- December 20, 2024
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The Florida House on Friday could approve a proposal that would crack down on fans who interfere in sporting events and concerts, particularly people trying to make money off such exploits.
Meanwhile, the Senate version of the bill is ready to go to the full Senate after being unanimously approved Thursday by the Rules Committee.
During a floor session Thursday, the House took up its bill (HB 319), which would increase fines for fan interference from $1,000 to $2,500.
The bill also would take steps to recover money that people make from entering areas restricted to players, coaches, officials and performers, House sponsor Taylor Yarkosky, R-Montverde, said.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in the last few years in folks stripping down to little to no clothing, writing names of companies and social media handles, etc., on their bodies and running across sporting fields and concert venues,” Yarkosky said. “To add insult to injury, these perpetrators are being funded by even further bad actors and companies, who are paying them to do this.”
During a Senate Rules Committee meeting Thursday, Senate sponsor Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, pointed to a 31-year-old South Florida man who, clad in a one-piece swimsuit advertising an adult website, ran across the field at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium during the fourth quarter of the 2022 Super Bowl.
The man later posted a video on Instagram bragging about his adventure, in which he was tackled by security and later charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
“His penalty for breaking the law was 100 hours of community service,” said Simon, who was an All-American defensive tackle at Florida State University before playing eight years in the National Football League.
Simon previously said the bill (SB 764) doesn’t target fans who rush the field after a game as part of a victory celebration.
