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The Florida Senate

2017 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 320
MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSES
CHAPTER 320
CHAPTER 320
MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSES
320.01 Definitions, general.
320.0104 Legislative intent with respect to implementation of chapter.
320.011 Administration and enforcement; rules.
320.015 Taxation of mobile homes.
320.02 Registration required; application for registration; forms.
320.023 Requests to establish voluntary checkoff on motor vehicle registration application.
320.025 Registration certificate and license plate or decal issued under fictitious name; application.
320.03 Registration; duties of tax collectors; International Registration Plan.
320.031 Mailing of registration certificates, license plates, and validation stickers.
320.04 Registration service charge.
320.05 Records of the department; inspection procedure; lists and searches; fees.
320.055 Registration periods; renewal periods.
320.06 Registration certificates, license plates, and validation stickers generally.
320.0601 Lease and rental car companies; identification of vehicles as for-hire.
320.0605 Certificate of registration; possession required; exception.
320.0607 Replacement license plates, validation decal, or mobile home sticker.
320.0609 Transfer and exchange of registration license plates; transfer fee.
320.061 Unlawful to alter motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, temporary license plates, mobile home stickers, or validation stickers or to obscure license plates; penalty.
320.0655 Permanent license plates for governmental entities and volunteer fire departments.
320.0657 Permanent registration; fleet license plates.
320.0659 Permanent registration of trailer for hire and semitrailers.
320.07 Expiration of registration; renewal required; penalties.
320.0705 Semiannual registration or renewal for certain vehicles.
320.0706 Display of license plates on trucks.
320.071 Advance registration renewal; procedures.
320.0715 International Registration Plan; motor carrier services; permits; retention of records.
320.072 Additional fee imposed on certain motor vehicle registration transactions.
320.08 License taxes.
320.08001 Electric vehicles; license tax.
320.0801 Additional license tax on certain vehicles.
320.08015 License tax surcharge.
320.0802 Surcharge on license tax.
320.0803 Moped license plates.
320.08035 Persons who have disabilities; reduced dimension license plate.
320.0804 Surcharge on license tax.
320.08046 Juvenile programs surcharge on license tax.
320.08047 Voluntary contribution for organ and tissue donor education.
320.08048 Sample license plates.
320.0805 Personalized prestige license plates.
320.08053 Requirements for requests to establish specialty license plates.
320.08056 Specialty license plates.
320.08058 Specialty license plates.
320.08062 Audits and attestations required; annual use fees of specialty license plates.
320.08068 Motorcycle specialty license plates.
320.0807 Special license plates for Governor and federal and state legislators.
320.081 Collection and distribution of annual license tax imposed on the following type units.
320.0815 Mobile homes and recreational vehicle-type units required to have appropriate license plates or stickers.
320.0821 Wrecker license plates.
320.083 Amateur radio operators; special license plates; fees.
320.084 Free motor vehicle license plate to certain disabled veterans.
320.0841 Free motor vehicle license plates to members of Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Tribes.
320.0842 Free motor vehicle license plates to veterans who use wheelchairs.
320.0843 License plates for persons with disabilities eligible for permanent disabled parking permits.
320.0845 License plates for members of Paralyzed Veterans of America.
320.0846 Free motor vehicle license plates to active members of the Florida National Guard.
320.0847 Mini truck and low-speed vehicle license plates.
320.0848 Persons who have disabilities; issuance of disabled parking permits; temporary permits; permits for certain providers of transportation services to persons who have disabilities.
320.086 Ancient or antique motor vehicles; horseless carriage, antique, or historical license plates; former military vehicles.
320.0863 Custom vehicles and street rods; registration and license plates.
320.087 Intercity buses operated in interstate commerce; tax.
320.089 Veterans of the United States Armed Forces; members of National Guard; survivors of Pearl Harbor; Purple Heart medal recipients; active or retired United States Armed Forces reservists; Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, or Combat Action Badge recipients; Combat Action Ribbon recipients; Air Force Combat Action Medal recipients; Distinguished Flying Cross recipients; former prisoners of war; Korean War Veterans; Vietnam War Veterans; Operation Desert Shield Veterans; Operation Desert Storm Veterans; Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans; Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans; Women Veterans; World War II Veterans; and Navy Submariners; special license plates; fee.
320.0891 U.S. Paratroopers license plate.
320.0892 Motor vehicle license plates for recipients of the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross.
320.0893 Motor vehicle license plates to recipients of the Medal of Honor.
320.0894 Motor vehicle license plates to Gold Star family members.
320.0898 Emergency service special registration plates; fee; penalty.
320.091 Vehicles held in trust; license plates.
320.10 Exemptions.
320.102 Marine boat trailers owned by nonprofit organizations; exemptions.
320.105 Golf carts and utility vehicles; exemption.
320.13 Dealer and manufacturer license plates and alternative method of registration.
320.131 Temporary tags.
320.1316 Failure to surrender vehicle or vessel.
320.1325 Registration required for the temporarily employed.
320.133 Transporter license plates.
320.14 Fractional license tax.
320.15 Refund of license tax.
320.17 Classification of vehicles and mobile homes and assessment of license tax by department.
320.18 Withholding registration.
320.19 Tax lien; enforcement.
320.20 Disposition of license tax moneys.
320.203 Disposition of biennial license tax moneys.
320.23 Taxes declared compensatory.
320.26 Counterfeiting license plates, validation stickers, mobile home stickers, cab cards, trip permits, or special temporary operational permits prohibited; penalty.
320.261 Attaching registration license plate not assigned unlawful; penalty.
320.27 Motor vehicle dealers.
320.271 Used cars; removal of registration license plates.
320.273 Reinstatement of license of motor vehicle dealers.
320.275 Automobile Dealers Industry Advisory Board.
320.28 Nonresident dealers in secondhand motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, or mobile homes.
320.30 Penalty for violating s. 320.28.
320.31 Definitions covering ss. 320.28 and 320.30.
320.3201 Legislative intent.
320.3202 Definitions.
320.3203 Requirement for a written manufacturer/dealer agreement; area of sales responsibility.
320.3205 Termination, cancellation, and nonrenewal of a manufacturer/dealer agreement.
320.3206 Transfer of ownership; family succession.
320.3207 Warranty obligations.
320.3208 Inspection and rejection by the dealer.
320.3209 Coercion of dealer prohibited.
320.3210 Civil dispute resolution; mediation; relief.
320.3211 Penalties.
320.37 Registration not to apply to nonresidents.
320.371 Registration not to apply to certain manufacturers and others.
320.38 When nonresident exemption not allowed.
320.39 Reciprocal agreements for nonresident exemption.
320.405 International Registration Plan; inspection of records; hearings.
320.406 Estimate of amount of tax due and unpaid.
320.407 Suits for collection of unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest.
320.408 Departmental warrant for collection of unpaid taxes and penalties due from motor carriers.
320.409 Tax lien on property.
320.411 Officer’s sale of property or franchise.
320.412 Department to furnish certificate of liens.
320.413 Discontinuance or transfer of business; change of address.
320.414 Restraining and enjoining violation.
320.415 Authority to inspect vehicles and seize property.
320.416 Cooperation of other state agencies in administration of law.
320.417 Foreclosure of liens.
320.51 Farm tractors and farm trailers exempt.
320.525 Port vehicles and equipment; definition; exemption.
320.535 Airport vehicles and equipment; definition; exemption.
320.57 Penalties for violations of this chapter.
320.571 Failure of person charged with misdemeanor under this chapter to comply with court-ordered directives; suspension of license.
