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CS/CS/SB 372 — Vehicle Permits for the Transportation of Alcoholic Beverages
by Appropriations Committee; Regulated Industries Committee; and Senator Latvala
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Regulated Industries Committee (RI)
The bill expands the authority of licensed retail vendors to transport alcoholic beverages in vehicles that are owned or leased by the vendor to include vehicles owned or leased by a person disclosed on the alcoholic beverage license application (authorized person) filed by the vendor. The license application must be approved by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco (division) within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). In addition, the vehicle must have been issued a permit from the division for that purpose. The permit may be issued to an authorized vendor upon filing an application signed by the person and with the payment of a $5 per vehicle fee. Permitted vehicles must be operated by the vendor or by the authorized person when transporting alcoholic beverages from a distributor’s place of business to the vendor’s licensed premises or off-premises storage. A permit expires when the authorized person disposes of his or her vehicle, or the vendor’s alcoholic beverage license is transferred, canceled, not renewed, or revoked by the division, whichever occurs first. In addition, a vehicle permit may be canceled at the request of the vendor or the authorized person.
An authorized person with a vehicle permit would be subject to the same conditions regarding inspection and search as is a licensee under current law. The bill requires that the invoices or sales tickets for the purchased alcoholic beverages must be carried in the vehicle used by the vendor or the authorized person when the alcoholic beverages are being transported. In addition, the bill deletes the requirement that the division must have decals ready for issuance. This would permit the division to issue only paper permits.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2013.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 114-0