Florida Statutes 790.166 – Manufacture, possession, sale, delivery, display, use, or attempted or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction or hoax weapon of mass destruction prohibited; definitions; penalties
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
For details, see Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(b) and Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(d)
(a) “Weapon of mass destruction” means:
1. Any device or object that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury to any human or animal, or severe emotional or mental harm to any human, through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;
2. Any device or object involving a biological agent;
3. Any device or object that is designed or intended to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human or animal life; or
4. Any biological agent, toxin, vector, or delivery system.
Attorney's Note
Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the first degree | up to 30 years | up to $10,000 |
| Felony of the second degree | up to 15 years | up to $10,000 |
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 790.166
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Law enforcement officer: means :(a) All officers or employees of the United States or the State of Florida, or any agency, commission, department, board, division, municipality, or subdivision thereof, who have authority to make arrests;(b) Officers or employees of the United States or the State of Florida, or any agency, commission, department, board, division, municipality, or subdivision thereof, duly authorized to carry a concealed weapon;(c) Members of the Armed Forces of the United States, the organized reserves, state militia, or Florida National Guard, when on duty, when preparing themselves for, or going to or from, military duty, or under orders;(d) An employee of the state prisons or correctional systems who has been so designated by the Department of Corrections or by a warden of an institution;(e) All peace officers;(f) All state attorneys and United States attorneys and their respective assistants and investigators. See Florida Statutes 790.001
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
- Weapon: means any dirk, knife, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon except a firearm or a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife. See Florida Statutes 790.001
(b) “Hoax weapon of mass destruction” means any device or object that by its design, construction, content, or characteristics appears to be or to contain, or is represented to be, constitute, or contain, a weapon of mass destruction as defined in this section, but which is, in fact, an inoperative facsimile, imitation, counterfeit, or representation of a weapon of mass destruction which does not meet the definition of a weapon of mass destruction or which does not actually contain or constitute a weapon, biological agent, toxin, vector, or delivery system prohibited by this section.(c) “Biological agent” means any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product that may be engineered through biotechnology, or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product, capable of causing:1. Death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or other living organism;2. Deterioration of food, water, equipment, supplies, or material of any kind; or3. Deleterious alteration of the environment.(d) “Toxin” means the toxic material of plants, animals, microorganisms, viruses, fungi, or infectious substances, or a recombinant molecule, whatever its origin or method of reproduction, including:1. Any poisonous substance or biological product that may be engineered through biotechnology produced by a living organism; or2. Any poisonous isomer or biological product, homolog, or derivative of such substance.(e) “Delivery system” means:1. Any apparatus, equipment, device, or means of delivery specifically designed to deliver or disseminate a biological agent, toxin, or vector; or2. Any vector.(f) “Vector” means a living organism or molecule, including a recombinant molecule or biological product that may be engineered through biotechnology, capable of carrying a biological agent or toxin to a host.
(2) A person who, without lawful authority, manufactures, possesses, sells, delivers, sends, mails, displays, uses, threatens to use, attempts to use, or conspires to use, or who makes readily accessible to others a weapon of mass destruction commits a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life or as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, and if death results, commits a capital felony, punishable as provided in s. 775.082.
(3) Any person who, without lawful authority, manufactures, possesses, sells, delivers, mails, sends, displays, uses, threatens to use, attempts to use, or conspires to use, or who makes readily accessible to others, a hoax weapon of mass destruction commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(4) Any person who, while committing or attempting to commit any felony, possesses, displays, or threatens to use any hoax weapon of mass destruction commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(5) Notwithstanding any other law, adjudication of guilt or imposition of sentence may not be suspended, deferred, or withheld for a violation of this section. However, the state attorney may move the sentencing court to reduce or suspend the sentence of any person who is convicted of a violation of this section and who provides substantial assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any of his or her accomplices, accessories, coconspirators, or principals.
(6) Proof that a device or object described in subparagraph (1)(a)1. caused death or serious bodily injury to a human or animal through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors, is prima facie evidence that the device or object was designed or intended to cause such death or serious bodily injury. Proof that a device or object described in subparagraph (1)(a)3. released radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human or animal life is prima facie evidence that the device or object was designed or intended for such release.
(7) This section does not apply to any member or employee of the Armed Forces of the United States, a federal or state governmental agency, or a private entity who is otherwise engaged in lawful activity within the scope of his or her employment, if such person is otherwise duly authorized or licensed to manufacture, possess, sell, deliver, display, or otherwise engage in activity relative to this section and if such person is in compliance with applicable federal and state law.
(8) For purposes of this section, the term “weapon of mass destruction” does not include:
(a) A device or instrument that emits or discharges smoke or an offensive, noxious, or irritant liquid, powder, gas, or chemical for the purpose of immobilizing, incapacitating, or thwarting an attack by a person or animal and that is lawfully possessed or used by a person for the purpose of self-protection or, as provided in subsection (7), is lawfully possessed or used by any member or employee of the Armed Forces of the United States, a federal or state governmental agency, or a private entity. A member or employee of a federal or state governmental agency includes, but is not limited to, a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 784.07; a federal law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 901.1505; and an emergency service employee, as defined in s. 496.404.
(b) The liquid, powder, gas, chemical, or smoke that is emitted or discharged from a device or instrument as specified in paragraph (a).
(9) In addition to any other penalty provided by law with respect to any person who is convicted of a violation of this section that resulted in the mobilization or action of any law enforcement officer or any state or local agency, a person convicted of a violation of this section may be required by the court to pay restitution for all of the costs and damages arising from the criminal conduct.