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The Florida Senate

1999 Florida Statutes

Chapter 856
DRUNKENNESS; OPEN HOUSE PARTIES; LOITERING; PROWLING; DESERTION

CHAPTER 856
DRUNKENNESS; OPEN HOUSE PARTIES; LOITERING; PROWLING; DESERTION

856.011  Disorderly intoxication.

856.015  Open house parties.

856.021  Loitering or prowling; penalty.

856.031  Arrest without warrant.

856.04  Desertion; withholding support; proviso.

856.011  Disorderly intoxication.--

(1)  No person in the state shall be intoxicated and endanger the safety of another person or property, and no person in the state shall be intoxicated or drink any alcoholic beverage in a public place or in or upon any public conveyance and cause a public disturbance.

(2)  Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3)  Any person who shall have been convicted or have forfeited collateral under the provisions of subsection (1) three times in the preceding 12 months shall be deemed a habitual offender and may be committed by the court to an appropriate treatment resource for a period of not more than 60 days. Any peace officer, in lieu of incarcerating an intoxicated person for violation of subsection (1), may take or send the intoxicated person to her or his home or to a public or private health facility, and the law enforcement officer may take reasonable measures to ascertain the commercial transportation used for such purposes is paid for by such person in advance. Any law enforcement officers so acting shall be considered as carrying out their official duty.

History.--s. 16A, ch. 71-132; s. 1383, ch. 97-102.

856.015  Open house parties.--

(1)  Definitions.--As used in this section:

(a)  "Adult" means a person not legally prohibited by reason of age from possessing alcoholic beverages pursuant to chapter 562.

(b)  "Alcoholic beverage" means distilled spirits and any beverage containing 0.5 percent or more alcohol by volume. The percentage of alcohol by volume shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of s. 561.01(4)(b).

(c)  "Control" means the authority or ability to regulate, direct, or dominate.

(d)  "Drug" means a controlled substance, as that term is defined in ss. 893.02(4) and 893.03.

(e)  "Minor" means a person not legally permitted by reason of age to possess alcoholic beverages pursuant to chapter 562.

(f)  "Open house party" means a social gathering at a residence.

(g)  "Residence" means a home, apartment, condominium, or other dwelling unit.

(2)  No adult having control of any residence shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if any alcoholic beverage or drug is possessed or consumed at said residence by any minor where the adult knows that an alcoholic beverage or drug is in the possession of or being consumed by a minor at said residence and where the adult fails to take reasonable steps to prevent the possession or consumption of the alcoholic beverage or drug.

(3)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to the use of alcoholic beverages at legally protected religious observances or activities.

(4)  Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (2) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--ss. 4, 5, 6, 7, ch. 88-196; ss. 64, 65, 66, 67, ch. 88-381; s. 45, ch. 91-110; s. 217, ch. 91-224; s. 103, ch. 97-264; s. 9, ch. 99-186.

856.021  Loitering or prowling; penalty.--

(1)  It is unlawful for any person to loiter or prowl in a place, at a time or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals, under circumstances that warrant a justifiable and reasonable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity.

(2)  Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such alarm or immediate concern is warranted is the fact that the person takes flight upon appearance of a law enforcement officer, refuses to identify himself or herself, or manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or herself or any object. Unless flight by the person or other circumstance makes it impracticable, a law enforcement officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this section, afford the person an opportunity to dispel any alarm or immediate concern which would otherwise be warranted by requesting the person to identify himself or herself and explain his or her presence and conduct. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this section if the law enforcement officer did not comply with this procedure or if it appears at trial that the explanation given by the person is true and, if believed by the officer at the time, would have dispelled the alarm or immediate concern.

(3)  Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 1, ch. 72-133; s. 1384, ch. 97-102.

856.031  Arrest without warrant.--Any sheriff, police officer, or other law enforcement officer may arrest any suspected loiterer or prowler without a warrant in case delay in procuring one would probably enable such suspected loiterer or prowler to escape arrest.

History.--s. 2, ch. 72-133; s. 34, ch. 73-334; s. 1385, ch. 97-102.

856.04  Desertion; withholding support; proviso.--

(1)  Any man who shall in this state desert his wife and children, or either of them, or his wife where there are no children or child, or who shall willfully withhold from them or either of them, the means of support, or any mother, who shall desert her child or children, or who shall willfully withhold from them the means of support, shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, no husband shall be prosecuted under this section for the desertion of his wife, or for withholding from his wife the means of supporting her where there is existing, at the time of such desertion or withholding, such cause or causes as are recognized as ground or grounds for dissolution of marriage, by statute, in this state, if such person shall have provided for the support of his children, if there be any.

(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), a child born out of wedlock shall be deemed to be the child of a man who has been adjudged or decreed to be the father of such child by a court of competent jurisdiction of this state or of any other jurisdiction.

History.--s. 1, ch. 4553, 1897; GS 3569; s. 1, ch. 6483, 1913; RGS 5496; CGL 7654; s. 1, ch. 59-147; s. 1, ch. 61-335; s. 1, ch. 65-210; s. 1077, ch. 71-136; s. 9, ch. 75-166.