Florida legal term
Free in Florida Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Florida legislative session
In Florida criminal law, “Free” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Florida criminal code.
What does “Free” mean in Florida criminal law?
“Free” includes the use of terms such as “awarded,” “prize,” “absolutely without charge,” “free of charge,” and words or groups of words of similar intent which reasonably lead a person to believe that he or she may receive, or has been selected to receive, something of value, entirely or in part without a requirement of compensation in any form from the recipient.(c) “Item” means goods, services, or any tangible or intangible thing of value and the rights therein.(d) “Advertisement” and “advertising” includes every form of communication which offers for sale, or attempts to induce the creatio (Fla. Stat. § 817.415)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.