MISCELLANEOUS CRIMES

F.S. Ch. 877
in effect

F.S. 877.01 Instigation of litigation; penalty.

(1) Whoever gives, promises, offers or conspires to give, promise, or offer, to anyone any bribe, money, goods, presents, reward, or any valuable thing whatsoever with the intent and purpose of stirring up strife and litigation; or with intent and purpose of assisting, seeking out, influencing, or advising the accused, sick, injured, uninformed, or others to bring suit or seek professional legal services or advice, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (2) Whoever, in any way, solicits, receives or accepts or agrees to receive or accept, or who conspires to receive or accept, any bribe, money, goods, presents, reward, or any valuable thing whatsoever, or any promise, contract, or agreement whatsoever, with the intent and purpose of stirring up strife and litigation; or with the intent or purpose of seeking out, influencing, assisting, or advising the accused, sick, injured, uninformed, or others to bring suit, or seek professional legal services, counsel, or advice, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (3) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall not be privileged from testifying, but if the person does testify in response to a subpoena issued by the state attorney or court having jurisdiction of such offense, nothing said by the person in his or her testimony shall be admissible in any civil or criminal action against him or her, nor shall the person be subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any such testimony or evidence so given or produced. (4) Nothing herein shall apply to the division of legal fees by and between attorneys at law. (5) This section shall be taken to be cumulative and shall not be construed to amend or repeal any other valid law, code, ordinance, rule, or penalty now in effect.

F.S. 877.02 Solicitation of legal services or retainers therefor; penalty.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or her or his agent, employee or any person acting on her or his behalf, to solicit or procure through solicitation either directly or indirectly legal business, or to solicit or procure through solicitation a retainer, written or oral, or any agreement authorizing an attorney to perform or render legal service, or to make it a business to solicit or procure such business, retainers or agreements; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit or be applicable to banks, trust companies, lawyer reference services, legal aid associations, lay collection agencies, railroad companies, insurance companies and agencies, and real estate companies and agencies, in the conduct of their lawful businesses, and in connection therewith and incidental thereto forwarding legal matters to attorneys at law when such forwarding is authorized by the customers or clients of said businesses and is done pursuant to the canons of legal ethics as pronounced by the Supreme Court of Florida. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person in the employ of or in any capacity attached to any hospital, sanitarium, police department, wrecker service or garage, prison or court, for a person authorized to furnish bail bonds, investigators, photographers, insurance or public adjusters, or for a general or other contractor as defined in s. 489.105 or other business providing sinkhole remediation services, to communicate directly or indirectly with any attorney or person acting on said attorney’s behalf for the purpose of aiding, assisting, or abetting such attorney in the solicitation of legal business or the procurement through solicitation of a retainer, written or oral, or any agreement authorizing the attorney to perform or render legal services. (3) Any person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (4) This section shall be taken to be cumulative and shall not be construed to amend or repeal any other valid law, code, ordinance, rule, or penalty now in effect.

F.S. 877.03 Breach of the peace; disorderly conduct.

Whoever commits such acts as are of a nature to corrupt the public morals, or outrage the sense of public decency, or affect the peace and quiet of persons who may witness them, or engages in brawling or fighting, or engages in such conduct as to constitute a breach of the peace or disorderly conduct, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.05 Killing young veal for sale; penalty; exception.

Whoever kills or causes to be killed for the purpose of sale, any calf less than 4 weeks old, and knowingly sells, or has in his or her possession with intent to sell, the meat of any calf killed when less than 4 weeks old, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083. This section shall not apply to calves slaughtered on the premises of meat packing or slaughtering establishments operating under state or federal meat inspection supervision.

F.S. 877.06 Labeling of beef not slaughtered according to state or United States standards; enforcement; penalty.

