Florida Statute 847.011 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 847
OBSCENITY

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F.S. 847.011

847.011 Prohibition of certain acts in connection with obscene, lewd, etc., materials; penalty.—

(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), any person who knowingly sells, lends, gives away, distributes, transmits, shows, or transmutes, or offers to sell, lend, give away, distribute, transmit, show, or transmute, or has in his or her possession, custody, or control with intent to sell, lend, give away, distribute, transmit, show, transmute, or advertise in any manner, any obscene book, magazine, periodical, pamphlet, newspaper, comic book, story paper, written or printed story or article, writing, paper, card, picture, drawing, photograph, motion picture film, figure, image, phonograph record, or wire or tape or other recording, or any written, printed, or recorded matter of any such character which may or may not require mechanical or other means to be transmuted into auditory, visual, or sensory representations of such character, or any article or instrument for obscene use, or purporting to be for obscene use or purpose; or who knowingly designs, copies, draws, photographs, poses for, writes, prints, publishes, or in any manner whatsoever manufactures or prepares any such material, matter, article, or thing of any such character; or who knowingly writes, prints, publishes, or utters, or causes to be written, printed, published, or uttered, any advertisement or notice of any kind, giving information, directly or indirectly, stating, or purporting to state, where, how, of whom, or by what means any, or what purports to be any, such material, matter, article, or thing of any such character can be purchased, obtained, or had; or who in any manner knowingly hires, employs, uses, or permits any person knowingly to do or assist in doing any act or thing mentioned above, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A person who, after having been convicted of a violation of this subsection, thereafter violates any of its provisions, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(b) The knowing possession by any person of three or more identical or similar materials, matters, articles, or things coming within the provisions of paragraph (a) is prima facie evidence of the violation of the paragraph.

(c) A person who commits a violation of paragraph (a) or subsection (2) which is based on materials that depict a minor engaged in any act or conduct that is harmful to minors commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(d) A person’s ignorance of a minor’s age, a minor’s misrepresentation of his or her age, a bona fide belief of a minor’s age, or a minor’s consent may not be raised as a defense in a prosecution for one or more violations of paragraph (a) or subsection (2).

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (1)(c), a person who knowingly has in his or her possession, custody, or control any obscene book, magazine, periodical, pamphlet, newspaper, comic book, story paper, written or printed story or article, writing, paper, card, picture, drawing, photograph, motion picture film, film, any sticker, decal, emblem or other device attached to a motor vehicle containing obscene descriptions, photographs, or depictions, any figure, image, phonograph record, or wire or tape or other recording, or any written, printed, or recorded matter of any such character which may or may not require mechanical or other means to be transmuted into auditory, visual, or sensory representations of such character, or any article or instrument for obscene use, or purporting to be for obscene use or purpose, without intent to sell, lend, give away, distribute, transmit, show, transmute, or advertise the same, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. A person who, after having been convicted of violating this subsection, thereafter violates any of its provisions commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. In any prosecution for such possession, it is not necessary to allege or prove the absence of such intent.

(3) No person shall as a condition to a sale, allocation, consignment, or delivery for resale of any paper, magazine, book, periodical, or publication require that the purchaser or consignee receive for resale any other article, paper, magazine, book, periodical, or publication reasonably believed by the purchaser or consignee to be obscene, and no person shall deny or threaten to deny or revoke any franchise or impose or threaten to impose any penalty, financial or otherwise, by reason of the failure of any person to accept any such article, paper, magazine, book, periodical, or publication, or by reason of the return thereof. Whoever violates this subsection is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(4) Any person who knowingly promotes, conducts, performs, or participates in an obscene show, exhibition, or performance by live persons or a live person before an audience is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Any person who, after having been convicted of violating this subsection, thereafter violates any of its provisions and is convicted thereof is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(5)(a)1. A person may not knowingly sell, lend, give away, distribute, transmit, show, or transmute; offer to sell, lend, give away, distribute, transmit, show, or transmute; have in his or her possession, custody, or control with the intent to sell, lend, give away, distribute, transmit, show, or transmute; or advertise in any manner an obscene, child-like sex doll.

