# Florida: 5 Teens Mock, Don't Help Drowning Man **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 21, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811 "2017-07-21T17:00:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/1 "2017-07-21T17:00:37Z")
Video: Article: > **[Teens filmed, mocked drowning man, Cocoa police say](https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/crime/2017/07/20/teens-filmed-mocked-drowning-man-cocoa-police-say/495518001/)** > > Teens filmed, mocked drowning man, Cocoa police say No criminal charges. These teens are total garbage. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/2 "2017-07-21T17:03:09Z")
They are garbage, but I don’t think failure to act is a crime in this situation (I believe if one of the kids had been some sort of medic that would be different). Now, if they’d thrown rocks at his head so he lost consciousness and drowned, that would be a crime. But all they did was stand and point. At least in this day and age of social media they will be served a rougher kind of justice. ---
**Author:** ![Pippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5a626/32.png) [@Pippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pippers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/3 "2017-07-21T17:16:28Z")
Wow, just wow. You can’t really call creatures like that “boys” because they aren’t human. Recently in Florida people on the beach saw several kids and a couple adults in danger of drowning. They were caught in a riptide. The people on the beach formed a chain by linking hands and were able to get far enough out in the water to bring everyone safely in. Kudos to all those folks and curses to the pond scum kiddie-creatures. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/4 "2017-07-21T17:40:34Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > They are garbage, but I don’t think failure to act is a crime in this situation (I believe if one of the kids had been some sort of medic that would be different). Now, if they’d thrown rocks at his head so he lost consciousness and drowned, that would be a crime. But all they did was stand and point. > > At least in this day and age of social media they will be served a rougher kind of justice. Shouldn’t they have at least called 911? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/5 "2017-07-21T18:04:25Z")
Yes, they should. But I don’t think there’s a law requiring someone to call 911 in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/6 "2017-07-21T18:22:10Z")
Florida. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/7 "2017-07-21T18:28:10Z")
Do other states require people to call 911? ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/8 "2017-07-21T18:32:05Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Do other states require people to call 911? Minnesota and Vermont, I believe it’s a misdemeanor. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/9 "2017-07-21T18:34:56Z")
Never underestimate the stupidity and cruelty of teens in groups. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/10 "2017-07-21T18:37:14Z")
According to [this site](http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2015/05/in-which-states-do-i-have-a-duty-to-help.html): > [@](#): > > …some states have laws that do impose a duty to assist people in need. These laws do vary from state to state: > > [ol] > [li]Wisconsin – In Wisconsin, if you know that a crime is being committed, and that a victim has suffered or may suffer bodily harm, you have a duty to call police or provide assistance[/li][li]Minnesota – If you are at the scene of an emergency and you know that someone has suffered grave physical harm, or could be hurt, you have a duty to give “reasonable assistance.” Reasonable assistance can mean calling or attempting to call police or medical personnel.[/li][li]Rhode Island – If you know that person is a victim of sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, or armed robbery and you were at the scene of the crime, then you need to report the crime to law enforcement. Failure to do so is punishable by up to six months in jail or a fine of $500 to $1,000.[/li][li]California – When you reasonably know or believe that a child under 14 years of age has been a victim of murder, rape, or lewd and lascivious acts, you must notify law enforcement. Failure to do so is excused if you feared for your own safety, or you are related to either the victim or the offender.[/li][li]Florida – In Florida, if you witness a sexual battery, you need to immediately report the offense to law enforcement. Violation of this law is a first degree misdemeanor.[/li][li]Other states that have similar statutes include Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Hawaii, and Washington.[/li][/ol] Only other thing I’ve found regarding Florida is a duty to report vehicular collisions, injuries, or deaths _only if you are the operator involved_. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/11 "2017-07-21T18:37:42Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > Minnesota and Vermont, I believe it’s a misdemeanor. Maybe this will wake up the Florida legislature to do something similar. But from my quick Googling it looks like you have to prove the person was there. If these buttwipes hadn’t recorded the incident we may never have known. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/12 "2017-07-21T18:41:04Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Do other states require people to call 911? Wasn’t that the premise of the Seinfeld series finale? (Not to make light of the this poor man’s death). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/13 "2017-07-21T18:45:09Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > According to [this site](http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2015/05/in-which-states-do-i-have-a-duty-to-help.html): Interesting that most of these “duty to help” laws specify it has to be a crime. Minnesota appears to be the only state which requires people to help the victim of a non-criminal emergency. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/14 "2017-07-21T18:45:28Z")
I think the Good Samaritan laws are designed to protect the Samaritan, ie if someone breaks your ribs attempting to give you CPR you can’t sue them. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/15 "2017-07-21T18:55:04Z")
I can understand the family want someone to be held accountable for the guy’s death but to be frank the person chiefly responsible is the man himself who apparently entered the water of his own accord. The teens even shouted to him to go back. Of course their subsequent behaviour was atrocious. I can quite understand them not wishing to risk their own lives in a rescue attempt but a simple phone call would have sufficed. None of their actions were criminal in that state though nor do I believe they should be. Unless you owe a duty of care to someone it should not be incumbent on you to protect them from harm. These teens may be jerks (as many teens are) but they are not criminals and all of them may grow up to be decent people. Most of us do dumb and even callous things when we are young. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/16 "2017-07-21T19:11:48Z")
According to the[Buzzfeed article](https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/teens-laugh-as-man-drowns), the teens can’t be charged with anything. Also, their parents are quite upset. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/17 "2017-07-21T19:30:21Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > According to the[Buzzfeed article](https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/teens-laugh-as-man-drowns), the teens can’t be charged with anything. Also, their parents are quite upset. With the kids or with the authorities and the bad publicity? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/18 "2017-07-21T19:33:51Z")
Quebec also imposes a duty to act: > [@Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms](#): > > Every human being whose life is in peril has a right to assistance. Every person must come to the aid of anyone whose life is in peril, either personally or calling for aid, by giving him the necessary and immediate physical assistance, unless it involves danger to himself or a third person, or he has another valid reason. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/19 "2017-07-21T19:37:22Z")
I don’t like the idea of laws requiring assistance. I don’t like the idea of teenagers either but we’re stuck with it. The moral of this story is don’t live in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811/20 "2017-07-21T19:41:56Z")
I gotta say, that was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever watched. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-5-teens-mock-dont-help-drowning-man/791811.md?page=2)