Resisting an Officer Without Violence
Resisting an officer without violence, under Florida Statute § 843.02, means knowingly obstructing, resisting, or opposing a law enforcement officer in the lawful execution of any legal duty — without violence. It is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail. Because the charge requires the officer to be acting lawfully, defenses frequently attack the underlying stop or investigation, and Florida courts often see this charge paired with minor offenses where it can be negotiated away.