Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 871.05 (2025)

Interference with a sporting or entertainment event.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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871.05 Interference with a sporting or entertainment event.
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Covered event” means an athletic competition or practice, including one conducted in a public venue, or a live artistic, theatrical, or other entertainment performance event. The duration of such event includes the period from the time when a venue is held open to the public for such an event until the end of the athletic competition or performance event.
(b) “Covered participant” means an umpire, officiating crew member, player, coach, manager, groundskeeper, or any artistic, theatrical, or other performer or sanctioned participant in a covered event. The term includes event operations and security employees working at a covered event.
(c) “Restricted area” means any area designated for use by players, coaches, officials, performers, or other personnel administering a covered event that is on, or adjacent to, the area of play or performance.
(2) A person may not:
(a) Intentionally touch or strike a covered participant during a covered event against the will of the covered participant, or intentionally cause bodily harm to a covered participant during a covered event;
(b) Willfully enter or remain in a restricted area during a covered event without being authorized, licensed, or invited to enter or remain in such a restricted area; or
(c) Willfully enter or remain in a venue during a ticketed covered event wherein attendance exceeds 5,000 persons, without being authorized, licensed, or invited to enter or remain in such venue.
(3) A person who:
(a) Violates paragraph (2)(a) or paragraph (2)(b) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $2,500.
(b) Violates paragraph (2)(c) commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(c) Solicits another person to violate subsection (2) by offering money or any other thing of value to another to engage in specific conduct that constitutes such a violation commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(4) A person convicted of a violation of this section may not realize any profit or benefit, directly or indirectly, from committing such a violation. Any profit or benefit payable to or accruing to a person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to seizure and forfeiture as provided in the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.
History.s. 1, ch. 2023-195; s. 2, ch. 2025-30.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 871.05

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§871.05(2a)BATTERYTOUCH/STRIKE PARTICIPANT SPORT/ENTERTAIN EVENTM · 1st
§871.05(2a)BATTERYBODILY HARM PARTICIPANT SPORTS/ENTERTAIN EVENTM · 1st
§871.05(2b)TRESPASSINGENTER REMAIN SPORT/ENTERTAIN EVENT AREAF · 3rd
§871.05(2c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESENTER REMAIN SPORT/ENTERTAIN EVENT GT 5K PPLF · 3rd
§871.05(3b)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVED.F · 3rd
§871.05(3b)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVED.F · 3rd
§871.05(3c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESSOLICIT BOD HARM PARTICIPANT SPORT/ENTER EVENTF · 3rd
§871.05(3c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESSOLICIT INTERF SPORT ENTERT EVENT OFFER MONEYF · 3rd
§871.05(3c)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESSOLICIT INTERFERE SPORT/ENTER EVENT GT 5K PPLF · 3rd
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 2012–2012 · leading case: Enoch v. State, 95 So. 3d 344 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).
Enoch v. State, 95 So. 3d 344 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012). · cites it 2× “Section 871.05(1): The “Gang Recruitment” Statute The “gang recruitment” statute implicated in Count One states: 874.”
— 871.05(1) — 1 case
Enoch v. State, 95 So. 3d 344 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012). “Section 871.05(1): The “Gang Recruitment” Statute The “gang recruitment” statute implicated in Count One states: 874.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.

This Florida statute resource is curated by Florida Bar member Graham W. Syfert, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.