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Among the dozens of new laws taking effect on October 1 are crackdowns on Porch Pirate. Here is the list

Among the dozens of new laws taking effect on October 1 are crackdowns on Porch Pirate. Here is the list

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida’s new law, designed to ensure that any package left on a person’s doorstep stays there until the person comes home in one of dozens of packages, is set to take effect Tuesday.

The measure tweaks the state’s burglary law to combat porch piracy. When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill in April, he noted that retailers across the country reported $112 billion in losses from such threats in 2022 alone.

Under the law, suspected porch pirates would face a third-degree felony if accused of stealing items worth more than $40. Thefts below this threshold are considered first-degree misdemeanors, but a second offense moves the crime to the felony level.

Before this law, only thefts valued at more than $100 were considered felonies.

The state law primarily targets packages delivered by companies like Amazon or FedEx; Theft of mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service is considered a federal crime.

Proponents of the bill argued that it shows Florida does not tolerate this type of crime. However, critics claimed that a criminal offense for first-time offenders was too harsh if they did not know the value of the stolen items.

More new laws

The porch pirate law isn’t the only one taking effect Tuesday. Dozens of other laws will also take effect on October 1st. These measures include laws:

  • Prohibiting unauthorized public camping or sleeping on public property and authorizing counties to designate a public space for such activities. The law is expected to have a dramatic impact on people experiencing homelessness by preventing them from sleeping overnight in many outdoor locations, such as parks.
  • It is a third-degree felony to place a GPS tracking device, such as an Apple AirTag or Tile, on a person or that person’s property without their consent.
  • It is a second-degree felony to expose a first responder to fentanyl or a fentanyl analogue, and that first responder will suffer an overdose or serious bodily injury. The law also prohibits charging or prosecuting anyone who, in good faith, seeks medical attention for themselves or another person believed to be suffering from an overdose.
  • Increasing penalties for immigrants who enter Florida illegally after being deported. Under the measure, third-degree felonies would be treated like second-degree felonies; Second-degree felonies are the same as first-degree felonies; and first-degree felonies as life felonies.

Related: Girl screams after watching voyeur movies in West Palm Beach gas station restroom

The list

Here is the list of laws scheduled to take effect on October 1st: Click on the link to read the measure

  • Hope cards for people with protective orders (link)
  • Law on Yacht and Ship Brokers (Link)
  • Identification of a diagnosis in the vehicle registration certificate (Link)
  • Special license plate (Link)
  • Alternative mobility financing systems and impact fees (Link)
  • Securities (link)
  • Theft (link)
  • Exposure of First Responders to Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues (Link)
  • Tracking devices and applications (link)
  • Preservation of evidence for sexual offenses (link)
  • Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Training for Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers (Link)
  • Treatment by a specialist (link)
  • Financial Agreements for Automotive Retail (Link)
  • Nicotine delivery devices (link)
  • Reclassification of criminal sanctions (link)
  • Flood Disclosure When Selling Real Estate (Link)
  • Fraud schemes (link)
  • Sexual predators and sex offenders (Link)
  • Unauthorized public camping and public sleeping (link)
  • Digital voyeurism (link)
  • Peer support for first responders (link)
  • Child Exploitation Crimes (Link)
  • Local government measures (link)
  • OGSR/Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect Reporter (Link)
  • OGSR/pre-registered voters (link)
  • OGSR/Financial Disclosure (Link)
  • OGSR/utility company owned or operated by a local government unit (link)
  • OGSR/Campus Emergency Response (Link)
  • OGSR/Department of Lottery (Link)
  • OGSR/Mental Health Treatment and Services (Link)
  • OGSR/Agency Personnel Information (Link)

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