(1) Every person, firm, or corporation operating a restaurant or any other eating place, or retail or wholesale market or packinghouse, in this state, and who sells beef that has not been slaughtered and inspected according to standards established by either the Government of Florida or of the United States, shall mark, stamp, or describe the same by the following words, “slaughtered in” followed by the name of the state or country and the words “has not been slaughtered and inspected according to federal or state standards.” (2)(a) Packinghouses and wholesale and retail meat markets before sale of beef which is within the purview of subsection (1) shall plainly stamp on each carcass, each carton, each can, and each container, the words prescribed in subsection (1) and all advertising as to the sale of such beef shall include such words; provided, however, that a conspicuous sign containing the words prescribed in subsection (1) visibly displayed near the display of such beef in retail markets may be used when the stamping of individual cuts of beef is impractical. (b) It shall be the duty of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through its agents or inspectors to enforce the provisions of this subsection. (3)(a) Restaurants or other eating places advertising their meals or food, by menus or otherwise, shall set out plainly in such menus, advertisements or otherwise as to beef coming within the purview of the law the words prescribed in subsection (1). (b) It shall be the duty of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation through its agents or inspectors to enforce the provisions of this subsection. (4) Any person willfully and knowingly violating any of the provisions of this section or any person who fails to comply with any of the requirements hereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and each day during which such a violation shall continue, shall be deemed a separate violation and a separate offense. (5) Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the use of additional words in describing the grade, quality, or kind of such beef.

F.S. 877.08 Coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties.

(1) A “coin-operated vending machine” or “parking meter,” for the purposes of this act, is defined to be any machine, contrivance, or device that is adapted for use in such a way that, as the result of the insertion of any piece of money, coin, or other object, the machine, contrivance, parking meter, or device is caused to operate or may be operated and by reason of such operation the user may become entitled to receive any food, drink, telephone or telegraph service, insurance protection, parking privilege or any other personal property, service, protection, right or privilege of any kind or nature whatsoever. (2) Whoever maliciously or mischievously molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of her or his body or any instrument into any coin-operated vending machine or parking meter of another, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (3) Whoever molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of her or his body or any instrument into any coin-operated vending machine or parking meter of another with intent to commit larceny is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (4) Whoever violates subsection (3) a second or subsequent time commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

F.S. 877.09 Tampering with or damaging sewer systems.

(1) Whoever willfully or fraudulently, without the consent of any person, firm, or corporation or lessee, trustee, or receiver owning, leasing, operating, or managing any sewer system, shall tap, make or cause to be made any connection with, injure or knowingly to suffer to be injured, tamper or meddle with, plug or in any way hinder, use without authorization, or interfere with any lines, mains, pipes, laterals, collectors, connections, interceptors, manholes, appliances, or appurtenances used for or in connection with any sewer system and belonging to such person, firm, or corporation or lessee, trustee, or receiver, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (2) The existence of any tap, connection to, unauthorized use of, or interference with any line, main, pipe, lateral, collector, connection, interceptor, or other appliance or appurtenance used for or in connection with any sewer system and belonging to any person, firm, or corporation or lessee, trustee, or receiver owning, leasing, operating, or managing any sewer system shall be prima facie evidence of intent to violate this law by the person receiving the direct benefit from such tap, connection, or interference.

F.S. 877.10 Real property; dual contracts prohibited.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly make, issue, deliver, or receive dual contracts for the purchase or sale of real property. Dual contracts, either written or oral, are two contracts concerning the same parcel of real property, one of which states the true and actual purchase price and one of which states a purchase price in excess of the true and actual purchase price and is used as an inducement for mortgage investors to make a loan commitment on such real property in reliance upon the stated inflated value. (2) Any violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.13 Educational institutions or school boards; penalty for disruption.

