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The Florida Senate

2004 Florida Statutes

SECTION 0125
Retail display of materials harmful to minors prohibited.
Section 847.0125, Florida Statutes 2004

1847.0125  Retail display of materials harmful to minors prohibited.--

(1)  "KNOWINGLY" DEFINED.--As used in this section, "knowingly" means having general knowledge of, reason to know, or a belief or ground for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry of both:

(a)  The character and content of any material described herein which is reasonably susceptible of examination by the defendant, and

(b)  The age of the minor; however, an honest mistake shall constitute an excuse from liability hereunder if the defendant made a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of such minor.

(2)  OFFENSES AND PENALTIES.--

(a)  It is unlawful for anyone offering for sale in a retail establishment open to the general public any book, magazine, or other printed material, the cover of which depicts material which is harmful to minors, to knowingly exhibit such book, magazine, or material in such establishment in such a way that it is on open display to, or within the convenient reach of, minors who may frequent the retail establishment. Such items shall, however, be displayed, either individually or collectively, behind an opaque covering which conceals the book, magazine, or other printed material.

(b)  It is unlawful for anyone offering for sale in a retail establishment open to the general public any book, magazine, or other printed material, the content of which exploits, is devoted to, or is principally made up of descriptions or depictions of material which is harmful to minors, to knowingly exhibit such book, magazine, or material in such establishment in such a way that it is within the convenient reach of minors who may frequent the retail establishment.

(c)  A violation of any provision of this section constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083

History.--s. 1, ch. 78-273; s. 1, ch. 79-96; s. 2, ch. 83-77; s. 3, ch. 86-38; s. 4, ch. 86-238; s. 212, ch. 91-224.

1Note.--This section as published incorporates amendments from s. 4, ch. 86-238; this section was also amended by s. 3, ch. 86-38, and, as amended by that act, would read:

847.0125  Retail display of materials harmful to minors prohibited.--

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

(a)  "Deviate sexual intercourse" means sexual conduct between persons not married to each other consisting of contact between the penis and the anus, the mouth and the penis, or the mouth and the vulva.

(b)  "Minor" means any person under the age of 18 years.

(c)  "Nudity" means the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, or buttocks with less than a fully opaque covering; the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple; or the depiction of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.

(d)  "Sadomasochistic abuse" means flagellation or torture by or upon a person, or the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained, for the purpose of deriving sexual satisfaction from inflicting harm on another or receiving such harm oneself.

(e)  "Sexual battery" means oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by, or union with, the sexual organ of another or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any other object; however, "sexual battery" does not include an act done for a bona fide medical purpose.

(f)  "Sexual bestiality" means any sexual act between a person and an animal involving the sex organ of the one and the mouth, anus, or vagina of the other.

(g)  "Sexual conduct" means actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual bestiality, masturbation, or sadomasochistic abuse; actual lewd exhibition of the genitals; actual physical contact with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or, if such person is a female, breast; or any act or conduct which constitutes sexual battery or simulates that sexual battery is being or will be committed.

(h)  "Sexual excitement" means the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

(i)  "Simulated" means the explicit depiction of any of the conduct set forth in paragraph (g) which creates the appearance of such conduct and which exhibits any uncovered portion of the breasts, genitals, or buttocks.

(j)  "Harmful to minors" means that quality of any description, exhibition, presentation, or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement when it:

1.  Predominantly appeals to the prurient, shameful, or morbid interest of minors;

2.  Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for minors; and

3.  Is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.

(k)  "Knowingly" means having general knowledge of, reason to know, or a belief or ground for belief which warrants further inspection or inquiry of both:

1.  The character and content of any material described herein which is reasonably susceptible of examination by the defendant, and

2.  The age of the minor; however, an honest mistake shall constitute an excuse from liability hereunder if the defendant made a reasonable bona fide attempt to ascertain the true age of such minor.

(2)  OFFENSES AND PENALTIES.--

(a)  It is unlawful for anyone offering for sale in a retail establishment open to the general public any book, magazine, or other printed material, the cover of which depicts nudity which is harmful to minors, to knowingly exhibit such book, magazine, or material in such establishment in such a way that it is on open display to, or within the convenient reach of, minors who may frequent the retail establishment. Such items may, however, be displayed behind an opaque covering which conceals the nudity, provided such items are not within the convenient reach of minors who may frequent the retail establishment.

(b)  It is unlawful for anyone offering for sale in a retail establishment open to the general public any book, magazine, or other printed material, the content of which exploits, is devoted to, or is principally made up of descriptions or depictions of nudity which are harmful to minors, to knowingly exhibit such book, magazine, or material in such establishment in such a way that it is within the convenient reach of minors who may frequent the retail establishment.

(c)  A violation of any provision of this section constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083