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Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 815.061 (2025)

Offenses against public utilities.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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815.061 Offenses against public utilities.—
(1) As used in this section, the term “public utility” includes:
(a) A public utility or electric utility as defined in s. 366.02.
(b) A utility as defined in s. 367.021.
(c) A natural gas transmission company as defined in s. 368.103.
(d) A person, corporation, partnership, association, public agency, municipality, cooperative, gas district, or other legal entity and their lessees, trustees, or receivers, now or hereafter owning, operating, managing, or controlling gas transmission or distribution facilities or any other facility supplying or storing natural or manufactured gas or liquefied gas with air admixture or any similar gaseous substances by pipeline to or for the public within this state.
(e) A separate legal entity created under s. 163.01 and composed of any of the entities described in this subsection for the purpose of providing utility services in this state, including wholesale power and electric transmission services.
(2) A person may not willfully, knowingly, and without authorization:
(a) Gain access to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device owned, operated, or used by a public utility while knowing that such access is unauthorized.
(b) Physically tamper with, insert a computer contaminant into, or otherwise transmit commands or electronic communications to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device that causes a disruption in any service delivered by a public utility.
(3)(a) A person who violates paragraph (2)(a) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(b) A person who violates paragraph (2)(b) commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
History.—s. 6, ch. 2014-208.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 815.061

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§815.061(2a)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC #10616F · 3rd
§815.061(2a)FRAUD AND ABUSE -- COMPUTERCOMPUTER CRIME UNAUTH ACCESS PUBLIC UTILITYF · 3rd
§815.061(2b)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESCMPTR CRIME TMPR CONTAMINT DISRUP PUB UTIL SVSF · 2nd

This Florida statute resource is curated by a Jacksonville criminal defense attorney, a Jacksonville, Florida criminal defense attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 815 matters in the context of computer crime defense and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.