people did in Minneapolis when they recorded George Floyd,” attorney Michael Davis said.
While the new law has no shortage of critics, supporters say it gives police and first responders enough room to do their job and control situations.
Some have even suggested that there are instances where 25 feet might not be far enough - and would like to see the law amended to give police even greater discretion.
The new law goes into effect on January 1.