Florida criminal charge
Coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties in Florida
Coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 877.08. Its classification is not fixed: Florida assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Fla. Stat. § 877.08.
What is the penalty for coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 60 days (Malicious or mischievous molestation/damage of coin-operated machine or parking meter — Whoever maliciously or mischievously molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of their body or an instrument into another's coin-operated vending machine or parking meter.; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $500 (Malicious or mischievous molestation/damage of coin-operated machine or parking meter — Whoever maliciously or mischievously molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of their body or an instrument into another's coin-operated vending machine or parking meter.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 60 days (Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (first offense) — Whoever molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of their body or an instrument into another's coin-operated vending machine or parking meter with intent to commit larceny.; county jail, not state prison (s. 775.08(2))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $500 (Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (first offense) — Whoever molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of their body or an instrument into another's coin-operated vending machine or parking meter with intent to commit larceny.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (second or subsequent offense) — Whoever violates subsection (3) a second or subsequent time.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (second or subsequent offense) — Whoever violates subsection (3) a second or subsequent time.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).
How is coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malicious or mischievous molestation/damage of coin-operated machine or parking meter | Misdemeanor of the Second Degree | Whoever maliciously or mischievously molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of their body or an instrument into another's coin-operated vending machine or parking meter. | Fla. Stat. § 877.08(2) |
| Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (first offense) | Misdemeanor of the Second Degree | Whoever molests, opens, breaks, injures, damages, or inserts any part of their body or an instrument into another's coin-operated vending machine or parking meter with intent to commit larceny. | Fla. Stat. § 877.08(3) |
| Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (second or subsequent offense) | Felony of the Third Degree | Whoever violates subsection (3) a second or subsequent time. | Fla. Stat. § 877.08(4) |
Common questions about coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties in Florida
Is coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties ranges from a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree to a Felony of the Third Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 877.08.
Malicious or mischievous molestation/damage of coin-operated machine or parking meter: Misdemeanor of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 877.08(2)) · Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (first offense): Misdemeanor of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 877.08(3)) · Molestation/damage with intent to commit larceny (second or subsequent offense): Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 877.08(4))
What are the penalties for coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties in Florida?
Penalties for coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree up to a Felony of the Third Degree — with the ranges set by Fla. Stat. § 775.082; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Florida statute covers coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties?
Coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties is governed by Fla. Stat. § 877.08 (Coin-operated vending machines and parking meters; defined; prohibited acts, penalties).
Legal terms used in this law
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.