Democratic lawmakers in Florida have proposed legislation calling for the repeal of an archaic state law that now allows for the criminal prosecution of unmarried couples found to be living together.

According to Raw.com, under current state law the offense is punishable by a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail. Between 2006 and 2011, nearly 700 people were charged with misdemeanors stemming from the law.

"If any man and woman, not being married to each other, lewdly and lasciviously associate and cohabit together, or if any man or woman, married or unmarried, engages in open and gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, they shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree," the law stipulates.

Earlier this month Democratic Sen. Eleanor Sobel and Rep. Rehwinkel Vasilinda moved to file formal legislation strike the statute from the annals.

As recently as four years ago, Republican Rep. Dennis Baxley weighed in on the matter: "I'm not ready to give up on monogamy and a cultural statement that marriage still matters." A year later, a "concerned citizen" called for the criminal prosecution of Hallandale Beach City Commissioner Keith London under the law for living with his girlfriend.

"I don't give a darn about London's living arrangement," plaintiff Linda Takahashi said. "I may even agree that the law in question is archaic and not well-suited to contemporary times. But the real story is that an elected official – sworn (or affirmed) to uphold state law – is knowingly violating that law."

Most recent census figures show more than 500,000 couples currently reside together in the state without being married.

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