2.a. Except as provided in sub-subparagraph b., a person who violates this paragraph 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 is convicted of violating this paragraph a second or subsequent time commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(b)1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2., a person who knowingly has in his or her possession, custody, or control an obscene, child-like sex doll commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

2. A person who is convicted of violating this paragraph a second or subsequent time commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(c)1. A law enforcement officer may arrest without a warrant any person who he or she has probable cause to believe has violated paragraph (b).

2. Upon proper affidavits being made, a search warrant may be issued to further investigate a violation of paragraph (b), including to search a private dwelling.

(6) Every act, thing, or transaction forbidden by this section shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.

(7) Proof that a defendant knowingly committed any act or engaged in any conduct referred to in this section may be made by showing that at the time such act was committed or conduct engaged in the defendant had actual knowledge of the contents or character of the material, matter, article, or thing possessed or otherwise dealt with, by showing facts and circumstances from which it may fairly be inferred that he or she had such knowledge, or by showing that he or she had knowledge of such facts and circumstances as would put a person of ordinary intelligence and caution on inquiry as to such contents or character.

(8) There shall be no right of property in any of the materials, matters, articles, or things possessed or otherwise dealt with in violation of this section; and, upon the seizure of any such material, matter, article, or thing by any authorized law enforcement officer, the same shall be held by the arresting agency. When the same is no longer required as evidence, the prosecuting officer or any claimant may move the court in writing for the disposition of the same and, after notice and hearing, the court, if it finds the same to have been possessed or otherwise dealt with in violation of this section, shall order the sheriff to destroy the same in the presence of the clerk; otherwise, the court shall order the same returned to the claimant if the claimant shows that he or she is entitled to possession. If destruction is ordered, the sheriff and clerk shall file a certificate of compliance.

(9)(a) The circuit court has jurisdiction to enjoin a threatened violation of this section upon complaint filed by the state attorney or attorney for a municipality in the name of the state upon the relation of such state attorney or attorney for a municipality.

(b) After the filing of such a complaint, the judge to whom it is presented may grant an order restraining the person complained of until final hearing or further order of the court. Whenever the relator state attorney or attorney for a municipality requests a judge of such court to set a hearing upon an application for such a restraining order, such judge shall set such hearing for a time within 3 days after the making of such request. No such order shall be made unless such judge is satisfied that sufficient notice of the application therefor has been given to the party restrained of the time when and place where the application for such restraining order is to be made; however, such notice shall be dispensed with when it is manifest to such judge, from the sworn allegations of the complaint or the affidavit of the plaintiff or other competent person, that the apprehended violation will be committed if an immediate remedy is not afforded.

(c) The person sought to be enjoined shall be entitled to a trial of the issues within 1 day after joinder of issue, and a decision shall be rendered by the court within 2 days of the conclusion of the trial.

(d) In any action brought as provided in this subsection, no bond or undertaking shall be required of the state attorney or the municipality or its attorney before the issuance of a restraining order provided for by paragraph (b), and there shall be no liability on the part of the state or the state attorney or the municipality or its attorney for costs or for damages sustained by reason of such restraining order in any case where a final decree is rendered in favor of the person sought to be enjoined.

(e) Every person who has possession, custody, or control of, or otherwise deals with, any of the materials, matters, articles, or things described in this section, after the service upon him or her of a summons and complaint in an action for injunction brought under this subsection, is chargeable with knowledge of the contents and character thereof.

(10) The several sheriffs and state attorneys shall vigorously enforce this section within their respective jurisdictions.

(11) This section shall not apply to the exhibition of motion picture films permitted by s. 847.013.

History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, ch. 61-7; s. 1053, ch. 71-136; ss. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4, 5A, 6, ch. 71-337; s. 171, ch. 71-355; s. 34, ch. 73-334; s. 2, ch. 86-238; s. 68, ch. 88-381; s. 1, ch. 89-44; s. 211, ch. 91-224; s. 1348, ch. 97-102; s. 2, ch. 2008-120; s. 1, ch. 2019-45; s. 8, ch. 2022-212.

Note.—Section 7, ch. 2008-120, provides that “[t]he amendments to ss. 847.012, 847.011, 847.013, and 847.0133, Florida Statutes, by this act do not apply to providers of communications services as defined in s. 202.11, Florida Statutes, or to providers of information services, including, but not limited to, Internet access service providers and hosting service providers, when they only provide the transmission, storage, or caching of electronic communications or messages of others or provide other related communications or information services used by others in violation of such amended provisions. This exemption shall not apply to providers of communications services as defined in s. 202.11, Florida Statutes, or providers of information services that knowingly for commercial advantage or private financial gain facilitate the specific violation of such amended provisions by others.”

