New Law Confuses Drivers—What You REALLY Can (and Can’t) Do During a Protest

Despite what viral posts and social media debates might suggest, Florida law does not give drivers a free pass to run over protesters. While recent changes to the state’s laws offer some protections to drivers, those protections come with serious legal conditions—and they don’t mean drivers are above the law.

The confusion largely stems from a 2021 law known as the Combatting Public Disorder Act, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. This law aimed to crack down on violent protests and block roads during unlawful demonstrations. While it does include a provision that gives civil immunity to drivers who unintentionally injure or kill someone while “fleeing” from a dangerous situation, it’s not a green light to hit people with a car.

Here’s what the law really says: a driver must have a reasonable belief that they are in imminent danger. If someone can prove they were acting in self-defense, they may be protected from civil lawsuits—but criminal charges are still absolutely possible.

Legal experts say courts will look at three key factors: Was there an actual threat? Did the driver use a proportional amount of force? And did the situation justify the action? If not, the driver can still be arrested, charged, and even face jail time.

Additionally, Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law may apply in some of these cases, but again—it requires a valid self-defense claim and doesn’t grant immunity automatically.

So no, drivers can’t just plow through a crowd and say they were scared. Every case will be investigated. And if the force used was excessive or unjustified, the legal system can and will hold that driver accountable.