(1) It is unlawful for any person: (a) Knowingly to disrupt or interfere with the lawful administration or functions of any educational institution, school board, or activity on school board property in this state. (b) Knowingly to advise, counsel, or instruct any school pupil or school employee to disrupt any school or school board function, activity on school board property, or classroom. (c) Knowingly to interfere with the attendance of any other school pupil or school employee in a school or classroom. (d) To conspire to riot or to engage in any school campus or school function disruption or disturbance which interferes with the educational processes or with the orderly conduct of a school campus, school, or school board function or activity on school board property. (2) This section shall apply to all educational institutions, school boards, and functions or activities on school board property; however, nothing herein shall deny public employees the opportunity to exercise their rights pursuant to part II of chapter 447. (3) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.14 Merchandising of dogs; required records; penalty for violation.

(1) Every person engaged in the business of selling dogs shall keep a complete and true record of all transactions, showing the date of transaction and the name and address of the person from whom each dog was purchased or otherwise obtained and to whom it was sold. The record also should show a sufficient description of the dog such as breed, sex, color, markings, and distinguishing features. The record shall at all times be subject to the inspection of all police and peace officers. (2) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.15 Failure to control or report dangerous fire.

Any person who knows, or has reasonable grounds to believe, that a fire is endangering the life or property of another, and who fails to take reasonable measures to put out or control the fire when the person can do so without substantial risk to himself or herself, or who fails to give a prompt fire alarm, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, if: (1) The person knows that he or she is under an official, contractual, or other legal duty to control or combat the fire; or (2) The fire was started lawfully by the person or with his or her assent and was started on property in his or her custody or control.

F.S. 877.16 Exhibition of deformed animals prohibited; penalty.

Whoever shall exhibit for pay or compensation any crippled or physically distorted, malformed, or disfigured beast, bird, or animal in any circus, show, or similar place, or any other place to which an admission fee is charged, whoever knowingly advertises or knowingly causes to be advertised any such exhibition, and whoever solicits or procures the attendance of others at such exhibition with knowledge of the nature thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.17 Works to be submitted by students without substantial alteration.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person or business entity to sell, offer to sell, or advertise for sale any term paper, thesis, dissertation, essay, or report or any written, recorded, pictorial, artistic, or other assignment which the seller or advertiser knew or reasonably should have known was intended for submission by a student, unaltered to any substantial degree, in fulfillment of the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate, or course of study at a university, college, academy, school, or other educational institution in the state. (2) This section shall not prevent any person or educational institution from providing tutorial assistance, research material, information, or courses in research or writing unless this service includes the preparation, research, or writing of a report or paper as outlined in subsection (1). No person shall be prevented by this section from selling or offering to sell services which include the typing, assembling, transcription, reproduction, or editing of a manuscript or other assignment prepared by the purchaser. (3) Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.18 Identification card or document purporting to contain applicant’s age or date of birth; penalties for failure to comply with requirements for sale or issuance.

(1) It is unlawful for any person, except a governmental agency or instrumentality, to sell or issue, or to offer to sell or issue, in this state any identification card or document purporting to contain the age or date of birth of the person in whose name it was issued, unless: (a) Prior to selling or issuing such card or document, the person has first obtained from the applicant and retains for a period of 3 years from the date of sale: 1. An authenticated or certified copy of proof of age as provided in s. 1003.21(4); and 2. A notarized affidavit from the applicant attesting to the applicant’s age and that the proof-of-age document required by subparagraph 1. is for such applicant. (b) Prior to offering to sell such cards in this state, the person has included in any offer for sale of identification cards or documents that such cards cannot be sold or issued without the applicants’ first submitting the documents required by paragraph (a). (c) The identification card or document contains the business name and street address of the person selling or issuing such card or document. (2) For the purposes of this section, the term “offer to sell” includes every inducement, solicitation, attempt, or printed or media advertisement to encourage a person to purchase an identification card. (3) All records required to be maintained by this section shall be available for inspection without warrant upon reasonable demand by any law enforcement officer, including, but not limited to, a state attorney investigator or an investigator for the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. (4) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. The failure to produce the documents required by subsection (1), upon lawful request therefor, is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. (5) The state attorney for any county in which a violation of this section occurs or the Attorney General may enjoin any sale or offer for sale in violation of this section by temporary and permanent injunction by application to any court of competent jurisdiction.

