4 Florida Laws You Were Not Aware Of
Most of the laws are quite intuitive. We're not even talking about the commandments, but there are some things that you just know you're not allowed to do. At other times, there are laws and legal barriers that you're not even aware exist.
It gets even worse. Some of these laws are pretty old and are not enforced anymore. So, you do something illegal (that you're not even aware of), and nothing happens. This leads you to a logical conclusion that this is probably not illegal (provided that you even give it any thought).
Another scenario is the one where going around the law is so easy or convenient that no one even has to worry too much about it.
So, in order to help you figure out what this is all about, here are the top four Florida laws you were not aware of.
- Online casinos
Online or offline casinos are not allowed in Florida under state law. The only exception is casinos on tribal land; however, this doesn't mean that betting is completely off-limits in The Sunshine State.
If you can find a site that is hosted from a server that's from outside of the state, you can, technically, still bet while you're in Florida. Vlad Grindu says that Florida online gambling is technically legal, but the legislation is not set just yet. So, the biggest problem with this lies in your ability to find reputable sites. Fortunately, thanks to many credible review sites, not even this is as hard as it used to be.
There is currently a discussion about changing the law, especially when it comes to sports betting. Sure, the decision on this topic is still up in the air, but Florida is no Utah, and seeing this change in the following few years isn't beyond the scope of possibility.
The truth is that betting is incredibly popular in the state, which means that a lot of money leaves it (for other states and abroad) for as long as it remains legal. At the same time, due to the availability of these sites and the fact that everyone has a smartphone and access to the internet in 2024, it's not like people are not betting already.
- Releasing balloons
In Florida, you're not allowed to release a large number of balloons at once.
The strangest thing about this law is the fact that there's a limit on the number of balloons that you're allowed to release at one time, and it's ten. Releasing ten or more balloons, unless they're biodegradable, are hot air balloons, are indoors, or are part of a meteorological project, will get you a fine.
Sure, you'll be fined just $250, but it's not something that you would expect to be fined for.
The funny thing is that you've probably never thought about it. Florida is home to some of the biggest events and exhibitions in the country; you might have even attended some. Next time, just pay attention to whether this part of the ceremony is missing.
It's also worth mentioning one thing - it's not like this is a hard restriction. You just need a license, but the license is neither expensive nor difficult to obtain. It's just something that someone unfamiliar with the law would expect to be needed. So, the next time you see an unusually large balloon release in FL, know that they either got a license or are going to get fined.
- Adultery
This is probably the last law you expected to find on this list. In fact, anyone who has ever partaken in Floridan nightlife knows this country to be anything but prude and puritan. Still, according to one law, living in an open state of adultery is a misdemeanor.
This also affects both sides, even if just one of them is married.
At the same time, Florida is a no-fault state, which means that a partner has the right to file for a divorce even if they don't have any evidence of you doing anything wrong. Now, there are ways in which adultery may play a role in the outcome of a divorce. For instance, it could affect the way the judge sees the divorce and distributes the assets of the marriage.
Moreover, it's also worth mentioning that lewd or lascivious behavior also makes one susceptible to being guilty of a misdemeanor. Still, go to any Florida nightclub, and you'll see that this law is not really being enforced as zealously. The same thing goes for adultery law - while it's there, it's enforced so rarely that even people who would be affected by it aren't aware of its existence.
- Selling a souvenir not made in Florida
Florida is one of the biggest tourist hubs in the world, which is why souvenirs are taken very seriously from an economic point of view. So, if you intend to sell souvenirs that are "From Florida," you need to make sure that they're really from Florida.
While they have to be made in the state, they also need to be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture. This way, they've received an official seal of approval.
Now, most of the time, you won't really get a fine, but it may start with a warning letter. If the value of the sale was high or if it's clear that you were aware of the law, you might get an administrative fine or get your registration revoked. Most of the time, you'll only be guilty of a misdemeanor of a second degree for the first time. Each subsequent time, the punishment will be sterner.
Being aware of the law is always better
As we've mentioned earlier, it's pretty easy for you just to miss the fact that something's illegal. Sure, you cannot host a local online casino in Florida, but since you can bet from Florida, from the perspective of the majority of bettors, it just doesn't seem illegal. People in Florida cheat all the time, and seldom anyone ever gets charged. Moreover, during the last balloon release, did you really count if there were eight or eleven balloons? Sometimes, these laws are just not as intuitive or easy to enforce as you would expect.