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Florida criminal charge

Circulating any substitute for regular currency in Florida

Misdemeanor of the Second DegreeCurrent through 2026 Florida legislative session

Circulating any substitute for regular currency is a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree under Florida criminal law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 831.26. As a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree, it is punishable within the statutory sentencing range Florida sets for that offense class. Florida sorts criminal offenses into felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses, each carrying its own penalty range.

Defined by Fla. Stat. § 831.26.

What is the penalty for circulating any substitute for regular currency in Florida?

Penalties for Circulating any substitute for regular currency
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 60 days (county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2)))discretionaryFla. Stat. § 775.082
Fineup to $500 (or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g)))discretionaryFla. Stat. § 775.082

Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).

Common questions about circulating any substitute for regular currency in Florida

Is circulating any substitute for regular currency a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

Circulating any substitute for regular currency is a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 831.26.

What are the penalties for circulating any substitute for regular currency in Florida?

As a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree, circulating any substitute for regular currency carries up to 60 days (statutory maximum; the Criminal Punishment Code scoresheet (s. 921.0024) sets the lowest permissible sentence) of incarceration and a fine of up to $500 (statutory ceiling under s. 775.083; the alternatives in s. 775.083(1)(f)-(g) may exceed it) under Fla. Stat. § 775.082 (current (2025 Florida Statutes)).

Which Florida statute covers circulating any substitute for regular currency?

Circulating any substitute for regular currency is governed by Fla. Stat. § 831.26 (Circulating any substitute for regular currency).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.