F.S. 877.19 Hate Crimes Reporting Act.

(1) SHORT TITLE. — This section may be cited as the “Hate Crimes Reporting Act.” (2) ACQUISITION AND PUBLICATION OF DATA. — The Governor, through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, shall collect and disseminate data on incidents of criminal acts that evidence prejudice based on race, religion, ethnicity, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, or national origin. All law enforcement agencies shall report monthly to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement concerning such offenses in such form and in such manner as prescribed by rules adopted by the department. Such information shall be compiled by the department and disseminated upon request to any local law enforcement agency, unit of local government, or state agency. (3) LIMITATION ON USE AND CONTENT OF DATA. — Such information is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1). Data required pursuant to this section shall be used only for research or statistical purposes and shall not include any information that may reveal the identity of an individual victim of a crime. (4) ANNUAL SUMMARY. — The Attorney General shall publish an annual summary of the data required pursuant to this section.

F.S. 877.20 Local juvenile curfew ordinances; legislative intent.

It is the intent of the Legislature to protect minors in this state from harm and victimization, to promote the safety and well-being of minors in this state, to reduce the crime and violence committed by minors in this state, and to provide counties and municipalities with the option of adopting a local juvenile curfew ordinance by incorporating by reference the provisions of ss. 877.20-877.25.

F.S. 877.21 Definitions; ss. 877.20-877.25.

As used in ss. 877.20-877.25, the term: (1) “Emergency” means an unforeseen combination of circumstances which results in a situation that requires immediate attention to care for or prevent serious bodily injury, loss of life, or significant property loss. The term includes, but is not limited to, a fire, a natural disaster, or an automobile accident. (2) “Establishment” means a privately owned place of business to which the public is invited, including, but not limited to, a place of amusement or a place of entertainment. (3) “Minor” means any person under 16 years of age. (4) “Parent” means a person who has legal custody of a minor as a: (a) Natural or adoptive parent. (b) Legal guardian. (c) Person who stands in loco parentis to the minor. (d) Person who has legal custody of the minor by order of the court. (5) “Public place” means a place to which the public has access, including, but not limited to, streets, highways, public parks, and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, transportation facilities, and shops. (6) “Remain” means to stay unnecessarily in a particular place.

F.S. 877.22 Minors prohibited in public places and establishments during certain hours; penalty; procedure.

(1)(a) A minor may not be or remain in a public place or establishment between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day, Sunday through Thursday, except in the case of a legal holiday. (b) A minor may not be or remain in a public place or establishment between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. (2) A minor who has been suspended or expelled from school may not be or remain in a public place, in an establishment, or within 1,000 feet of a school during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. during any school day. (3) A minor who violates this section shall receive a written warning for her or his first violation. A minor who violates this section after having received a prior written warning is guilty of a civil infraction and shall pay a fine of $50 for each violation. (4) If a minor violates a curfew and is taken into custody, the minor shall be transported immediately to a police station or to a facility operated by a religious, charitable, or civic organization that conducts a curfew program in cooperation with a local law enforcement agency. After recording pertinent information about the minor, the law enforcement agency shall attempt to contact the parent of the minor and, if successful, shall request that the parent take custody of the minor and shall release the minor to the parent. If the law enforcement agency is not able to contact the minor’s parent within 2 hours after the minor is taken into custody, or if the parent refuses to take custody of the minor, the law enforcement agency may transport the minor to her or his residence or proceed as authorized under part IV of chapter 39.

F.S. 877.23 Legal duty of parent; penalty.

(1) The parent of a minor has a legal duty and responsibility to ensure that the minor does not violate s. 877.22(1). (2) The parent of a minor has a legal duty and responsibility to personally supervise, or arrange for a responsible adult to supervise, the minor so that the minor does not violate s. 877.22(2). (3) The parent of a minor who knowingly permits the minor to violate s. 877.22(1) or (2) shall receive a written warning for a first violation. A parent who knowingly permits the minor to violate s. 877.22(1) or (2) after having received a prior written warning is guilty of a civil infraction and shall pay a fine of $50 for each violation.

