Florida criminal statutes, summarized
Short, plain-language summaries of frequently cited Florida criminal statutes. Each summary links to the official text published by the Florida Legislature, which is the version that controls.
- F.S. §316.027 — Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death or Injury Requires a driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death to stop and remain at the scene, and makes leaving a felony. DUI & Traffic Crimes
- F.S. §316.192 — Reckless Driving Defines reckless driving as driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, and sets its penalties. DUI & Traffic Crimes
- F.S. §316.193 — Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Defines DUI in Florida and sets the fines, jail terms, and other penalties for a first and for repeat convictions. DUI & Traffic Crimes
- F.S. §322.34 — Driving While License Suspended, Revoked, Canceled, or Disqualified Sets the consequences for driving on a suspended or revoked license, which depend on whether the driver knew of the suspension and on prior convictions. DUI & Traffic Crimes
- F.S. §741.28 — Domestic Violence: Definitions Defines “domestic violence” and “family or household member” for Florida’s domestic violence laws. Domestic Violence
- F.S. §741.283 — Minimum Term of Imprisonment for Domestic Violence Requires a minimum county jail term when a person is adjudicated guilty of a crime of domestic violence and intentionally caused bodily harm. Domestic Violence
- F.S. §784.011 — Assault Defines assault as an intentional, unlawful threat to do violence to another person, with an apparent ability to carry it out, that creates a well-founded fear of imminent violence. Assault & Battery
- F.S. §784.03 — Battery; Felony Battery Defines battery as intentionally touching or striking another person against their will, or intentionally causing bodily harm, and sets its offense level. Assault & Battery
- F.S. §784.045 — Aggravated Battery Makes battery a second-degree felony when it causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement, involves a deadly weapon, or the victim was known to be pregnant. Assault & Battery
- F.S. §812.014 — Theft Defines theft in Florida and classifies it as petit or grand theft, mainly by the value of the property taken. Theft & Property Crimes
- F.S. §893.13 — Drug Possession, Sale, Manufacture, and Delivery The main Florida statute on controlled substance offenses below trafficking amounts, covering possession and sale, manufacture, or delivery. Drug Crimes
- F.S. §893.135 — Drug Trafficking Sets the quantity thresholds at which possessing, selling, or bringing a drug into Florida becomes trafficking, with mandatory minimum prison terms and fines. Drug Crimes
- F.S. §943.045 — Definitions: Sealing and Expunction of Criminal History Records The definitions section for Florida’s criminal justice information laws, including what “sealing” and “expunction” of a criminal history record mean. Criminal Records
- F.S. §943.0584 — Records Ineligible for Court-Ordered Sealing or Expunction Lists the offenses for which a criminal history record cannot be sealed or expunged when the case ended in a finding of guilt or a plea, even if adjudication was… Criminal Records
- F.S. §948.06 — Violation of Probation or Community Control Sets out how an alleged violation of probation or community control is brought to court and what the judge may do if a violation is admitted or found. Arrest & Court Process