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January 1st means new laws, and for Florida there aren’t many. But as Matt Galka tells us, one prominent new rule looks to crack down on human trafficking.

Curbing human trafficking has been a priority for Florida elected officials all year.  Lawmakers heard from survivors like Katarina Rosenblatt.

“In Miami at 13 I first was recruited at a hotel, and I escaped, and then I was recruited again at my middle school because I still had the vulnerabilities of coming from an abusive home,” she told a House committee.

And Attorney General Pam Bondi held summits across the state.

When the New Year starts – a new law will come into effect again designed to help crack down on human trade. Rest areas will now be required to display signage with human trafficking hotline help numbers.

Florida’s Department of Transportation is responsible for putting up the signs across the state.

This rest area on Interstate 10 near Monticello already had theirs up. The signs are supposed to be in both English and Spanish and also have text numbers.  Bondi has said in the past that truck drivers will be key in helping to fight trafficking.

“The truckers, where do you take a little girl to traffick her? A truckstop. And the truckers have now partnered with us and they are our eyes and ears calling in suspicious reports of human trafficking,” she said.

Strip clubs and massage parlors will also be required to post the signs. Failure to comply doesn’t come with a state penalty – but county commissions could impose fines of 500 bucks.