320.58 License inspectors; powers, appointment.
320.60 Definitions for ss. 320.61-320.70.
320.605 Legislative intent.
320.61 Licenses required of motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, importers, etc.
320.615 Agent for service of process.
320.62 Licenses; amount; disposition of proceeds.
320.63 Application for license; contents.
320.64 Denial, suspension, or revocation of license; grounds.
320.6403 Distributor agreements; obligations of manufacturer and importer.
320.6405 Franchise agreements; obligations of manufacturer and its agent.
320.6407 Recall notices under franchise agreements; compensation.
320.641 Discontinuations, cancellations, nonrenewals, modifications, and replacement of franchise agreements.
320.6412 Franchise termination based on fraud; standard of proof.
320.6415 Changes in plan or system of distribution.
320.642 Dealer licenses in areas previously served; procedure.
320.643 Transfer, assignment, or sale of franchise agreements.
320.644 Change of executive management control; objection by licensee; procedure.
320.645 Restriction upon ownership of dealership by licensee.
320.646 Consumer data protection.
320.664 Reinstatement of license.
320.67 Inspection of books or other documents of licensee.
320.68 Revocation of license held by firms or corporations.
320.69 Rules.
320.695 Injunction.
320.696 Warranty responsibility.
320.697 Civil damages.
320.6975 Procedures and remedies applicable to distributor agreements.
320.698 Civil fines; procedure.
320.699 Administrative hearings and adjudications; procedure.
320.69915 Severability.
320.6992 Application.
320.70 Penalties for violation.
320.701 Applicability of ch. 84-69.
320.71 Nonresident motor vehicle, mobile home, or recreational vehicle dealer’s license.
320.77 License required of mobile home dealers.
320.771 License required of recreational vehicle dealers.
320.781 Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Protection Trust Fund.
320.822 Definitions; ss. 320.822-320.862.
320.8225 Mobile home and recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, and importer license.
320.823 Establishment of uniform mobile home standards.
320.8231 Establishment of uniform standards for recreational vehicle-type units and park trailers.
320.8232 Establishment of uniform standards for used recreational vehicles and repair and remodeling code for mobile homes.
320.824 Changes and modifications of standards.
320.8245 Limitation of alteration or modification to mobile homes or recreational vehicles.
320.8249 Mobile home installers license.
320.8251 Mobile home installation products; product approval.
320.8255 Mobile home inspection.
320.827 Label; procedures for issuance; certification; requirements.
320.8285 Onsite inspection.
320.830 Reciprocity.
320.831 Penalties.
320.832 Legislative intent.
320.8325 Mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers; uniform installation standards; injunctions; penalty.
320.833 Retention, destruction, and reproduction of records; electronic retention.
320.8335 Disclosure of manner used in determining length of mobile homes.
320.834 Purpose.
320.835 Mobile home and recreational vehicle warranties.
320.836 Presenting warranty claim.
320.837 Warranty service.
320.838 Civil action.
320.839 Cumulative remedies.
320.840 Liquidated damages.
320.861 Inspection of records; production of evidence; subpoena power.
320.862 Revocation of license held by firms or corporations.
320.865 Maintenance of records by the department.
320.90 Notification of consumer’s rights.
320.95 Transactions by electronic or telephonic means.
320.01 Definitions, general.—As used in the Florida Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:
(1) “Motor vehicle” means:
(a) An automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor and semitrailer combination, or any other vehicle operated on the roads of this state, used to transport persons or property, and propelled by power other than muscular power, but the term does not include traction engines, road rollers, personal delivery devices as defined in s. 316.003, special mobile equipment as defined in s. 316.003, vehicles that run only upon a track, bicycles, swamp buggies, or mopeds.
(b) A recreational vehicle-type unit primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle. Recreational vehicle-type units, when traveling on the public roadways of this state, must comply with the length and width provisions of s. 316.515, as that section may hereafter be amended. As defined below, the basic entities are:
1. The “travel trailer,” which is a vehicular portable unit, mounted on wheels, of such a size or weight as not to require special highway movement permits when drawn by a motorized vehicle. It is primarily designed and constructed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use. It has a body width of no more than 81/2 feet and an overall body length of no more than 40 feet when factory-equipped for the road.
2. The “camping trailer,” which is a vehicular portable unit mounted on wheels and constructed with collapsible partial sidewalls which fold for towing by another vehicle and unfold at the campsite to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use.
3. The “truck camper,” which is a truck equipped with a portable unit designed to be loaded onto, or affixed to, the bed or chassis of the truck and constructed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use.
4. The “motor home,” which is a vehicular unit which does not exceed the length, height, and width limitations provided in s. 316.515, is a self-propelled motor vehicle, and is primarily designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use.
5. The “private motor coach,” which is a vehicular unit which does not exceed the length, width, and height limitations provided in s. 316.515(9), is built on a self-propelled bus type chassis having no fewer than three load-bearing axles, and is primarily designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use.
6. The “van conversion,” which is a vehicular unit which does not exceed the length and width limitations provided in s. 316.515, is built on a self-propelled motor vehicle chassis, and is designed for recreation, camping, and travel use.
7. The “park trailer,” which is a transportable unit which has a body width not exceeding 14 feet and which is built on a single chassis and is designed to provide seasonal or temporary living quarters when connected to utilities necessary for operation of installed fixtures and appliances. The total area of the unit in a setup mode, when measured from the exterior surface of the exterior stud walls at the level of maximum dimensions, not including any bay window, does not exceed 400 square feet when constructed to ANSI A-119.5 standards, and 500 square feet when constructed to United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Standards. The length of a park trailer means the distance from the exterior of the front of the body (nearest to the drawbar and coupling mechanism) to the exterior of the rear of the body (at the opposite end of the body), including any protrusions.
8. The “fifth-wheel trailer,” which is a vehicular unit mounted on wheels, designed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, of such size or weight as not to require a special highway movement permit, of gross trailer area not to exceed 400 square feet in the setup mode, and designed to be towed by a motorized vehicle that contains a towing mechanism that is mounted above or forward of the tow vehicle’s rear axle.
(2)(a) “Mobile home” means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is 8 body feet or more in width and which is built on an integral chassis and designed to be used as a dwelling when connected to the required utilities and includes the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems contained therein. For tax purposes, the length of a mobile home is the distance from the exterior of the wall nearest to the drawbar and coupling mechanism to the exterior of the wall at the opposite end of the home where such walls enclose living or other interior space. Such distance includes expandable rooms, but excludes bay windows, porches, drawbars, couplings, hitches, wall and roof extensions, or other attachments that do not enclose interior space. In the event that the mobile home owner has no proof of the length of the drawbar, coupling, or hitch, then the tax collector may in his or her discretion either inspect the home to determine the actual length or may assume 4 feet to be the length of the drawbar, coupling, or hitch.
(b) “Manufactured home” means a mobile home fabricated on or after June 15, 1976, in an offsite manufacturing facility for installation or assembly at the building site, with each section bearing a seal certifying that it is built in compliance with the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard Act.
(3) “Owner” means any person, firm, corporation, or association controlling any motor vehicle or mobile home by right of purchase, gift, lease, or otherwise.
(4) “Trailer” means any vehicle without motive power designed to be coupled to or drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight or that of its load rests upon the towing vehicle.
(5) “Semitrailer” means any vehicle without motive power designed to be coupled to or drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
(6) “Net weight” means the actual scale weight in pounds with complete catalog equipment.
