Scott Powers
State Sen. Linda Stewart and state Rep. Amy Mercado want to make flashing — indecent exposure of sexual organs — a felony in Florida so that law enforcement officers can seek warrants to make arrests after the alleged incidents.
The pair of Orlando Democrats have filed bills this week, Senate Bill 1018 and House Bill 675, to increase the severity of the crime to be a third-degree felony, from the current first-degree misdemeanor.
A news release from Stewart’s office points out that the current legal status requires law enforcement officers to catch a violator in the act in order to make an arrest, while felony status would allow them to seek and obtain an arrest warrant based on other evidence. The release argues that this would allow officers to take action before a suspect has an opportunity to do it again.
“We know that when violators get away with this type of act, they often feel emboldened to continue,” Stewart declared. “We want to give law enforcement the tools they need in order to stop this type of behavior in its tracks.”
The Orange County Sherif’s Office had nine separate cases related to one suspect who repeatedly drove into populated areas, opened his car door, and intentionally exposed his genitals, according to the release.
“This bill will give law enforcement additional tools to act swiftly against those who victimize our residents and visitors with these disturbing lewd acts,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina stated in the release. “We appreciate Sen. Stewart and Rep. Mercado stepping up to help us further protect Floridians.”
5 comments
jon
November 21, 2019 at 12:49 pm
Democrats have nothing better to do than to waste time on bullshit like this! Who would want to flash those ugly cows anyway?
Sam
November 21, 2019 at 1:12 pm
I am a Democrat, and I agree with jon, don’t waste time on BS like this.
Vicki
November 21, 2019 at 10:08 pm
Jon and Sam you forgot the legislators and governor fell into lock-step with Senator Lauren Book last year and passed a bill making it unlawful to be caught with a ‘sex doll’ and her dad Ron managed to give the City of Miami a black eye nationally and internationally when those required to register were made to move from under the Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge to an area by some railroad tracks and just last week they were forced to move from there too. Some have died, some are sleeping in their cars….and the crime creation and punitive punishments keep on keepin’ on.
Tired Old Man
November 21, 2019 at 11:34 pm
WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS THIS WILL PUT KIDS MOONING OR STREAKING AS A PRANK ON A HIT LIS AND RUIN THEIR LIVES WITH A FELONY AS WELL
Hackysack
November 22, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Does this mean I can say someone like the very people enacting such a law, did in fact flash me on several occasions and they would be charged with a felony? Mmmmmm imagine the fun one could potentially cause with this law!!!
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