Fla. Stat. § 810.097 — Florida Code / Title XLVI / Chapter 810 / Section 810.097
810.097 Trespass upon grounds or facilities of a school; penalties; arrest.
Status: in_force

(1) Any person who: (a) Does not have legitimate business on the campus or any other authorization, license, or invitation to enter or remain upon school property; or (b) Is a student currently under suspension or expulsion; and who enters or remains upon the campus or any other facility owned by any such school commits a trespass upon the grounds of a school facility and is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) Any person who enters or remains upon the campus or other facility of a school after the principal of such school, or his or her designee, has directed such person to leave such campus or facility or not to enter upon the campus or facility, commits a trespass upon the grounds of a school facility and is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3) The chief administrative officer of a school, or any employee thereof designated by the chief administrative officer to maintain order on such campus or facility, who has probable cause to believe that a person is trespassing upon school grounds in violation of this section may take such person into custody and detain him or her in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time pending arrival of a law enforcement officer. Such taking into custody and detention by an authorized person does not render that person criminally or civilly liable for false arrest, false imprisonment, or unlawful detention. If a trespasser is taken into custody, a law enforcement officer shall be called to the scene immediately after the person is taken into custody.

(4) Any law enforcement officer may arrest either on or off the premises and without warrant any person the officer has probable cause for believing has committed the offense of trespass upon the grounds of a school facility. Such arrest shall not render the law enforcement officer criminally or civilly liable for false arrest, false imprisonment, or unlawful detention.

(5) As used in this section, the term: (a) “School” means the grounds or any facility, including school buses, of any kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, or secondary school, whether public or nonpublic. (b) “School bus” means any vehicle operated, owned, or contracted by a school district for student transportation.

(6) For purposes of this section, a clearly posted sign or a verbal warning provided by the school bus operator, the principal, a school district employee, or law enforcement personnel, indicating that unauthorized boarding or remaining on a school bus is prohibited and violators will be prosecuted, constitutes sufficient notice and satisfies the prior warning requirement necessary for immediate arrest and prosecution of any person who boards, enters, or remains upon a school bus without authorization.

History: s. 1, ch. 68-3; s. 1, ch. 72-10; s. 1, ch. 72-221; s. 1, ch. 77-425; s. 48, ch. 79-164; s. 1, ch. 82-3; s. 27, ch. 91-224; s. 1207, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 99-147; s. 5, ch. 2018-150; s. 4, ch. 2025-109.