Florida Statute 843.19 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 843
OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE

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F.S. 843.19

843.19 Offenses against police canines, fire canines, SAR canines, or police horses.—

(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Police canine” means any canine, and “police horse” means any horse, that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a law enforcement agency or a correctional agency for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, or apprehension of offenders.

(b) “Fire canine” means any canine that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a fire department, a special fire district, or the State Fire Marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of flammable materials or the investigation of fires.

(c) “SAR canine” means any search and rescue canine that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a fire department, a law enforcement agency, a correctional agency, a special fire district, or the State Fire Marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of missing persons, including, but not limited to, persons who are lost, who are trapped under debris as the result of a natural, manmade, or technological disaster, or who are drowning victims.

(2) Any person who intentionally and knowingly, without lawful cause or justification, causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or death to, or uses a deadly weapon upon, a police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) Any person who actually and intentionally maliciously touches, strikes, or causes bodily harm to a police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(4) Any person who intentionally or knowingly maliciously harasses, teases, interferes with, or attempts to interfere with a police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse while the animal is in the performance of its duties commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(5) A person convicted of an offense under this section shall make restitution for injuries caused to the police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse and shall pay the replacement cost of the animal if, as a result of the offense, the animal can no longer perform its duties.

History.—s. 1, ch. 81-43; s. 1, ch. 84-187; s. 2, ch. 93-20; s. 2, ch. 97-61; s. 1, ch. 2005-139; s. 1, ch. 2019-9; s. 2, ch. 2023-110.

F.S. 843.19 on Google Scholar

F.S. 843.19 on Casetext

Amendments to 843.19

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 843.19

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

S843.19 - OBSTRUCT POLICE - REVISED. SEE REC#S 5861, 5862, 5863, 5864 - F: T

S843.19 2 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8733 - F: T

S843.19 2 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - RENUMBERED. SEE REC # 8734 - F: T

S843.19 2 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - CAUSE GREAT HARM DEATH POLICE FIRE SAR ANIMAL - F: S

S843.19 2 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - USE DEADLY WEAPON ON POLICE FIRE SAR ANIMAL - F: S

S843.19 3 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - TOUCH STRIKE CAUSE HARM POLICE FIRE SAR ANIMAL - M: F

S843.19 4 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - HARASS TEASE INTERFERE POLICE FIRE SAR ANIMAL - M: S

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 843.19

Total Results: 9

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases - Report 2019-12

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2020-02-27

Snippet: Laws of Florida, the Legislature amended section 843.19, Florida Statutes, to broaden the statute covering

R.N., A CHILD v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-11-07

Citation: 257 So. 3d 507

Snippet: State charged the juvenile with violating section 843.19(4), Florida Statutes (2017), which provides that

Allen v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2017-01-04

Citation: 211 So. 3d 55, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 83

Snippet: police dogs differently than, officers. Section 843.19, Florida Statutes (2014), provides that it is a

Durham v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-09-11

Citation: 174 So. 3d 1074, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 13543, 2015 WL 5279011

Snippet: police dog in violation of sections 843.01 and 843.19(3), Florida Statutes (2013). He challenges the

Yarn v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2013-02-01

Citation: 106 So. 3d 39, 2013 WL 376055

Snippet: intent to commit a battery on the dog. Section 843.19(3), Florida Statutes (2009), provides that “[a]ny

T.W. v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2012-10-03

Citation: 98 So. 3d 238, 2012 WL 4511343, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 16732

Snippet: dog suffered “great bodily harm” under section 843.19(2), Florida Statutes (2010), as a result of his

Bass v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2000-12-06

Citation: 791 So. 2d 1124, 2000 WL 1781404

Snippet: police dog is a third degree felony under section 843.19(2). Aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer

Cannada v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1985-07-12

Citation: 472 So. 2d 1296, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 1698

Snippet: with injury to a police dog pursuant to section 843.19, Florida Statutes (1983).[1] For a conviction under

Benbow v. Benbow

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1934-10-19

Citation: 157 So. 512, 117 Fla. 37, 1934 Fla. LEXIS 1188

Snippet: Nichols, 18 R.I. 62, text 69, 25 Atl. Rep. 840, text 843, 19 L.R.A. 413 text 427. If the Trustee fails to keep