TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A majority of laws dealing with crime and public safety in Florida are going into effect Thursday.
Meg’s Law, which targets criminals who sell addictive drugs, takes effect Thursday and adds a tranquilizer drug to a list of drugs that cannot be advertised like candy or gummies that target young people.
There are refreshed statutes for adults exposing themselves to a minor, making it a third-degree felony even if a person claims a child did not notice.
Starting Thursday, there is an expanded definition of who can be counted as a gang member.
Firing a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school is now a second-degree felony and anyone arrested for doing so must be held until their first appearance.
More Tallahassee news:
One of the biggest bills going into effect Thursday deals with animal cruelty.
Starting Thursday there is a new felony for people who abuse animals around a minor and a psych evaluation is required for anyone ages 18 years old or younger who commits animal cruelty.
There is also a big jump in how much local animal control can fine people.
Starting Jan. 1, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will start posting names of animal abusers.
It isn’t just penalties and regulations going into effect at the start of October.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles begins its rollout of new specialty license plates Thursday, including an endless summer one for motorcycles.
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