(7) “Gross weight” means the net weight of a motor vehicle in pounds plus the weight of the load carried by it.
(8) “Cwt” means the weight per hundred pounds, or major fraction thereof, of a motor vehicle.
(9) “Truck” means any motor vehicle with a net vehicle weight of 5,000 pounds or less and which is designed or used principally for the carriage of goods and includes a motor vehicle to which has been added a cabinet box, a platform, a rack, or other equipment for the purpose of carrying goods other than the personal effects of the passengers.
(10) “Heavy truck” means any motor vehicle with a net vehicle weight of more than 5,000 pounds, which is registered on the basis of gross vehicle weight in accordance with s. 320.08(4), and which is designed or used for the carriage of goods or designed or equipped with a connecting device for the purpose of drawing a trailer that is attached or coupled thereto by means of such connecting device and includes any such motor vehicle to which has been added a cabinet box, a platform, a rack, or other equipment for the purpose of carrying goods other than the personal effects of the passengers.
(11) “Truck tractor” means a motor vehicle which has four or more wheels and is designed and equipped with a fifth wheel for the primary purpose of drawing a semitrailer that is attached or coupled thereto by means of such fifth wheel and which has no provision for carrying loads independently.
(12) “Gross vehicle weight” means:
(a) For heavy trucks with a net weight of more than 5,000 pounds, but less than 8,000 pounds, the gross weight of the heavy truck. The gross vehicle weight is calculated by adding to the net weight of the heavy truck the weight of the load carried by it, which is the maximum gross weight as declared by the owner or person applying for registration.
(b) For heavy trucks with a net weight of 8,000 pounds or more, the gross weight of the heavy truck, including the gross weight of any trailer coupled thereto. The gross vehicle weight is calculated by adding to the gross weight of the heavy truck the gross weight of the trailer, which is the maximum gross weight as declared by the owner or person applying for registration.
(c) The gross weight of a truck tractor and semitrailer combination is calculated by adding to the net weight of the truck tractor the gross weight of the semitrailer, which is the maximum gross weight as declared by the owner or person applying for registration; such vehicles are together by means of a fifth-wheel arrangement whereby part of the weight of the semitrailer and load rests upon the truck tractor.
(13) “Passenger,” or any abbreviation thereof, does not include a driver.
(14) “Private use” means the use of any vehicle which is not properly classified as a for-hire vehicle.
(15)(a) “For-hire vehicle” means any motor vehicle, when used for transporting persons or goods for compensation; let or rented to another for consideration; offered for rent or hire as a means of transportation for compensation; advertised in a newspaper or generally held out as being for rent or hire; used in connection with a travel bureau; or offered or used to provide transportation for persons solicited through personal contact or advertised on a “share-expense” basis. When goods or passengers are transported for compensation in a motor vehicle outside a municipal corporation of this state, or when goods are transported in a motor vehicle not owned by the person owning the goods, such transportation is “for hire.” The carriage of goods and other personal property in a motor vehicle by a corporation or association for its stockholders, shareholders, and members, cooperative or otherwise, is transportation “for hire.”
(b) The following are not included in the term “for-hire vehicle”: a motor vehicle used for transporting school children to and from school under contract with school officials; a hearse or ambulance when operated by a licensed embalmer or mortician or his or her agent or employee in this state; a motor vehicle used in the transportation of agricultural or horticultural products or in transporting agricultural or horticultural supplies direct to growers or the consumers of such supplies or to associations of such growers or consumers; a motor vehicle temporarily used by a farmer for the transportation of agricultural or horticultural products from any farm or grove to a packinghouse or to a point of shipment by a transportation company; or a motor vehicle not exceeding 11/2 tons under contract with the Government of the United States to carry United States mail, provided such vehicle is not used for commercial purposes.
(16) “Road” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.
(17) “Brake horsepower” means the actual unit of torque developed per unit of time at the output shaft of an engine, as measured by a dynamometer.
(18) “Department” means the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
(19)(a) “Registration period” means a period of 12 months or 24 months during which a motor vehicle or mobile home registration is valid.
(b) “Extended registration period” means a period of 24 months during which a motor vehicle or mobile home registration is valid.
(20) “Marine boat trailer dealer” means any person engaged in:
(a) The business of buying, selling, manufacturing, or dealing in trailers specifically designed to be drawn by another vehicle and used for the transportation on land of vessels, as defined in s. 327.02; or
(b) The offering or displaying of such trailers for sale.
(21) “Renewal period” means the period during which renewal of a motor vehicle registration or mobile home registration is required, as provided in s. 320.055.
(22) “Golf cart” means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.
(23) “International Registration Plan” means a registration reciprocity agreement among states of the United States and provinces of Canada providing for payment of license fees on the basis of fleet miles operated in various jurisdictions.
(24) “Apportionable vehicle” means any vehicle, except recreational vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, city pickup and delivery vehicles, buses used in transportation of chartered parties, and government-owned vehicles, which is used or intended for use in two or more member jurisdictions that allocate or proportionally register vehicles and which is used for the transportation of persons for hire or is designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property and:
(a) Is a power unit having a gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds;
(b) Is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or
(c) Is used in combination, when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

Vehicles, or combinations thereof, having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less and two-axle vehicles may be proportionally registered.

(25) “Commercial motor vehicle” means any vehicle which is not owned or operated by a governmental entity, which uses special fuel or motor fuel on the public highways, and which has a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or has three or more axles regardless of weight, or is used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight. A vehicle that occasionally transports personal property to and from a closed-course motorsport facility, as defined in s. 549.09(1)(a), is not a commercial motor vehicle if the use is not for profit and corporate sponsorship is not involved. As used in this subsection, the term “corporate sponsorship” means a payment, donation, gratuity, in-kind service, or other benefit provided to or derived by a person in relation to the underlying activity, other than the display of product or corporate names, logos, or other graphic information on the property being transported.
(26) “Motorcycle” means any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, excluding a vehicle in which the operator is enclosed by a cabin unless it meets the requirements set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a motorcycle. The term “motorcycle” does not include a tractor or a moped.
(27) “Moped” means any vehicle with pedals to permit propulsion by human power, having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels, with a motor rated not in excess of 2 brake horsepower and not capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour on level ground, and with a power-drive system that functions directly or automatically without clutching or shifting gears by the operator after the drive system is engaged. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement may not exceed 50 cubic centimeters.
(28) “Interstate” means vehicle movement between or through two or more states.
(29) “Intrastate” means vehicle movement from one point within a state to another point within the same state.
(30) “Person” means and includes natural persons, corporations, copartnerships, firms, companies, agencies, or associations, singular or plural.
(31) “Registrant” means a person in whose name or names a vehicle is properly registered.
(32) “Motor carrier” means any person owning, controlling, operating, or managing any motor vehicle used to transport persons or property over any public highway.
(33) “Motorized disability access vehicle” means a vehicle designed primarily for handicapped individuals with normal upper body abilities and designed to be fueled by gasoline, travel on not more than three wheels, with a motor rated not in excess of 2 brake horsepower and not capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than 30 miles per hour on level ground, and with a power-drive system that functions directly or automatically without clutching or shifting gears by the operator after the drive system is engaged. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement may not exceed 50 cubic centimeters.
(34) “Resident” means a person who has his or her principal place of domicile in this state for a period of more than 6 consecutive months, who has registered to vote in this state, who has made a statement of domicile pursuant to s. 222.17, or who has filed for homestead tax exemption on property in this state.
(35) “Nonresident” means a person who is not a resident.
