Kathleen Passidomo Wants to Increase Penalties for Criminals Who Attack Realtors at Open Houses

Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, announced on Tuesday she was launching a bill to increase penalties “for violent offenses committed against realtors while they are in the act of showing a property or conducting an open house.”

Passidomo pointed to stats showing growing numbers of attacks against realtors in recent years, including increasing five times over the last three years. She also noted that 70 percent of the realtors attacked are women. 

“No one should fear for their safety in the workplace and realtors are particularly vulnerable when alone at a showing or open house,” Passidomo said on Tuesday. “These criminals are setting traps by posing as prospective buyers and we must do everything we can to stop these violent crimes of opportunity.

Mary Waller from the Naples Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors and Bette McGilvray from the Marco Island Board of Realtors brought this matter to Passidomo’s attention. 

Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, will be the sponsor for the bill in the Senate