F.S. 877.24 Nonapplication of s. 877.22.

Section 877.22 does not apply to a minor who is: (1) Accompanied by his or her parent or by another adult authorized by the minor’s parent to have custody of the minor. (2) Involved in an emergency or engaged, with his or her parent’s permission, in an emergency errand. (3) Attending or traveling directly to or from an activity that involves the exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. (4) Going directly to or returning directly from lawful employment, or who is in a public place or establishment in connection with or as required by a business, trade, profession, or occupation in which the minor is lawfully engaged. (5) Returning directly home from a school-sponsored function, a religious function, or a function sponsored by a civic organization. (6) On the property of, or on the sidewalk of, the place where the minor resides, or who is on the property or sidewalk of an adult next-door neighbor with that neighbor’s permission. (7) Engaged in interstate travel or bona fide intrastate travel with the consent of the minor’s parent. (8) Attending an organized event held at and sponsored by a theme park or entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9).

F.S. 877.25 Local ordinance required; effect.

Sections 877.20-877.24 do not apply in a county or municipality unless the governing body of the county or municipality adopts an ordinance that incorporates by reference the provisions of ss. 877.20-877.24. Sections 877.20-877.24 do not preclude county or municipal ordinances regulating the presence of minors in public places and establishments which provide restrictions more stringent or less stringent than the curfew imposed under s. 877.22.

F.S. 877.26 Direct observation, videotaping, or visual surveillance of customers in merchant’s dressing room, etc., prohibited; penalties.

(1) It is unlawful for any merchant to directly observe or make use of video cameras or other visual surveillance devices to observe or record customers in the merchant’s dressing room, fitting room, changing room, or restroom when such room provides a reasonable expectation of privacy. However, a merchant may directly observe a customer from outside such room if the observation is within the scope of the merchant’s duties and the observation does not otherwise violate s. 810.14 or s. 810.145 or if the customer invites or consents to the presence of the merchant in the room. (2) As used in this subsection, the term “merchant” means an owner or operator, or the agent, consignee, employee, lessee, or officer of an owner or operator, of any premises or apparatus used for retail purchase or sale of any merchandise. (3) Any merchant who violates subsection (1) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.27 Unauthorized transmissions to, or interference with, a public or commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission prohibited; penalties.

(1) A person may not: (a) Make, or cause to be made, a radio transmission in this state unless the person obtains a license or an exemption from licensure from the Federal Communications Commission under 47 U.S.C. s. 301, or other applicable federal law or regulation; or (b) Do any act, whether direct or indirect, to cause an unlicensed radio transmission to, or interference with, a public or commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission or to enable the radio transmission or interference to occur. (2) A person who violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

F.S. 877.061 Marketing establishments; maintenance of scales.

(1) Any milk plant, meat-processing plant, or any other marketing establishment which purchases dairy and agricultural products directly from the producer, his or her agent or employee on the basis of the weight of the product shall maintain scales in a location in the plant or other marketing establishment where the seller-producer and purchaser or their agent shall have the right and opportunity to attest to the weight thereof. (2) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall designate agents to inspect such scales as often as it deems practical and necessary. (3) Any person who willfully and knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.101 Escrow business by unauthorized persons; use of name.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), in connection with the purchase and sale of real property, a person may not: (a) Transact business under any name or title that contains the word “escrow” or words of similar import; or (b)1. Use any name, word, sign, symbol, or device in any context or in any manner; or 2. Circulate or use any letterhead, billhead, circular, paper, or writing of any kind or otherwise advertise or represent in any manner that indicates or reasonably implies that the business being conducted or advertised is the kind or character of business transacted that is regulated by this state as an escrow agent. (2) This section does not apply to: (a) A financial institution as defined in s. 655.005; (b) An attorney who is a member of The Florida Bar or his or her law firm; (c) A person who is licensed pursuant to chapter 475 or his or her brokerage firm; or (d) A title insurance agent who is licensed pursuant to s. 626.8417, a title insurance agency that is licensed pursuant to s. 626.8418, or a title insurer who is authorized to transact business in this state pursuant to s. 624.401. (3) Any person aggrieved by a violation of this section may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain a declaratory judgment that an act or practice violates this section. (4) In any action brought by a person who has suffered a loss as a result of a violation of this section, such person may recover actual damages, plus attorney’s fees and court costs. (5) Any person who willfully violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

