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Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 843.23 — Tampering with an electronic monitoring device

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Chapter 843: Obstructing Justice, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 843.23

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 843.23Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes
(1) As used in this section, the term “electronic monitoring device” includes any device that is used to track the location of a person. (2) It is unlawful for a person to intentionally and without authority:(a) Remove, destroy, alter, tamper with, damage, or affirmatively act to circumvent the operation of an electronic monitoring device that must be worn or used by that person or another person pursuant to a court order or pursuant to an order by the Florida Commission on Offender Review; or(b) Request, authorize, or solicit a person to remove, destroy, alter, tamper with, damage, or affirmatively act to circumvent the operation of an electronic monitoring device required to be worn or used pursuant to a court order or pursuant to an order by the Florida Commission on Offender Review. (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who violates this section commits a:(a) Felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the person who must wear or use the electronic monitoring device is charged with or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor or a third degree felony.(b) Felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the person who must wear or use the electronic monitoring device is charged with or serving a sentence for a second degree felony.(c) Felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the person who must wear or use the electronic monitoring device is charged with or serving a sentence for a first degree felony, a first degree felony punishable by a term of years not exceeding life, a life felony, or a capital felony. (4) A person under 18 years of age who violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (5) The court must revoke pretrial release for a person who commits a violation of this section while he or she is on pretrial release. Thereafter, the court may set a new bond with conditions of release upon making a written finding that sufficient conditions of release exist to reasonably protect the community from risk of physical harm, ensure the presence of the accused at trial or at other proceedings, and assure the integrity of the judicial process.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is tampering with an electronic monitoring device a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

It depends on the circumstances: tampering with an electronic monitoring device ranges from a Felony of the Third Degree to a Felony of the First Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 843.23.

Tampering — underlying misdemeanor or third degree felony: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 843.23(3)(a)) · Tampering — underlying second degree felony: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 843.23(3)(b)) · Tampering — underlying first degree felony, life felony, or capital felony: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 843.23(3)(c)) · Tampering by a minor: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 843.23(4))

Which Florida statute covers tampering with an electronic monitoring device?

Tampering with an electronic monitoring device is governed by Fla. Stat. § 843.23 (Tampering with an electronic monitoring device).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.