Storms' Video Voyeurism Bill Passes Through Florida Senate

A video voyeurism bill created after in their Westchase apartment last summer has passed through the Florida Senate.

SB 436, , R-Valrico, passed 40-0 on Tuesday, the Miami Herald reports in its Naked Politics blog.

"Under current law, a first-time violation of video voyeurism — the act of secretly recording a person dressing, undressing, is nude or when he or she has a 'reasonable expectation of privacy' — is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine," the blog states. "Storms' bill would make it a third-degree felony. Maximum penalties would increase to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine."

Authorities said the cameras found inside the Tuscany Bay apartment of Ralitsa Dzhambazova, 23, and Vanya Samokovareva, 22, . The women Raj Armani, who hired the women and placed them in the apartment. The lawsuit accused Armani of video voyeurism, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

One of Storms’ former constituents, Erin Andrews, a graduate, became a victim of video voyeurism in 2009 when the ESPN sportscaster was videotaped through a peephole in her hotel room. Storms said in a media release she wants to ensure that violators like the man in Andrews’ case are punished appropriately, and she hopes to discourage future crimes.

The House version of the bill, HB 215, sponsored by Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young, has not yet been heard on the floor, the Herald reports.