F.S. 847.011 on Google Scholar

F.S. 847.011 on Casetext

Amendments to 847.011

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 847.011

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

S847.011 1a - OBSCENE MATERIAL-SELL - SELLS LENDS DISTRIBUTES SUBSQ VIOLATION - F: T

S847.011 1a - OBSCENE MATERIAL-SELL - 1ST OFF - M: F

S847.011 1a - OBSCENE MATERIAL-POSSESS - TO SELL SUBSQ VIOL - F: T

S847.011 1a - OBSCENE MATERIAL-POSSESS - TO SELL 1ST OFF - M: F

S847.011 1a - OBSCENE MATERIAL-DISTRIB - LEND SUBSQ VIOL - F: T

S847.011 1a - OBSCENE MATERIAL-DISTRIB - LEND 1ST OFF - M: F

S847.011 1c - OBSCENITY - SELL LEND TRANS POSSESS OBSCENITY HARM MINOR - F: T

S847.011 2 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-POSSESS - SUBSQ OFF - M: F

S847.011 2 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-POSSESS - 1ST OFF - M: S

S847.011 3 - OBSCENITY - REQUIRE PURCHASER TO RECEIVE OBSCENE MATERIAL - F: T

S847.011 4 - OBSCENITY - PROMOTE PERFORM ETC LIVE SHOW SUBSQ OFF - F: T

S847.011 4 - OBSCENITY - PROMOTE PERFORM CONDUCT ETC LIVE SHOW 1ST OFF - M: F

S847.011 5a1 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-SELL - SELL LEND ADVERTISE CHILDLIKE SEX DOLL - F: T

S847.011 5a1 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-DISTRIB - TRANSMIT DISTRIB GIVE AWAY CHILDLIKE SEX DOLL - F: T

S847.011 5a1 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-SELL - SELL LEND ADVERTISE CHILDLIKE SEX DOLL 2ND SUB - F: S

S847.011 5a1 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-DISTRIB - TRANSMIT DISTR GIVE CHILDLIKE SEX DOLL 2ND SUB - F: S

S847.011 5b1 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-POSSESS - POSSESS CHILD-LIKE SEX DOLL - M: F

S847.011 5b1 - OBSCENE MATERIAL-POSSESS - POSSESS CHILD-LIKE SEX DOLL 2ND SUBSEQ - F: T

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 847.011

Total Results: 20

J.S. v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2014-04-25T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 138 So. 3d 504

Snippet: or show obscene matter, in violation of section 847.011(l)(a) & (c), Florida Statutes (2012). He argues

In re Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases—Report 2010-05

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2012-02-09T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 87 So. 3d 679, 2012 WL 399879

Snippet: OBSCENE MATERIALS — PROMOTING OR PERFORMING § 847.011(4), Fla.Stat. To prove the crime of (crime charged

Parker v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2011-09-28T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 81 So. 3d 451, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 15255, 2011 WL 4467635

Snippet: intent to distribute obscene photographs. See § 847.011(l)(a), Fla. Stat. (2007).5 Neither was he charged…Chapter 847 covers obscene materials. See, e.g., § 847.011, Fla. Stat. (2007) (prohibiting (1)distribution

Fla. Dept. of Rev. v. City of Gainesville

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2005-12-07T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 918 So. 2d 250

Snippet: the property was exempt from taxation. Id. at 847.[11] In Mikos, we held that property owned and held

Ago

Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 2004-09-24T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: destruction guidelines for various records.13 Section 847.011(7), Florida Statutes, relating to possession of

Doe v. America Online, Inc.

