Florida Statute 705.102 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XL
REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY

Chapter 705
LOST OR ABANDONED PROPERTY

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F.S. 705.102

705.102 Reporting lost or abandoned property.—

(1) Whenever any person finds any lost or abandoned property, such person shall report the description and location of the property to a law enforcement officer.

(2) The law enforcement officer taking the report shall ascertain whether the person reporting the property wishes to make a claim to it if the rightful owner cannot be identified or located. If the person does wish to make such claim, he or she shall deposit with the law enforcement agency a reasonable sum sufficient to cover the agency’s cost for transportation, storage, and publication of notice. This sum shall be reimbursed to the finder by the rightful owner should he or she identify and reclaim the property.

(3) It is unlawful for any person who finds any lost or abandoned property to appropriate the same to his or her own use or to refuse to deliver the same when required.

(4) Any person who unlawfully appropriates such lost or abandoned property to his or her own use or refuses to deliver such property when required commits theft as defined in s. 812.014, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.—s. 2, ch. 87-82; s. 4, ch. 92-79; s. 790, ch. 97-102; s. 105, ch. 2019-167.

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Amendments to 705.102

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 705.102

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S705.102 4 - LARC - APPRP REFUSE DEL LOST ABAN PROP 100K DOLS MORE - F: F

S705.102 4 - LARC - APPR REFUS DEL LST ABN PROP 20K LESS 100K DOLS - F: S

S705.102 4 - LARC - APPRO REFUS DEL LST ABN PROP 300 LESS 20K DOLS - F: T

S705.102 4 - LARC - APPRO REFUS DEL LST ABN PROP 100 LESS 300 DOLS - M: F

S705.102 4 - LARC - APPROP REFUS DEL LOST ABAND PROP LESS 100 DOLS - M: S

S705.102 4 - LARC - REF DEL LOST ABND PRP LESS 300 DOLS 2ND OFF - F: T

Cases Citing Statute 705.102

Total Results: 6

State v. Tarbox

541 So. 2d 1350, 1989 WL 39608

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 25, 1989 | Docket: 470435

Cited 2 times | Published

defendant as lost or abandoned property under Section 705.102, Florida Statutes (1987), which makes it "unlawful

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases - Report 2019-09

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 16, 2020 | Docket: 16761638

Published

So. 2d 691 (Fla. 2000). According to § 705.102, Fla. Stat., whenever any person finds lost or

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2018-02.

256 So. 3d 1316

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 25, 2018 | Docket: 8081302

Published

appropriated the lost or abandoned property, citing section 705.102, Florida Statutes (2018). New instruction

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Apr 30, 2004 | Docket: 3257154

Published

in the custody of the police department. 9 Section 705.102, Fla. Stat. 10 Section 705.103, Fla. Stat.

Cruz v. State

554 So. 2d 586, 1989 Fla. App. LEXIS 7065, 1989 WL 153765

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 19, 1989 | Docket: 64647243

Published

cognizable defense to burglary of an automobile, cf. § 705.102, Fla.Stat. (1987), there is utterly no evidence

Ago

Florida Attorney General Reports | Filed: Jul 13, 1988 | Docket: 3256042

Published

Section 274.04, F.S. 9 Section 274.05, F.S. 10 Section 705.102, F.S. 11 Section 705.103, F.S. 12 Id. 13 Section