Florida criminal charge
Offenses against public utilities in Florida
Offenses against public utilities is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 815.061. 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. § 815.061.
What is the penalty for offenses against public utilities in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Unauthorized access to public utility computer system — Applies when a person willfully, knowingly, and without authorization gains access to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device owned, operated, or used by a public utility, knowing such access is unauthorized.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Unauthorized access to public utility computer system — Applies when a person willfully, knowingly, and without authorization gains access to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device owned, operated, or used by a public utility, knowing such access is unauthorized.; 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 15 years (Tampering/disruption of public utility service via computer or electronic means — Applies when a person willfully, knowingly, and without authorization physically tampers with, inserts a computer contaminant into, or transmits commands or electronic communications to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device that causes a disruption in service delivered by a public utility.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Tampering/disruption of public utility service via computer or electronic means — Applies when a person willfully, knowingly, and without authorization physically tampers with, inserts a computer contaminant into, or transmits commands or electronic communications to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device that causes a disruption in service delivered by a public utility.; 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 offenses against public utilities classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorized access to public utility computer system | Felony of the Third Degree | Applies when a person willfully, knowingly, and without authorization gains access to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device owned, operated, or used by a public utility, knowing such access is unauthorized. | Fla. Stat. § 815.061(3)(a) |
| Tampering/disruption of public utility service via computer or electronic means | Felony of the Second Degree | Applies when a person willfully, knowingly, and without authorization physically tampers with, inserts a computer contaminant into, or transmits commands or electronic communications to a computer, computer system, computer network, or electronic device that causes a disruption in service delivered by a public utility. | Fla. Stat. § 815.061(3)(b) |
Common questions about offenses against public utilities in Florida
Is offenses against public utilities a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: offenses against public utilities ranges from a Felony of the Third Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 815.061.
Unauthorized access to public utility computer system: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 815.061(3)(a)) · Tampering/disruption of public utility service via computer or electronic means: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 815.061(3)(b))
What are the penalties for offenses against public utilities in Florida?
Penalties for offenses against public utilities in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Felony of the Third Degree up to a Felony of the Second 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 offenses against public utilities?
Offenses against public utilities is governed by Fla. Stat. § 815.061 (Offenses against public utilities).
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.