MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR FIREARMS VIOLATIONS (10-20-LIFE) - The Association supports
legislation that would impose severe mandatory prison sentences for offenses involving the use of
a firearm or the possession of a firearm during the commission of an offense.
MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCES FOR COMMISSION OF THIRD SERIOUS OFFENSE (THREE STRIKES) - The Association supports legislation that would impose a mandatory life prison
sentence on offenders convicted of committing serious offenses, when the offender has at least two
previous convictions for serious offenses.
REPEAL OF DISCOVERY DEPOSITIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES - Discovery depositions
in criminal cases cause delays, tend to intimidate and discourage victims and witnesses from
appearing in cases, unnecessarily inconvenience victims and witnesses, and waste law enforcement
resources. Depositions are not used in federal criminal cases and are not required by the United
States Constitution. Depositions are an unnecessary obstacle to effective enforcement of the criminal
laws, particularly laws dealing with narcotics and organized criminal activity.
PROHIBITION OF INTERFERENCE WITH TACTICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OPERATIONS - FPCA supports legislation which would prohibit interference with tactical law
enforcement operations resulting from initiating contact with persons involved in a tactical operation
or communicating the deployment or movements of law enforcement personnel involved in the
operation, prior to the conclusion of the operation.
RECORDING NON-EMERGENCY LINES - Chapter 934, Florida Statutes, currently
prohibits recording incoming or outgoing telephone calls, except for published governmental
emergency lines. In many instances, emergency calls are made to published non-emergency lines
at law enforcement agencies. To properly handle and dispatch help to such calls, it is often necessary
to replay the call, therefore the ability to record is very important. FPCA supports a proposal to
allow recording on published non-emergency law enforcement lines.
ACCESS TO RECORDS OF PRIOR EMPLOYERS - Legislation is being proposed that
would require employers to provide records concerning former employees to prospective employers
for background investigation purposes. Legislation that makes this information obtainable would be
very beneficial to law enforcement agencies seeking the best possible candidates. FPCA supports
such legislation.
SEX CRIMES/TECHNICAL CHANGES - Sex offense investigators have requested technical
changes which will facilitate the investigation and prosecution of sex offenses in which children and
the elderly are victims. FPCA supports this legislation.
RESCHEDULING OF Ketamine HCL - The drug Ketamine HCL has become a serious
problem in many communities. A proposal has been made to reschedule Ketamine HCL to a
Schedule II drug. FPCA supports this proposal.
IMPOSITION OF 911 ACCESS FEES TO CELLULAR SERVICE - Currently, conventional
telephone lines are assessed a fee by local governments for 911 access. The ability to charge this fee
does not extend to cellular telephones although 15-20 percent of 911 calls come from cellular
telephones. Cellular 911 calls take longer to process than conventional calls and require system
upgrades to be handled effectively. Charging cellular callers the same access fee as other callers
would defray the additional costs associated with serving cellular callers and would fund the
necessary upgrades. FPCA supports the application of the 911 access fee to cellular telephone lines
in parity with the assessment currently charged on conventional lines.
EXPENDITURE OF 911 FEES ON DISPATCHER SALARIES - Currently, fees collected
pursuant to Section 365.171, Florida Statutes, can, along with other related expenses, be spent on
911 call taker's salaries to the extent the call takers are handling 911 calls. The section would have
to be amended to allow the salaries of 911 dispatchers to be supported from these fees as well.
FPCA supports an amendment that will allow the 911 fees to support 911 dispatcher salaries.
PRIMARY SEATBELT ENFORCEMENT - The FPCA has supported this issue in the past
and that support continues.
PROHIBIT MINOR PASSENGERS IN PICKUP TRUCK CARGO AREAS - Legislation
is needed to prohibit minor passengers from riding in the cargo area of pickup trucks unless equipped
with approved restraints. The FPCA has supported this issue in previous legislative sessions, and
continues this support.
PENALTY INCREASE FOR THIRD D.U.I. CONVICTION - Legislation is pending which
will increase the penalty for a third and subsequent conviction for D.U.I. to a third degree felony.
FPCA supports this legislation.
ENHANCEMENTS TO LAWS GOVERNING CONDITIONAL RELEASE - FPCA
supports an initiative of the Florida Parole Commission which would add additional offenses and
additional punishment code offense levels to the laws governing conditional release. This would
ensure that offenders released prior to termination of their complete sentences due to gain time
would be under supervision for the full term of their sentences.
TRESPASS ARREST AUTHORITY - Airport police agencies are experiencing difficulties
in enforcing violations involving unauthorized intrusions into airport security areas when the
intrusions do not occur in the presence of law enforcement officers. FPCA supports legislation
amending laws relating to arrests which will resolve these difficulties.
PEDESTRIAN VIOLATIONS - Pedestrians walking in traffic lanes, not to cross a street but
to solicit the occupants of vehicles for various reasons, pose a serious hazard. Section 316.2045
prohibits this conduct but needs to be amended to remove an exemption for certain types of
solicitations which affects the constitutional validity of the law. FPCA supports such an amendment.
CLARIFICATION OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CAPITOL
POLICE - State law regarding the traffic enforcement authority of the Capitol Police needs
clarification due to an inconsistency between two statutory provisions. FPCA supports legislation
which will provide this clarification.
CLARIFICATION OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY EXERCISED
PURSUANT TO MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS - Local courts in various jurisdictions have
issued conflicting rulings regarding the authority of law enforcement officers to enforce civil traffic
infractions while engaging in activities outside of their territorial jurisdictions pursuant to a mutual
aid agreement. FPCA supports legislation that will clarify this issue by providing that law
enforcement officers are authorized to enforce civil traffic infractions under such circumstances.