(36) “Electric vehicle” means a motor vehicle that is powered by an electric motor that draws current from rechargeable storage batteries, fuel cells, or other sources of electrical current.
(37) “Disabled motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle as defined in subsection (1) which is not operable under its own motive power, excluding a nondisabled trailer or semitrailer, or any motor vehicle that is unsafe for operation upon the highways of this state.
(38) “Replacement motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle as defined in subsection (1) under tow by a wrecker to the location of a disabled motor vehicle for the purpose of replacing the disabled motor vehicle, thereby permitting the transfer of the disabled motor vehicle’s operator, passengers, and load to an operable motor vehicle.
(39) “Wrecker” means any motor vehicle that is used to tow, carry, or otherwise transport motor vehicles and that is equipped for that purpose with a boom, winch, car carrier, or other similar equipment.
(40) “Tow” means to pull or draw any motor vehicle with a power unit by means of a direct attachment, drawbar, or other connection or to carry a motor vehicle on a power unit designed to transport such vehicle from one location to another.
(41) “Low-speed vehicle” means any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including, but not limited to, neighborhood electric vehicles. Low-speed vehicles must comply with the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. s. 571.500 and s. 316.2122.
(42) “Utility vehicle” means a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for general maintenance, security, and landscaping purposes, but the term does not include any vehicle designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property on a street or highway, or a golf cart, or an all-terrain vehicle as defined in s. 316.2074.
(43) For purposes of this chapter, the term “agricultural products” means any food product; any agricultural, horticultural, or livestock product; any raw material used in plant food formulation; and any plant food used to produce food and fiber.
(44) “Mini truck” means any four-wheeled, reduced-dimension truck that does not have a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration truck classification, with a top speed of 55 miles per hour, and which is equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, and seat belts.
(45) “Swamp buggy” means a motorized off-road vehicle that is designed or modified to travel over swampy or varied terrain and that may use large tires or tracks operated from an elevated platform. The term does not include any vehicle defined in chapter 261 or otherwise defined or classified in this chapter.
History.—ss. 1, 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1006, 1011; ss. 2, 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 2, ch. 9156, 1923; s. 1, ch. 9157, 1923; ss. 1, 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1280, 1285, 1677; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 1, ch. 20743, 1941; s. 1, ch. 20911, 1941; s. 1, ch. 26923, 1951; s. 1, ch. 59-351; s. 1, ch. 65-61; s. 1, ch. 65-446; ss. 23, 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-215; s. 1, ch. 70-391; s. 93, ch. 71-377; s. 1, ch. 72-339; s. 1, ch. 73-284; s. 2, ch. 74-243; s. 3, ch. 75-66; s. 2, ch. 76-135; s. 4, ch. 76-286; s. 1, ch. 77-180; s. 1, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 78-221; s. 125, ch. 79-400; s. 12, ch. 81-151; s. 22, ch. 82-134; s. 3, ch. 83-188; s. 23, ch. 83-215; s. 1, ch. 83-318; s. 1, ch. 84-182; s. 7, ch. 84-260; s. 5, ch. 85-155; s. 43, ch. 85-180; s. 10, ch. 85-309; s. 4, ch. 85-343; s. 11, ch. 86-243; s. 11, ch. 87-161; s. 20, ch. 87-198; s. 5, ch. 87-225; s. 1, ch. 88-147; s. 66, ch. 89-282; s. 2, ch. 89-320; s. 1, ch. 90-163; s. 4, ch. 90-270; s. 5, ch. 92-148; s. 39, ch. 94-306; s. 910, ch. 95-148; s. 10, ch. 95-247; s. 10, ch. 95-333; s. 29, ch. 96-413; s. 3, ch. 97-58; s. 2, ch. 99-163; s. 15, ch. 99-248; s. 39, ch. 2001-196; s. 1, ch. 2007-242; s. 16, ch. 2008-176; s. 2, ch. 2008-179; s. 6, ch. 2009-183; s. 20, ch. 2012-174; s. 27, ch. 2012-181; s. 27, ch. 2013-160; s. 72, ch. 2016-239; s. 4, ch. 2017-150.
320.0104 Legislative intent with respect to implementation of chapter.—
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this chapter be implemented in such a manner that the convenience of the applicant is the first consideration.
(2) Further, it is the intent of the Legislature that all services affecting motor carriers be consolidated in order to encourage interstate commerce and achieve maximum efficiency in registration, permitting, and safety programs administered by this state. In order to achieve this goal, Florida must join the cooperative effort that is being conducted on the national level by Congress, the United States Department of Transportation, and other groups to achieve uniformity among the jurisdictions and reduce the number of separate reports required by each jurisdiction of the motor carrier industry. Florida shall consolidate all requirements imposed on motor carriers operating in this state and shall actively negotiate reciprocal agreements and compacts with other jurisdictions to accomplish the intent of this chapter.
History.—s. 2, ch. 83-318; s. 44, ch. 85-180.
320.011 Administration and enforcement; rules.—The department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement them.
History.—s. 3, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 77-357; s. 14, ch. 80-217; s. 3, ch. 83-318; s. 62, ch. 98-200.
Note.—Former s. 318.031.
320.015 Taxation of mobile homes.—
(1) A mobile home, as defined in s. 320.01(2), regardless of its actual use, shall be subject only to a license tax unless classified and taxed as real property. A mobile home is to be considered real property only when the owner of the mobile home is also the owner of the land on which the mobile home is situated and said mobile home is permanently affixed thereto. Any prefabricated or modular housing unit or portion thereof not manufactured upon an integral chassis or undercarriage for travel over the highways shall be taxed as real property once it is permanently affixed to real property. This subsection does not apply to a display home or other inventory being held for sale by a manufacturer or dealer of modular housing units.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), any mobile home classified by a seller or a lender as personal property at the time a security interest was granted therein to secure an obligation shall continue to be so classified for all purposes relating to the loan and security interest, at least as long as any part of such obligation, or any extension or renewal thereof, remains outstanding. Classification of a mobile home as personal property by a seller or a lender shall not prohibit the owner from having the mobile home classified and taxed as real property under subsection (1).
History.—Formerly s. 13, Art IX of the Constitution of 1885, as amended; converted to statutory law by s. 10, Art. XII of the Constitution as revised in 1968; s. 2, ch. 70-391; s. 2, ch. 72-339; s. 3, ch. 85-155; s. 6, ch. 87-225; s. 27, ch. 2006-290.
320.02 Registration required; application for registration; forms.—
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, every owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle that is operated or driven on the roads of this state shall register the vehicle in this state. The owner or person in charge shall apply to the department or to its authorized agent for registration of each such vehicle on a form prescribed by the department. A registration is not required for any motor vehicle that is not operated on the roads of this state during the registration period.
(2)(a) The application for registration must include the street address of the owner’s permanent residence or the address of his or her permanent place of business and be accompanied by personal or business identification information. An individual applicant must provide a valid driver license or identification card issued by this state or another state or a valid passport. A business applicant must provide a federal employer identification number, if applicable, or verification that the business is authorized to conduct business in the state, or a Florida municipal or county business license or number.
1. If the owner does not have a permanent residence or permanent place of business or if the owner’s permanent residence or permanent place of business cannot be identified by a street address, the application must include:
a. If the vehicle is registered to a business, the name and street address of the permanent residence of an owner of the business, an officer of the corporation, or an employee who is in a supervisory position.
b. If the vehicle is registered to an individual, the name and street address of the permanent residence of a close relative or friend who is a resident of this state.
