Last year, millions of Floridians were forced to experience first-hand the fear and uncertainty of hurricane evacuation. At such a troublesome time, it is hard to think beyond two basic questions: Are my loved ones all right? Is my home secure?

For too many of us, those questions soon gave way to another, equally upsetting possibility: Are my valued possessions safe from looters?

The unprecedented 2004 hurricane season provided a vivid reminder that in Florida, a state of emergency can arise at almost any time. Unfortunately, our state does not have a law that specifically targets looting during such emergencies.

To address this deficiency, we are proposing a bill I am proposing for the upcoming legislative session, which begins March 8. The measure would substantially enhance penalties against looters who strike during a declared state of emergency.

Under current law, burglary of a person’s home carries a maximum of 15 years in prison; the legislation would change that by doubling the maximum penalty to 30 years for burglary during a declared emergency. Similarly, the maximum for burglary of a structure would increase from 5 to 15 years. The bill would also revise bail procedures to make sure these looters stay behind bars until residents are able to return to their homes and businesses, preventing repeat looting and allowing law enforcement to focus on saving lives and protecting law-abiding citizens.

It seems almost inconceivable that anyone would see a hurricane or other emergency as an opportunity to raid and loot. But the numbers show that’s exactly what happened during last year’s battering from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.

- During Hurricane Charley, burglaries in Pasco County increased 57 percent over the same period the previous year.

- In Hurricane Ivan, Okaloosa County reported a 190 percent jump in burglaries.

- Hurricane Jeanne brought 51 percent more burglaries to Hillsborough County and 139 percent more to Pasco County than the same period the previous year. DeSoto County experienced two dozen burglaries during Jeanne after having none on the same dates the previous year.

Our proposal, sponsored by Sen. Dave Aronberg and Rep. Holly Benson, will serve as an effective deterrent. This week the House Criminal Justice Committee approved the measure unanimously, and I am hopeful it is well on its way toward becoming law.

When a disaster hits, Floridians have enough to deal with. A stronger law against looting would mean one less thing for them to worry about.



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