Fla. Stat. 843.18
Boats; fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer

(1)

It is unlawful for the operator of any boat plying the waters of the state, having knowledge that she or he has been directed to stop such vessel by a duly authorized law enforcement officer, willfully to refuse or fail to stop in compliance with such directive or, having stopped in knowing compliance with such a directive, willfully to flee in an attempt to elude such officer. Any person violating this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(2)

Any violation of this section with respect to any vessel shall constitute such vessel as contraband which may be seized by a law enforcement agency and which shall be subject to forfeiture pursuant to ss. 932.701-932.704.

Source: Section 843.18 — Boats; fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0843.­18 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

843.01
Resisting, obstructing, or opposing by offering or doing violence to legally authorized person, police canine, or police horse 843.02
Resisting officer without violence to his or her person 843.03
Obstruction by disguised person 843.04
Refusing to assist prison officers in arresting escaped convicts 843.05
Resisting timber agent 843.06
Neglect or refusal to aid peace officers 843.08
False personation 843.09
Escape through voluntary action of officer 843.10
Escape by negligence of officer 843.11
Conveying tools into jail to aid escape 843.12
Aiding escape 843.13
Aiding escape of juvenile inmates of correctional institutions 843.14
Compounding felony 843.15
Failure of defendant on bail to appear 843.16
Unlawful to install or transport radio equipment using assigned frequency of state or law enforcement officers 843.17
Publishing name and address of law enforcement officer 843.18
Boats 843.19
Offenses against police canines, fire canines, SAR canines, or police horses 843.20
Harassment of participant of neighborhood crime watch program prohibited 843.21
Depriving crime victim of medical care 843.021
Unlawful possession of a concealed handcuff key 843.22
Traveling across county lines with intent to commit a burglary 843.23
Tampering with an electronic monitoring device 843.025
Depriving officer of means of protection or communication 843.31
Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning 843.081
Prohibited use of certain lights 843.085
Unlawful use of badges or other indicia of authority 843.165
Unauthorized transmissions to and interference with governmental and associated radio frequencies prohibited 843.167
Unlawful use of police communications 843.0855
Criminal actions under color of law or through use of simulated legal process

Current through Fall 2025

§ 843.18. Boats; fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer's source at flsenate​.gov