2. If the vehicle is registered to an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is a Florida resident, the active duty member is exempt from the requirement to provide the street address of a permanent residence.
(b) The department shall prescribe a form upon which motor vehicle owners may record odometer readings when registering their motor vehicles.
(3) Prior to the registration in this state of any vehicle registered outside the state, the application must be accompanied by either a sworn affidavit from the seller and purchaser verifying that the vehicle identification number shown on the affidavit is identical to the vehicle identification number shown on the motor vehicle or a copy of the appropriate departmental form evidencing that a physical examination has been made of the motor vehicle by the owner and by a duly constituted police officer of any state, a licensed motor vehicle dealer, a license inspector as provided by s. 320.58, or a notary public commissioned by any state and that the vehicle identification number shown on the applicable form and the application is identical to the vehicle identification number shown on the motor vehicle. Vehicle identification number verification is not required for any new vehicle sold in this state by a licensed motor vehicle dealer, any mobile home, any trailer or semitrailer with a net weight of less than 2,000 pounds, or any travel trailer or camping trailer.
(4) Except as provided in ss. 775.21, 775.261, 943.0435, 944.607, and 985.4815, the owner of any motor vehicle registered in the state shall notify the department in writing of any change of address within 30 days of such change. The notification shall include the registration license plate number, the vehicle identification number (VIN) or title certificate number, year of vehicle make, and the owner’s full name.
(5)(a) Proof that personal injury protection benefits have been purchased if required under s. 627.733, that property damage liability coverage has been purchased as required under s. 324.022, that bodily injury or death coverage has been purchased if required under s. 324.023, and that combined bodily liability insurance and property damage liability insurance have been purchased if required under s. 627.7415 shall be provided in the manner prescribed by law by the applicant at the time of application for registration of any motor vehicle that is subject to such requirements. The issuing agent shall refuse to issue registration if such proof of purchase is not provided. Insurers shall furnish uniform proof-of-purchase cards in a paper or electronic format in a form prescribed by the department and include the name of the insured’s insurance company, the coverage identification number, and the make, year, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle insured. The card must contain a statement notifying the applicant of the penalty specified under s. 316.646(4). The card or insurance policy, insurance policy binder, or certificate of insurance or a photocopy of any of these; an affidavit containing the name of the insured’s insurance company, the insured’s policy number, and the make and year of the vehicle insured; or such other proof as may be prescribed by the department shall constitute sufficient proof of purchase. If an affidavit is provided as proof, it must be in substantially the following form:

Under penalty of perjury, I   (Name of insured)   do hereby certify that I have   (Personal Injury Protection, Property Damage Liability, and, if required, Bodily Injury Liability)   Insurance currently in effect with   (Name of insurance company)   under   (policy number)   covering   (make, year, and vehicle identification number of vehicle)  .   (Signature of Insured)  

Such affidavit must include the following warning:

WARNING: GIVING FALSE INFORMATION IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A VEHICLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE UNDER FLORIDA LAW. ANYONE GIVING FALSE INFORMATION ON THIS AFFIDAVIT IS SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION.

If an application is made through a licensed motor vehicle dealer as required under s. 319.23, the original or a photostatic copy of such card, insurance policy, insurance policy binder, or certificate of insurance or the original affidavit from the insured shall be forwarded by the dealer to the tax collector of the county or the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for processing. By executing the aforesaid affidavit, no licensed motor vehicle dealer will be liable in damages for any inadequacy, insufficiency, or falsification of any statement contained therein. A card must also indicate the existence of any bodily injury liability insurance voluntarily purchased.

(b) When an operator who owns a motor vehicle is subject to the financial responsibility requirements of chapter 324, including ss. 324.022 and 324.023, such operator shall provide proof of compliance with such financial responsibility requirements at the time of registration of any such motor vehicle by one of the methods constituting sufficient proof of purchase under paragraph (a). The issuing agent shall refuse to register a motor vehicle if such proof of purchase is not provided or if one of the other methods of proving financial responsibility as set forth in s. 324.031 is not met.
(c) For purposes of providing proof of purchase of required insurance coverage under this subsection, the Office of Insurance Regulation of the Financial Services Commission shall require that uniform proof-of-purchase cards specified by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles be furnished by insurers writing motor vehicle liability insurance in this state. Any person altering or counterfeiting such a card or making a false affidavit in order to furnish false proof or to knowingly permit another person to furnish false proof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(d) The verifying of proof of personal injury protection insurance, proof of property damage liability insurance, proof of combined bodily liability insurance and property damage liability insurance, or proof of financial responsibility insurance and the issuance or failure to issue the motor vehicle registration under the provisions of this chapter may not be construed in any court as a warranty of the reliability or accuracy of the evidence of such proof. Neither the department nor any tax collector is liable in damages for any inadequacy, insufficiency, falsification, or unauthorized modification of any item of the proof of personal injury protection insurance, proof of property damage liability insurance, proof of combined bodily liability insurance and property damage liability insurance, or proof of financial responsibility insurance prior to, during, or subsequent to the verification of the proof. The issuance of a motor vehicle registration does not constitute prima facie evidence or a presumption of insurance coverage.
(e) Upon the expiration date noted in the cancellation notice that the department receives from the insurer, the department shall suspend the registration, issued under this chapter or s. 207.004(1), of a motor carrier who operates a commercial motor vehicle or who permits it to be operated in this state during the registration period without having in full force liability insurance, a surety bond, or a valid self-insurance certificate that complies with this section. The insurer shall provide notice to the department at the same time the cancellation notice is provided to the insured pursuant to s. 627.7281. The department may adopt rules regarding the electronic submission of the cancellation notice.
(6) Any person who registers his or her motor vehicle by means of false or fraudulent representations made in any application for registration is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. The department may demand the return of, and may cancel, any license plate issued based on false or fraudulent representations.
(7) Every owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 55,000 pounds or more shall present proof of filing or proof of payment, in such form as may be prescribed by the United States Secretary of the Treasury, of the use tax imposed by s. 4481 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, upon application for registration. Proof of payment or proof of filing will be made in accordance with the gross vehicle weight tax schedule established by s. 4481 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended. An owner or person in charge of such a motor vehicle who has been exempted from the use tax by the Secretary of the Treasury shall present proof of such exemption in lieu of proof of payment. When an application is made through a licensed motor vehicle dealer as required in s. 319.23, the original or photostatic copy of such prescribed proof shall be forwarded by the dealer to the tax collector or the department for processing. The issuing agent shall refuse to issue a registration if such prescribed proof is not presented. Any person making a false affidavit in order to furnish false proof or to knowingly permit another person to furnish such false proof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(8) The application form for motor vehicle registration shall include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which contribution shall be paid into the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund. The application form shall also include language providing for a voluntary contribution of $2, which shall be paid into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund and used to purchase child safety seats.
(9) Before a motor vehicle which has not been manufactured in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act and the federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act can be sold to a consumer and titled and registered in this state, the motor vehicle must be certified by the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection or the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to be in compliance with these federal standards. A vehicle which is registered pursuant to this subsection shall not be titled as a new motor vehicle.
(10) An owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle subject to inspection pursuant to the Clean Outdoor Air Law shall provide proof of inspection or waiver at the time of registration of any such motor vehicle. The issuing agent shall refuse to register a motor vehicle if such proof of inspection or waiver is not provided.
(11) The department shall audit affidavits utilized as proof of insurance under subsection (5) to verify that the affidavits are not false. The department shall take action as appropriate with respect to false affidavits.