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2001-03-07T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 783 So. 2d 1010

Snippet: claimed that AOL violated criminal statutes, section 847.011[1] and section 847.0135(2), Florida Statutes (1993…PARIENTE and QUINCE, JJ., concur. NOTES [1] Section 847.011(1)(a), Florida Statutes (1993), provides in relevant

Doe v. America Online, Inc.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1998-10-14T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 718 So. 2d 385

Snippet: count one, Doe alleged that AOL violated section 847.011(1)(a), Florida Statutes (1995), by knowingly allowing

State v. Conforti

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1997-01-07T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 688 So. 2d 350

Snippet: violating Florida's obscenity statute, section 847.011, Florida Statutes (1985), by the "showing,

Miragaya v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1995-04-28T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 654 So. 2d 262, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 4500, 1995 WL 245953

Snippet: Obscene Motion Film,” in violation of section 847.011(l)(a), Florida Statutes (1991). In his motion to

State v. Mitchell

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1993-10-08T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 624 So. 2d 859

Snippet: this *861 case are considered in light of section 847.011, Florida Statutes (1991), to rule that Mitchell

State v. Globe Communications Corp.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1993-08-04T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 622 So. 2d 1066

Snippet: Roberts v. State, 373 So.2d 672 (Fla. 1979) [F.S. 847.011(7) authorizing seizure of obscene materials was

State v. Cuda

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1993-07-16T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 622 So. 2d 502

Snippet: constitutionality of Florida's obscenity statute, section 847.011, Florida Statutes, which denounced the sale or

Stall v. State

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 1990-10-11T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 570 So. 2d 257

Snippet: which expressly declared constitutional section 847.011, Florida Statutes (1985 & Supp. 1986). …violations of Florida's obscenity statute, section 847.011, Florida Statutes *258 (1985),[1] and the amended…individually with one or more counts of violating section 847.011. The violations allegedly occurred through the …dismissed the information and declared section 847.011 unconstitutional. The trial court held that, among…1989). This Court has consistently found section 847.011 to be constitutional. Johnson v. State, 351 So.2d

Heller v. City of Ocala

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1990-08-02T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 564 So. 2d 630, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 5681, 1990 WL 108841

Snippet: probable cause to arrest Ms. Heller under sections 847.011(4) and 847.001(11), Florida Statutes (1987).1 On…possibility of arresting appellant under section 847.011(4), Florida Statutes, was suggested by the trial

State v. Epler

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1990-04-20T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 559 So. 2d 746, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 2680, 1990 WL 48617

Snippet: distribu-tion of obscene materials in violation of section 847.011, Florida Statutes (1987). The dismissal was based…subsequently upheld the constitutionality of section 847.011 in State v. Long, 544 So.2d 219 (Fla. 2d DCA 1989

State v. Humphrey

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1990-04-18T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 559 So. 2d 733, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 2760, 1990 WL 48616

Snippet: Humphrey. Humphrey was charged with violating section 847.011, Florida Statutes (1987), by possessing or distributing…subsequently upheld the constitutionality of section 847.011, on both grounds raised in this appeal in State

Brady v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1989-12-01T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 553 So. 2d 316, 14 Fla. L. Weekly 2771, 1989 Fla. App. LEXIS 6713, 1989 WL 145750

Snippet: conduct actually constitutes a violation of section 847.011, but not section 800.04(3). Appellant’s motion …whether appellant’s conduct is violative of section 847.-011. REVERSED. SMITH, THOMPSON and MINER, JJ., concur

State v. Long

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1989-03-30T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 544 So. 2d 219

Snippet: CONSTITUTIONALITY OF SECTION 847.011 The trial court's finding that section 847.011 violates the due process…the 1986 amended version of section 847.011(1)(a). Section 847.011(11), Florida Statutes (1985), provided…forty-eight underlying alleged violations of section 847.011, Florida Statutes (1985 and Supp. 1986). The alleged…charged with one or more counts of violating section 847.011, Florida Statutes (Supp. 1986). The appellees filed… information. The trial court declared section 847.011 unconstitutional under both the United States and

State v. Gayety Theatres, Inc.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1988-02-23T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 521 So. 2d 231, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 521, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 766, 1988 WL 12520

Snippet: felony obscenity offense, pursuant to section 847.011(l)(a), Florida Statutes (Supp.1986). The trial …filing of felony charges for violation of section 847.011 (obscenity statute), Gayety Theatres filed a motion…alleged, nor does the information track section 847.011(l)(a). Hence, the information does not allege sufficient…ability to allege a felony based solely on section 847.011 within the jurisdiction of the circuit court. The

Martinez v. Heinrich

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1988-02-04T23:53:00-08:00

Citation: 521 So. 2d 167

Snippet: 895.03(3), Florida Statutes (1985), and section 847.011(1)(a), Florida Statutes (1985). Jesus and Concepcion