What it means
Sections 932.701 through 932.7062 may be cited as the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. Section 932.701 supplies the Act's definitions. A contraband article falls into 12 listed categories. They include controlled substances and items used in violation of chapter 893, gambling property, untaxed motor fuel, personal property used as an instrumentality of a felony, and property acquired with Medicaid fraud proceeds.
Real property is covered when it was used, or attempted to be used, as an instrumentality of a felony, or was acquired with proceeds of a violation of the Act. To promptly proceed means to file the complaint within 45 days after seizure. A claimant is a party with a proprietary interest in the property and standing to challenge the forfeiture, including owners, registered owners, bona fide lienholders, and titleholders. A bona fide lienholder holds a lien perfected under applicable law.
- Sections 932.701 through 932.7062 may be cited as the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. (§ 932.701(1))
- "Contraband article" has 12 numbered categories, from chapter 893 controlled substances to Medicaid fraud proceeds. (§ 932.701(2)(a)1.-12.)
- Personal property used or attempted to be used as an instrumentality in any felony is contraband, whether or not it is an element of the felony. (§ 932.701(2)(a)5.)
- Real property used as an instrumentality of a felony, or acquired with proceeds of a violation of the Act, is also contraband. (§ 932.701(2)(a)6.)
- "Promptly proceed" means filing the complaint within 45 days after seizure. (§ 932.701(2)(c))
- A claimant has a proprietary interest and standing, and includes owners, registered owners, bona fide lienholders, and titleholders. (§ 932.701(2)(h))
Text of the statute (2026)
(1) Sections 932.701-932.7062 shall be known and may be cited as the “Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.”
5. Any personal property, including, but not limited to, any vessel, aircraft, item, object, tool, substance, device, weapon, machine, vehicle of any kind, money, securities, books, records, research, negotiable instruments, or currency, which was used or was attempted to be used as an instrumentality in the commission of, or in aiding or abetting in the commission of, any felony, whether or not comprising an element of the felony, or which is acquired by proceeds obtained as a result of a violation of the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.
6. Any real property, including any right, title, leasehold, or other interest in the whole of any lot or tract of land, which was used, is being used, or was attempted to be used as an instrumentality in the commission of, or in aiding or abetting in the commission of, any felony, or which is acquired by proceeds obtained as a result of a violation of the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.
(b) “Bona fide lienholder” means the holder of a lien perfected pursuant to applicable law. (c) “Promptly proceed” means to file the complaint within 45 days after seizure.
(h) “Claimant” means any party who has proprietary interest in property subject to forfeiture and has standing to challenge such forfeiture, including owners, registered owners, bona fide lienholders, and titleholders.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 932.701.
History. ss. 1, 2, ch. 74-385; s. 1, ch. 80-68; s. 1, ch. 89-148; s. 1, ch. 92-54; s. 1, ch. 95-265; s. 31, ch. 96-247; s. 2, ch. 99-234; s. 69, ch. 99-248; s. 2, ch. 2004-39; s. 15, ch. 2004-344; s. 166, ch. 2008-4; s. 14, ch. 2011-119; s. 1, ch. 2016-179; s. 2, ch. 2018-49; s. 12, ch. 2021-269.
How it applies
The definitions determine which later rules apply to a seizure. An item must fit one of the 12 contraband categories, the person contesting the seizure must qualify as a claimant, and the agency's complaint is measured against the 45-day filing period. The seizure and court procedures are in §§ 932.703 and 932.704.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 932.701 does real work:
Related sections
Questions people ask
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 932.701 (2026), Florida Senate (Short title and definitions, including: to file the complaint within 45 days after seizure.)
- Fla. Stat. § 932.704 (2026), Florida Senate (Seizing agency files the complaint in circuit court (subsection (4)).)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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