F.S. 877.111 Inhalation, ingestion, possession, sale, purchase, or transfer of harmful chemical substances; penalties.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to inhale or ingest, or to possess with intent to breathe, inhale, or drink, any compound, liquid, or chemical containing toluol, hexane, trichloroethylene, acetone, toluene, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, trichloroethane, isopropanol, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, cyclohexanone, nitrous oxide, diethyl ether, alkyl nitrites (butyl nitrite), or any similar substance for the purpose of inducing a condition of intoxication or which distorts or disturbs the auditory, visual, or mental processes. This section does not apply to the possession and use of these substances as part of the care or treatment of a disease or injury by a practitioner licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, part I of chapter 464, or chapter 466 or to beverages controlled by the provisions of chapter 561, chapter 562, chapter 563, chapter 564, or chapter 565. (2) It is unlawful for any person to possess, buy, sell, or otherwise transfer any chemical substance specified in subsection (1) for the purpose of inducing or aiding any other person to violate the provisions of subsection (1). (3) Except as provided in subsection (4) with respect to nitrous oxide, any person who violates subsection (1) or subsection (2) commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (4) Any person who knowingly distributes, sells, purchases, transfers, or possesses more than 16 grams of nitrous oxide commits a felony of the third degree which shall be known as unlawful distribution of nitrous oxide, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. For purposes of this subsection, in addition to proving by any other means that nitrous oxide was knowingly possessed, distributed, sold, purchased, or transferred, proof that any person discharged, or aided another in discharging, nitrous oxide to inflate a balloon or any other object suitable for subsequent inhalation creates an inference of the person’s knowledge that the nitrous oxide’s use was for an unlawful purpose. This subsection does not apply to the possession and use of nitrous oxide as part of the care and treatment of a disease or injury by a practitioner licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 464, chapter 466, or chapter 474; as a food processing propellant; as a semiconductor oxidizer; as an analytical chemistry oxidizer in atomic absorption spectrometry; in the production of chemicals used to inflate airbags; as an oxidizer for chemical production, combustion, or jet propulsion; or as a motor vehicle induction additive when mixed with sulphur dioxide. (5) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section may, in the discretion of the trial judge, be required to participate in a substance abuse services program approved or regulated by the Department of Children and Families pursuant to the provisions of chapter 397, provided the director of the program approves the placement of the defendant in the program. Such required participation may be imposed in addition to, or in lieu of, any penalty or probation otherwise prescribed by law. However, the total time of such penalty, probation, and program participation shall not exceed the maximum length of sentence possible for the offense.

F.S. 877.155 Report of initial treatment of burn injuries; penalty for failure to report.

(1) Any person who initially treats or is requested to treat a person with second-degree or third-degree burn injuries affecting 10 percent or more of the surface area of his or her body shall immediately report such treatment to the local sheriff’s department if the treating person determines that the burns were caused by a flammable substance and if the treating person suspects the injury is a result of violence or unlawful activity. The report shall state the name and address of the injured person and the extent of his or her injuries. This section does not apply to burn injuries received by a member of the armed forces, or by a governmental employee, engaged in the performance of his or her duties. (2) Any person who willfully fails to make the report required by subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter877/AllFetched: 7/8/2026

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