Did Florida pass a law granting total immunity to people who drive through rioters?
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
By Alexis Tereszcuk
Copy link
Copy featured image
NO
Under Florida's new "anti-riot" law, drivers can still be held criminally liable for their actions.
HB1, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 19, 2021, does grant an "affirmative defense" that will provide people with immunity from civil liability if they kill or injure a protester with their car, according to the ACLU of Florida.
But the bill does not grant total immunity, as Republican state senator and sponsor of the measure Danny Burgess said during a debate about the bill.
There is no mention of criminal liability in the bill.
The Florida Bar News described the bill's immunity coverage as providing "an affirmative defense in a civil action for drivers who feared for their safety and hit protesters with their cars."
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
American Civil Liberties Union of Florida Written Testimony - Oppose HB 1 and SB 484 - Anti-protest bill
The Florida Bar Anti-riot bill headed to Gov. DeSantis
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
FACT BRIEF BY