(12) The department is authorized to withhold registration or reregistration of any motor vehicle if the owner, or one of the coowners of the vehicle, has a driver license which is under suspension for the failure to remit payment of any fines levied in this state pursuant to chapter 318 or chapter 322.
(13)(a) The license inspectors appointed by the department pursuant to s. 320.58 are empowered to issue a notice of violation on a form prescribed by the department to unattended motor vehicles that reasonably appear to such examiners to be required to be registered under this chapter and that are not so registered. The notice of violation shall include a summary of the provisions of this section and shall contain such other information as the department in its discretion shall determine.
(b) The owner or person in charge of any vehicle that is issued a notice of violation pursuant to this section shall, within 30 days of the date of issuance shown on the notice, register the vehicle as required by this chapter or provide proof satisfactory to the department that the vehicle is exempt from such registration. If the vehicle is not registered or the proof is not provided on or after the 31st day following the date of issuance shown on the notice, the department is authorized to immobilize the vehicle by use of an immobilization device. Upon proof of registration of the vehicle or proof satisfactory to the department that the vehicle is exempt from such registration, the department shall remove the immobilization device. The department shall immediately remove, at no charge, any immobilization device that has been placed on any vehicle in error.
(c) The license inspectors appointed by the department pursuant to s. 320.58 are empowered to enter upon both publicly owned and privately owned property in order to carry out the provisions of this section.
(d) Any person who, without the authorization of the department, disables, removes, tampers with, damages, or unlocks an immobilization device placed on a vehicle pursuant to this section, or who attempts to do so, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(14) The application form for motor vehicle registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which contribution must be transferred into the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund created in s. 427.0159 and must be expended as provided in that section.
(15)(a) The application form for motor vehicle registration shall include language permitting the voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, to be quarterly distributed by the department to Prevent Blindness Florida, a not-for-profit organization, to prevent blindness and preserve the sight of the residents of this state. A statement providing an explanation of the purpose of the funds shall be included with the application form. Prior to the department distributing the funds collected pursuant to this paragraph, Prevent Blindness Florida must submit a report to the department that identifies how such funds were used during the preceding year.
(b) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution to the Florida Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Inc., which contribution must be transferred by the department to the Florida Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Inc., on a monthly basis.
(c) The application form for motor vehicle registration shall include language permitting the voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, to be distributed quarterly by the department to Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc., a corporation not for profit under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to be used by that organization for the purpose of breeding, raising, and training guide dogs for the blind. Such funds may also be used toward the costs of the required in-residence training for the individual receiving a guide dog.
(d) The application form for motor vehicle registration shall include language permitting the voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to Stop Heart Disease. The proceeds shall be distributed quarterly by the department to the Miami Heart Research Institute, Inc., doing business as the Florida Heart Research Institute, a corporation not for profit under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to be used by that organization for the purpose of heart disease research, education, and prevention programs.
(e) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which contribution must be distributed to the Children’s Hearing Help Fund to be used for purposes provided for the fund.
(f) Notwithstanding s. 320.023, the application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to the state homes for veterans, to be distributed on a quarterly basis by the department to the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
(g) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 to Family First. Such contributions must be transferred by the department each month to Family First, a nonprofit organization.
(h) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 to Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc. Such contributions must be transferred by the department each month to Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc., a not-for-profit organization.
(i) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 to Blind Babies and Blind Youth Services. Such contributions shall be transferred by the department each month to the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, Inc., a not-for-profit organization.
(j) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 for services for persons with developmental disabilities. Such contributions shall be transferred by the department to The Arc of Florida to be used by that organization for programs and services in this state for persons with developmental disabilities.
(k) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 to the Ronald McDonald House. Such contributions shall be transferred by the department each month to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay, Inc.
(l) Notwithstanding s. 320.023, the application forms for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, which shall be distributed to the League Against Cancer/La Liga Contra el Cancer. Such contributions shall be distributed by the department to the League Against Cancer/La Liga Contra el Cancer, a not-for-profit organization that provides free medical care to needy cancer patients. The department shall retain all contributions necessary, up to a maximum of $10,000, to defray the cost of including the voluntary contribution language on the registration forms.
(m) The application forms for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse. Such contributions shall be distributed by the department to Lauren’s Kids, Inc., a corporation not for profit under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The funds shall be used by the organization for the prevention of childhood sexual abuse.
(n) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal registration must include language permitting the voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, to be distributed quarterly by the department to Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Inc. The network may retain a maximum of 50 percent of the revenues to support the activities of the network and shall distribute the remainder equitably among the network members, as determined by the board of directors of the network.
(o) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 to the Florida Association of Food Banks, Inc. The proceeds shall be distributed by the department each month to the Florida Association of Food Banks, Inc., to be used by that organization for the purpose of ending hunger in this state.
(p) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant for Autism Services and Supports. Such contributions must be transferred by the department each month to the Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc., Autism Services Fund.
(q) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to Support Our Troops, which shall be distributed monthly to Support Our Troops, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit organization.
(r) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 to Take Stock In Children. Such contributions shall be transferred by the department to Take Stock In Children, Inc.
(s) Notwithstanding s. 320.023, the application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant to aid the homeless. Contributions made pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund of the Department of Children and Families and used by the State Office on Homelessness to supplement grants made under s. 420.622(4) and (5), provide information to the public about homelessness in the state, and provide literature for homeless persons seeking assistance. The application fee required under s. 320.023 for an organization that seeks authorization to establish a voluntary contribution does not apply to this paragraph.
(t) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 or more per applicant, which shall be distributed to the Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization. Funds received by the foundation must be used to improve traffic safety culture in communities through effective outreach, education, and activities in the state which will save lives, reduce injuries, and prevent crashes. The foundation must comply with s. 320.023.
1(u) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 or more per applicant to End Breast Cancer. Such contributions shall be distributed by the department to the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.

For the purpose of applying the service charge provided in s. 215.20, contributions received under this subsection are not income of a revenue nature.

(16) The department is authorized to withhold registration or re-registration of a motor vehicle if the name of the owner or of a coowner appears on a list submitted to the department by a licensed motor vehicle dealer for a previous registration of that vehicle. The department shall place the name of the registered owner of that vehicle on the list of those persons who may not be issued a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement plate for the vehicle purchased from the licensed motor vehicle dealer. The motor vehicle dealer must maintain signed evidence that the owner or coowner acknowledged the dealer’s authority to submit the list to the department if he or she failed to pay and must note the amount for which the owner or coowner would be responsible for the vehicle registration. The dealer must maintain the necessary documentation required in this subsection or face penalties as provided in s. 320.27. This subsection does not affect the issuance of a title to a motor vehicle.
(a) The motor vehicle owner or coowner may dispute the claim that money is owed to a dealer for registration fees by submitting a form to the department if the motor vehicle owner or coowner has documentary proof that the registration fees have been paid to the dealer for the disputed amount. Without clear evidence of the amounts owed for the vehicle registration and repayment, the department will assume initial payments are applied to government-assessed fees first.
(b) If the registered owner’s dispute complies with paragraph (a), the department shall immediately remove the motor vehicle owner or coowner’s name from the list, thereby allowing the issuance of a license plate or revalidation sticker.
