Latest news with #BoaterFreedomAct
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘You can't do anything about it': Memorial Day boaters looking forward to the end of safety stops
Thousands of locals are hitting the water this Memorial Day, and at least for now, their boats can be stopped for safety checks without probable cause. But boaters will soon be able to breathe a little easier thanks to a new state law set to take effect on July 1st and some law enforcement agencies have already ceased safety check stops ahead of the law's effective date. For boaters like Garrett League and Dylan Batsch, the occasional unprovoked encounter with FWC or other law enforcement officials while out on the water is a familiar occurrence. 'They just kind of roll up and they hop on your boat and you can't do anything about it,' said League. And while they said their experiences didn't lead to any arrests or unrelated citations, they did say something just doesn't feel right about random stops for safety checks. 'So, I mean, it's a little unfair cause when you get pulled over by the police, you're speeding or you roll a stop sign, so it's a little different,' said League. But soon, those safety stops will be a thing of the past. One of Governor Ron DeSantis' top priorities this legislative session was the so-called 'Boater Freedom Act', which only allows law enforcement to stop boats if there's probable cause. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'And you may have probable cause to suspect something, and then it may turn out that things are fine. That's kind of the way it goes, but to just go in without any basis is not the way we want to do it,' said DeSantis during the May 19th bill signing. While the law doesn't technically take effect until July 1st, some law enforcement agencies like the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office are already complying with it. When we asked FWC whether it had ceased safety check stops, a spokesperson didn't answer directly. 'During Memorial Day weekend and throughout the year, FWC officers play a vital role in protecting lives by promoting safe boating practices, fostering a culture of responsible behavior on the water and ensuring compliance with the law,' the FWC spokesperson told Action News Jax in an emailed statement. For League and Batsch, they're just happy to know going forward they'll be able to enjoy the water without an unexpected run-in with the law when they're not doing anything wrong. 'It's kind of like driving a car. Like, you know, if you're not doing something wrong, you shouldn't be pulled over. You know what I'm saying?' said Batsch. Under the new law, FWC will begin issuing Florida Freedom Boater decals that will show vessels are in compliance with all safety requirements. Those tags will be good for anywhere between one and five years. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Davenport man fatally shoots adult stepson after 9-year-old pulls gun from drawer: police
DAVENPORT, Fla. (WFLA) — A stepfather was accused of killing his adult stepson in Davenport on Wednesday. The Davenport Police Department was called to a home on Citrus Landing Boulevard at 7:10 p.m. for a reported domestic incident and shooting. 'Boater Freedom Act' will change laws on the water, starting in July Police said Kelly Agar Garcia, 43, and his wife Adriane Daza, 48, were in their home with Daza's adult son, Azareel Martinez, 26, and two children ages 9 and 11, at the time of the shooting. The incident began when Daza learned the 9-year-old boy was playing the video game Fortnite, which was forbidden, and decided to discipline him by taking his cellphone away. The boy became upset and grabbed a handgun from a nightstand drawer in Daza's bedroom. Garcia and Daza struggled with the 9-year-old over the gun and it ultimately ended up in Garcia's hands. Martinez entered the room to find the 'agitated' child and Garcia holding the gun. The two men got into an argument that resulted in Garcia shooting his stepson several times in the chest and abdomen, Davenport police said. Garcia pursued Martinez as he left the bedroom and shot him twice more in the back, according to police. Martinez was taken to the hospital, where he died. Garcia was charged with second-degree murder and unlawful storage of a firearm (accessible to a minor). He was booked into the Polk County Jail, where he remained Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boater Freedom Act takes effect July 1, easing inspections for Florida boaters
