Florida Laws on Crimes Against Property
- Florida defines the crimes and punishments against property in its statutes.broken window reflecting blue sky image by Steve Mann from Fotolia.com
There are several definitions and forms of crimes against property, and each state differs on the punishments and fines associated with it. The state of Florida addresses the crimes against property, punishments and fines in its statutes, which most commonly define crimes against property in broad terms such as vandalism, graffiti, burglary, and fence damage and destruction. - Damaging or destroying another's property is considered criminal mischief in Florida.leather boot on broken mirror image by Andrejs Pidjass from Fotolia.com
A person is guilty of criminal mischief if he damages real or personal property belonging to another, including but not limited to various forms of vandalism and the act of graffiti.
If the damage to someone else's property is $200 or less, it's a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail. If the damage is greater than $200 but less than $1,000, it's a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison.
If the damage is $1,000 or greater, or results in an interruption or impairment of a business operation, public communication, transportation, water supply, gas or power, or other public service which costs $1,000 or more in labor and supplies to restore, it's a felony of the third degree, punishable by up to five years in prison.
It is also a third-degree felony to deface, injure or damage any church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship or any of its religious articles.
It's also a third-degree felony to render a public telephone inoperative by destroying or substantially damaging it, or its cables or equipment.
Any person who defaces, injures or damages a sexually violent predator detention or commitment facility, or any property within, commits a felony of the third degree if the damage to property is greater than $200.
Any person who is convicted of criminal mischief may be required to pay for the damages as well. - In Florida, the act of graffitti carries a punishment of heavy fines and community service.Graphic graffitti chitti image by Solidsponge from Fotolia.com
Those convicted of graffiti must pay at least $250 for a first conviction, $500 for a second conviction, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent conviction.
A person convicted of placing graffiti is also required to perform at least 40 hours of community service and, if possible, perform at least 100 hours of community service that involves removing the graffiti.
If a minor commits an act of graffiti, the court may revoke or withhold a driver's license, or extend the suspension or revocation of a license, for no more than a year. - Damaging or destroying property during an armed burglary is a felony.stay out image by pix29 from Fotolia.com
If, during a burglary, a person is armed and/or assaults someone and damages or destroys the dwelling or structure, or the property within, to an amount that exceeds more than $1,000, he is guilty of a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment. - It's a misdemeanor in Florida to damage or destroy a fence.broken fence image by Sorin Alb from Fotolia.com
Anyone who breaks down, mars, injures, defaces, cuts or otherwise creates an opening, gap, interruption or break in a fence belonging to someone else is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by up to 60 days in jail.
A second or subsequent offense is a felony of the third degree, punishable by up to five years in prison. In addition, if animals are enclosed in the damaged or destroyed fence, it's also a third-degree felony.