(17) If an applicant’s name appears on a list of persons who may not be issued a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement license plate after a written notice to surrender a vehicle was submitted to the department by a lienor as provided in s. 320.1316, the department shall withhold renewal of registration or replacement registration of the motor vehicle identified in the notice submitted by the lienor. The lienor must maintain proof that written notice to surrender the vehicle was sent to each registered owner pursuant to s. 320.1316(1). A revalidation sticker or replacement license plate may not be issued for the identified vehicle until the person’s name no longer appears on the list, the person presents documentation from the lienor that the vehicle has been surrendered to the lienor, or a court orders the person’s name removed from the list as provided in s. 320.1316. The department may not withhold an initial registration in connection with an applicant’s purchase or lease of a motor vehicle solely because the applicant’s name is on the list created by s. 320.1316.
(18) The department shall retain all electronic registration records for at least 10 years.
(19) A personal delivery device as defined in s. 316.003 is not required to satisfy the registration and insurance requirements of this section.
History.—s. 2, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1007; s. 3, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 2, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1281; s. 1, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 1, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 1, ch. 26909, 1951; s. 1, ch. 28186, 1953; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 71-42; s. 2, ch. 73-284; s. 1, ch. 75-57; s. 4, ch. 75-66; s. 4, ch. 77-357; s. 4, ch. 77-468; s. 1, ch. 78-186; s. 3, ch. 78-225; s. 2, ch. 78-353; s. 4, ch. 78-363; s. 4, ch. 78-412; s. 3, ch. 79-32; s. 2, ch. 80-388; s. 1, ch. 83-200; s. 6, ch. 83-298; s. 4, ch. 83-318; s. 1, ch. 83-320; ss. 2, 3, ch. 84-155; s. 3, ch. 84-194; s. 45, ch. 85-180; s. 3, ch. 86-182; s. 12, ch. 86-243; s. 21, ch. 87-198; s. 19, ch. 88-129; s. 4, ch. 88-253; ss. 4, 5, ch. 88-370; s. 1, ch. 89-212; s. 26, ch. 90-119; s. 1, ch. 90-329; s. 27, ch. 91-107; s. 43, ch. 94-306; s. 911, ch. 95-148; s. 14, ch. 95-333; s. 19, ch. 97-300; s. 1, ch. 99-233; ss. 16, 259, ch. 99-248; ss. 48, 49, ch. 2000-171; s. 358, ch. 2003-261; s. 26, ch. 2004-5; s. 8, ch. 2004-235; s. 14, ch. 2005-164; s. 1, ch. 2005-254; s. 1, ch. 2006-44; s. 28, ch. 2006-290; s. 1, ch. 2007-50; s. 3, ch. 2007-150; s. 2, ch. 2007-324; s. 2, ch. 2008-87; s. 1, ch. 2008-102; ss. 17, 18, ch. 2008-176; s. 1, ch. 2009-110; s. 2, ch. 2009-206; s. 1, ch. 2010-82; s. 1, ch. 2010-86; s. 1, ch. 2010-186; s. 10, ch. 2010-198; s. 16, ch. 2010-223; s. 1, ch. 2012-86; s. 28, ch. 2012-181; s. 1, ch. 2013-74; s. 28, ch. 2013-160; s. 18, ch. 2014-216; s. 1, ch. 2015-60; s. 8, ch. 2015-163; s. 57, ch. 2016-239; s. 5, ch. 2017-150; s. 6, ch. 2017-157.
1Note.—As created by s. 8, ch. 2015-163. For a description of multiple acts in the same session affecting a statutory provision, see preface to the Florida Statutes, “Statutory Construction.” Paragraph (u) was also enacted by s. 1, ch. 2015-60, and that version reads:

(u) The application form for motor vehicle registration and renewal of registration must include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 or more per applicant to End Breast Cancer. Such contributions shall be distributed by the department to the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation, Inc., an organization not-for-profit under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and shall be used for breast cancer research and education.

320.023 Requests to establish voluntary checkoff on motor vehicle registration application.—
(1) An organization that seeks authorization to establish a voluntary contribution on a motor vehicle registration application must submit to the department:
(a) A request for the particular voluntary contribution being sought, describing the proposed voluntary contribution in general terms.
(b) An application fee, not to exceed $10,000 to defray the department’s cost for reviewing the application and developing the voluntary contribution checkoff, if authorized. State funds may not be used to pay the application fee.
(c) A marketing strategy outlining short-term and long-term marketing plans for the requested voluntary contribution and a financial analysis outlining the anticipated revenues and the planned expenditures of the revenues to be derived from the voluntary contribution.

The information required under this subsection must be submitted to the department at least 90 days before the convening of the next regular session of the Legislature.

(2) If the voluntary contribution is not approved by the Legislature, the application fee must be refunded to the requesting organization.
(3) The department must include any voluntary contributions approved by the Legislature on the motor vehicle application form when the form is reprinted by the agency.
(4)(a) The department must discontinue the voluntary contribution if:
1. Less than $25,000 has been contributed by the end of the 5th year.
2. Less than $25,000 is contributed during any subsequent 5-year period.
(b) The department is authorized to discontinue the voluntary contribution and distribution of associated proceeds if the organization no longer exists, if the organization has stopped providing services that are authorized to be funded from the voluntary contributions, or pursuant to an organizational recipient’s request. Organizations are required to notify the department immediately to stop warrants for voluntary check-off contributions if any of the conditions in this subsection exist, and must meet the requirements of paragraph (5)(b) or paragraph (5)(c), if applicable, for any period of operation during the fiscal year.
(5) A voluntary contribution collected and distributed under this chapter, or any interest earned from those contributions, may not be used for commercial or for-profit activities or for general or administrative expenses, except as authorized by law.
(a) All organizations that receive annual use fee proceeds from the department are responsible for ensuring that proceeds are used in accordance with law.
(b) Any organization not subject to audit pursuant to s. 215.97 shall annually attest, under penalties of perjury, that such proceeds were used in compliance with law. The attestation shall be made annually in a form and format determined by the department.
(c) Any voluntary contributions authorized by law shall be deposited into and distributed from the Motor Vehicle License Clearing Trust Fund to the recipients specified in this chapter.
(d) Any organization subject to audit pursuant to s. 215.97 shall submit an audit report in accordance with rules promulgated by the Auditor General. The annual attestation shall be submitted to the department for review within 9 months after the end of the organization’s fiscal year.
(6) Within 90 days after receiving an organization’s audit or attestation, the department shall determine which recipients have not complied with subsection (5). If the department determines that an organization has not complied or has failed to use the revenues in accordance with law, the department must discontinue the distribution of the revenues to the organization until the department determines that the organization has complied. If an organization fails to comply within 12 months after the voluntary contributions are withheld by the department, the proceeds shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund to offset department costs.
(7) The department has the authority to examine all records pertaining to the use of funds from the voluntary contributions authorized.
(8) All organizations seeking to establish a voluntary contribution on a motor vehicle registration application that are required to operate under the Solicitation of Contributions Act, as provided in chapter 496, must do so before funds may be distributed.
History.—s. 4, ch. 98-414; s. 17, ch. 99-248; s. 6, ch. 2001-196; s. 100, ch. 2001-266; s. 10, ch. 2009-71.
320.025 Registration certificate and license plate or decal issued under fictitious name; application.—
(1) A confidential registration certificate and registration license plate or decal shall be issued under a fictitious name only for a motor vehicle or vessel owned or operated by a law enforcement agency of state, county, municipal, or federal government, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, or any state public defender’s office. The requesting agency shall file a written application with the department on forms furnished by the department, which includes a statement that the license plate or decal will be used for the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit or law enforcement or any state public defender’s office activities requiring concealment of publicly leased or owned motor vehicles or vessels and a statement of the position classifications of the individuals who are authorized to use the license plate or decal. The department may modify its records to reflect the fictitious identity of the owner or lessee until such time as the license plate or decal and registration certificate are surrendered to it.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1), any motor vehicle owned or exclusively operated by the state or any county, municipality, or other governmental entity must at all times display a license plate of the type prescribed in s. 320.0655. Any vessel owned or exclusively operated by the state or any county, municipality, or other governmental entity must at all times display a registration number as required in s. 328.56 and a vessel decal as required in s. 328.48(5).
