Fla. Stat. 843.167
Unlawful use of police communications; enhanced penalties


(1)

A person may not:Intercept any police radio communication by use of a scanner or any other means for the purpose of using that communication to assist in committing a crime or to escape from or avoid detection, arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment in connection with the commission of such crime.Divulge the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning of a police radio communication to any person he or she knows to be a suspect in the commission of a crime with the intent that the suspect may escape from or avoid detention, arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment.

(a)

Intercept any police radio communication by use of a scanner or any other means for the purpose of using that communication to assist in committing a crime or to escape from or avoid detection, arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment in connection with the commission of such crime.

(b)

Divulge the existence, contents, substance, purport, effect, or meaning of a police radio communication to any person he or she knows to be a suspect in the commission of a crime with the intent that the suspect may escape from or avoid detention, arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment.

(2)

Any person who is charged with a crime and who, during the time such crime was committed, possessed or used a police scanner or similar device capable of receiving police radio transmissions is presumed to have violated paragraph (1)(a).

(3)

The penalty for a crime that is committed by a person who violates paragraph (1)(a) shall be enhanced as follows:A misdemeanor of the second degree shall be punished as if it were a misdemeanor of the first degree.A misdemeanor of the first degree shall be punished as if it were a felony of the third degree.A felony of the third degree shall be punished as if it were a felony of the second degree.A felony of the second degree shall be punished as if it were a felony of the first degree.A felony of the first degree shall be punished as if it were a life felony.

(a)

A misdemeanor of the second degree shall be punished as if it were a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(b)

A misdemeanor of the first degree shall be punished as if it were a felony of the third degree.

(c)

A felony of the third degree shall be punished as if it were a felony of the second degree.

(d)

A felony of the second degree shall be punished as if it were a felony of the first degree.

(e)

A felony of the first degree shall be punished as if it were a life felony.

(4)

Any person who violates paragraph (1)(b) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

Source: Section 843.167 — Unlawful use of police communications; enhanced penalties, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0843.­167 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

843.01
Resisting, obstructing, or opposing by offering or doing violence to legally authorized person, police canine, or police horse
843.02
Resisting officer without violence to his or her person
843.03
Obstruction by disguised person
843.04
Refusing to assist prison officers in arresting escaped convicts
843.05
Resisting timber agent
843.06
Neglect or refusal to aid peace officers
843.08
False personation
843.09
Escape through voluntary action of officer
843.10
Escape by negligence of officer
843.11
Conveying tools into jail to aid escape
843.12
Aiding escape
843.13
Aiding escape of juvenile inmates of correctional institutions
843.14
Compounding felony
843.15
Failure of defendant on bail to appear
843.16
Unlawful to install or transport radio equipment using assigned frequency of state or law enforcement officers
843.17
Publishing name and address of law enforcement officer
843.18
Boats
843.19
Offenses against police canines, fire canines, SAR canines, or police horses
843.20
Harassment of participant of neighborhood crime watch program prohibited
843.21
Depriving crime victim of medical care
843.021
Unlawful possession of a concealed handcuff key
843.22
Traveling across county lines with intent to commit a burglary
843.23
Tampering with an electronic monitoring device
843.025
Depriving officer of means of protection or communication
843.31
Approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning
843.081
Prohibited use of certain lights
843.085
Unlawful use of badges or other indicia of authority
843.165
Unauthorized transmissions to and interference with governmental and associated radio frequencies prohibited
843.167
Unlawful use of police communications
843.0855
Criminal actions under color of law or through use of simulated legal process

Current through Fall 2025

§ 843.167. Unlawful use of police communications; enhanced penalties's source at flsenate​.gov