# Fla. Stat. § 365.16: 365.16 Obscene or harassing telephone calls

> Florida · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.16

## Section

- **Citation:** Fla. Stat. § 365.16
- **Heading:** 365.16 Obscene or harassing telephone calls
- **Jurisdiction:** Florida
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Florida Code / Title XXVII / Chapter 365 / Section 365.16

## Text

(1) Whoever: (a) Makes a telephone call to a location at which the person receiving the call has a reasonable expectation of privacy; during such call makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, vulgar, or indecent; and by such call or such language intends to offend, annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person at the called number; (b) Makes a telephone call, whether or not conversation ensues, without disclosing his or her identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person at the called number; (c) Makes or causes the telephone of another repeatedly or continuously to ring, with intent to harass any person at the called number; or (d) Makes repeated telephone calls, during which conversation ensues, solely to harass any person at the called number, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) Whoever knowingly permits any telephone under his or her control to be used for any purpose prohibited by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3) Each telephone directory hereafter published for distribution to the members of the general public shall contain a notice which explains this law; such notice shall be printed in type which is no smaller than the smallest type on the same page and shall be preceded by the word “warning.” The provisions of this section shall not apply to directories solely for business advertising purposes, commonly known as classified directories.

(4) Each telephone company in this state shall cooperate with the law enforcement agencies of this state in using its facilities and personnel to detect and prevent violations of this section.

(5) Nothing contained in this section shall apply to telephone calls made in good faith in the ordinary course of business or commerce.

History: ss. 1, 2, ch. 63-51; s. 1, ch. 69-25; s. 276, ch. 71-136; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 1, 2, ch. 79-270; ss. 2, 4, ch. 80-275; s. 550, ch. 95-148.

## Nearby sections

- [Fla. Stat. § 365.16 365.16 Obscene or harassing telephone calls.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.16.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.161 365.161 Prohibition of certain obscene telephone communications; penalty.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.161.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.171 365.171 Emergency communications state plan.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.171.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.172 365.172 Emergency communications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.172.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.173 365.173 Emergency Communications Trust Fund.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.173.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.174 365.174 Proprietary confidential business information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.174.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.175 365.175 Emergency telephone number 911 private branch exchange-private switch automatic location identification.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.175.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.176 365.176 Florida Call-Blocking Act.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.176.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.177 365.177 Transfer of E911 calls between systems.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.177.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.179 365.179 Direct radio communication between 911 public safety answering points and first responders.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.179.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 365.1657 365.1657 Intrastate use of facsimile machine for unsolicited advertising; prohibition; penalties; injunctive relief.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.1657.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TXXVII_C365_S365.16. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.