'Boating in Florida will soon be more enjoyable with new liberties on the water thanks to the new Boater Freedom Act.' Gov. Ron Desantis signed the act into law on Monday. The law limits law enforcement agencies to conducting random boat inspections. It passed with majority support from lawmakers and officially starts July 1. Boaters, like Adam Pollett, is ready to bet out on the water feeling a bit relaxed. 'I can sit back and have a cigar and just get out there and fish,' he said. 'Everything else doesn't matter.' But he does worry that this could lead to people not being a safe as they should be. Some critics fear it could also harm the ecosystem, which they say is already fragile. According to the FWC, Florida had more than one million registered vessels last year. Now those boaters are gaining more freedom. Dsantis said the law is a win win for both boaters and law enforcement. 'I think by this legislation protecting you against suspicion less searches,' DeSantis said. 'it actually will be a better allocation of resources, not just for FWC, but also for the other local law enforcement agencies who are really important in keeping our people safe.' Freedom Boat Club Boat Capt. Charles Beardsley said safety is key, especially with the new law. In Florida, boats need specific safety equipment depending on their size and use. The vital items are: personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, and sound-producing devices. 'And remember everything slow is pro,' Beardsley said. 'You don't want to be speeding out there, especially if you are approaching another boat or dock. Go slow.' 'And you need to make sure you are properly trained. You won't know if you are doing something wrong if you aren't properly trained. ' The law includes a new inspection decal program. Now, when registering your boats, you will receive a decal as long as you pass a safety and sanitation inspection. It also prevents state and local officials from restricting the sale or use of boats based on energy source. 'That all sound great to me,' said Pollett. 'Good job.' The Boater Freedom Act take effect July 1. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Boater Freedom Act' will change laws on the water, starting in July
TAMPA, Fla., (WFLA) — Starting in July, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will no longer be allowed to randomly board your boat while out on the water. A law limiting vessel boardings was signed by the governor Monday. DeSantis: Florida 'due for a break' this hurricane season The 'Boater Freedom Act' will change up laws on the water and hopefully smooth tensions between boaters and law enforcement. It's no secret boating is huge for Floridians and people who visit the state. Governor Ron DeSantis said he wants to make sure Florida remains the boating capital. 'We are the top boating state; we consistently rank number one in marine expenditures and boat registrations. We have over 900,000 boat registrations as of 2023 and probably higher now,' he said. As we see more boaters and tourists getting on the water, DeSantis signed a new law that will ease what he calls tension between boaters and law enforcement officers. The 'Boat Freedom Act' states law enforcement will no longer be able to pull a boat over without probable cause or a suspected violation. Currently, during these stops, officers are allowed to conduct inspections like personal property searches, which the governor said can lead to further law enforcement action beyond safety compliance. In a presser, DeSantis used the example that if you are walking down the street, you cannot be stopped and searched without probable cause. So, he said, it should be the same on the water. 'If there's a basis to intervene, that's one thing and you may have probable cause to suspect something and it may turn out that things are fine, that's the way it goes,' Governor DeSantis said. 'But to just go in without any basis is not the way we want to do it in the state of Florida, and I think it has unnecessarily caused friction between the boating community and some folks in law enforcement.' The bill also prevents local governments from banning the use or sale of gas-powered boats. The act will take effect starting this July. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
How new laws will reshape boating in Florida
Changes to Florida's boating laws are on the horizon. Why it matters: The Sunshine State is home to the most boats in the nation, with just over a million registered last year, and also sees the most accidents on the water: 685 in 2024. Pinellas ranks fourth in the state for boating accidents, with 42 reported last year. Six resulted in fatalities, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Dive in: DeSantis signed a handful of boating bills Monday, one of which he championed as the "Boater Freedom Act." The bill, SB 1388, requires officers to have probable cause to pull over boaters. SB 1388 also bars local governments from limiting the use or sale of boats based on their power source, such as gas-powered boats. HB 481 allows counties with more than 1.5 million people, like Miami-Dade and Hillsborough, to limit boats from anchoring overnight for more than 30 days in a six-month period. HB 735 directs the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to create and manage competitive grant programs for the construction and maintenance of boat ramps, piers, docks and more. What's next: The Legislature also sent DeSantis a bill, HB 289, that would raise penalties for leaving the scene of a boating crash that resulted in death, injuries or property damage. HB 289 sets a four-year minimum sentence for a boating under the influence (BUI) manslaughter conviction and makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to give a false statement to officers after a crash. The intrigue: Lawmakers had proposed expanding the state's boater education requirement to all operators as well as suspending driver licenses for BUI convictions, but neither made it to the final version.