(3) This section constitutes an exception to other statutes relating to falsification of public records, false swearing, and similar matters. All records relating to the registration application of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, a law enforcement agency, or any state public defender’s office, and records necessary to carry out the intended purpose of this section, are exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1), and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution as long as the information is retained by the department. This section does not prohibit other personations, fabrications, or creations of false identifications by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, or law enforcement or public defender’s officers in the official performance of covert operations.
History.—s. 1, ch. 73-37; ss. 2, 3, ch. 80-306; s. 5, ch. 83-318; s. 1, ch. 85-110; s. 1, ch. 89-48; s. 2, ch. 91-114; s. 1, ch. 94-308; s. 2, ch. 96-331; s. 152, ch. 96-406; s. 115, ch. 2002-20.
320.03 Registration; duties of tax collectors; International Registration Plan.—
(1) The tax collectors in the several counties of the state, as authorized agents of the department, shall issue registration certificates, registration license plates, validation stickers, and mobile home stickers to applicants, and shall provide to applicants for each the option to register emergency contact information and the option to be contacted with information about state and federal benefits available as a result of military service, subject to the requirements of law, in accordance with rules of the department. Any person, firm, or corporation representing itself, through advertising or naming of the business, to be an authorized agent of the department shall be deemed guilty of an unfair and deceptive trade practice as defined in part II of chapter 501. No such person, firm, or corporation shall use either the state or county name as a part of their business name when such use can reasonably be interpreted as an official state or county office.
(2) The department may require each tax collector to give a bond, payable to the department, conditioned that the tax collector faithfully and truly perform the duties imposed upon him or her according to the requirements of law and the rules and regulations of the department and that the tax collector pay over and account for all validation stickers, records, and other property and money that comes into his or her possession or control by reason of such service. The amount of the bond is to be determined by the department based on an amount not more than 10 percent above the average of the daily deposits of each tax collector.
(3) Each tax collector shall keep a full and complete record and account of all validation stickers, mobile home stickers, or other properties received by him or her from the department, or from any other source. Notwithstanding chapter 116, every county officer within this state authorized to collect funds provided for in this chapter shall pay all sums officially received by the officer into the State Treasury no later than 5 working days after the close of the business day in which the officer received the funds. Payment by county officers to the state shall be made by means of electronic funds transfer.
(4)(a) Each tax collector or license tag agent who has online computer access to the department data center or other reasonable access thereto shall, except when the department has issued a registration renewal notice, upon receipt of an application for the registration of any motor vehicle, determine from the driver file of the applicant whether the applicant’s driver license has been canceled, suspended, or revoked and, if so, whether the applicant has surrendered his or her license to the department as required by s. 322.251. If the applicant has not surrendered his or her license in accordance with the provisions of that section, the tax collector shall refuse to register the vehicle until such time as the applicant surrenders his or her driver license to the department.
(b) The Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System shall be installed in every tax collector’s and license tag agent’s office in accordance with a schedule established by the department in consultation with the tax collectors and contingent upon funds being made available for the system by the state.
(5) In addition to the fees required under s. 320.08, a fee of 50 cents shall be charged on every license registration sold to cover the costs of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System. The fees collected shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund to be used exclusively to fund the system. The fee may only be used to fund the system equipment, software, personnel associated with the maintenance and programming of the system, and networks used in the offices of the county tax collectors as agents of the department and the ancillary technology necessary to integrate the system with other tax collection systems. The department shall administer this program upon consultation with the Florida Tax Collectors, Inc., to ensure that each county tax collector’s office is technologically equipped and functional for the operation of the Florida Real Time Vehicle Information System. Any designated revenue collected to support functions of the county tax collectors and not used in a given year must remain exclusively in the trust fund as a carryover to the following year.
(6) A nonrefundable fee of $1 shall be charged on every license registration sold, transferred, or replaced. This fee must be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Trust Fund established in the Department of Environmental Protection and used only for purposes of air pollution control pursuant to chapter 403, except that, if any county has an approved local air pollution control program as provided in s. 403.182, 50 cents of the fee from each license registration sold in the county must be returned to that county for deposit into a local air pollution control program trust fund, which must be established by the county and used only for air pollution control programs relating to the control of emissions from mobile sources and toxic and odor emissions, air quality monitoring, and facility inspections pursuant to chapter 403 or any similar local ordinance. Any county that has a Department of Environmental Protection approved local air pollution control program shall receive 75 cents of the fee from each license registration sold, transferred, or replaced in the county. However, if the approved local air pollution control program trust fund has an unencumbered balance at the end of the preceding fiscal year of more than 50 percent of the preceding year’s allocation from the fees authorized in this subsection, the department may, after consultation with the approved local air pollution control program, retain any amount above 50 cents of the fees from each license registration sold, transferred, or replaced in the county for the following fiscal year. The Department of Environmental Protection is authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement this subsection.
(7) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall register apportionable vehicles under the International Registration Plan. The department may adopt rules to implement and enforce the provisions of the plan.
(8) If the applicant’s name appears on the list referred to in s. 316.1001(4), s. 316.1967(6), s. 318.15(3), or s. 713.78(13), a license plate or revalidation sticker may not be issued until that person’s name no longer appears on the list or until the person presents a receipt from the governmental entity or the clerk of court that provided the data showing that the fines outstanding have been paid. This subsection does not apply to the owner of a leased vehicle if the vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the vehicle. The tax collector and the clerk of the court are each entitled to receive monthly, as costs for implementing and administering this subsection, 10 percent of the civil penalties and fines recovered from such persons. As used in this subsection, the term “civil penalties and fines” does not include a wrecker operator’s lien as described in s. 713.78(13). If the tax collector has private tag agents, such tag agents are entitled to receive a pro rata share of the amount paid to the tax collector, based upon the percentage of license plates and revalidation stickers issued by the tag agent compared to the total issued within the county. The authority of any private agent to issue license plates shall be revoked, after notice and a hearing as provided in chapter 120, if he or she issues any license plate or revalidation sticker contrary to the provisions of this subsection. This section applies only to the annual renewal in the owner’s birth month of a motor vehicle registration and does not apply to the transfer of a registration of a motor vehicle sold by a motor vehicle dealer licensed under this chapter, except for the transfer of registrations which includes the annual renewals. This section does not affect the issuance of the title to a motor vehicle, notwithstanding s. 319.23(8)(b).
(9) A nonrefundable fee of $1.50 shall be charged on the initial and renewal registration of each automobile for private use, and on the initial and renewal registration of each truck having a net weight of 5,000 pounds or less. Such fees shall be deposited in the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund created in part I of chapter 427 and shall be used as provided therein, except that priority shall be given to the transportation needs of those who, because of age or physical and mental disability, are unable to transport themselves and are dependent upon others to obtain access to health care, employment, education, shopping, or other life-sustaining activities.
(10) Jurisdiction over the electronic filing system for use by authorized electronic filing system agents to electronically title or register motor vehicles, vessels, mobile homes, or off-highway vehicles; issue or transfer registration license plates or decals; electronically transfer fees due for the title and registration process; and perform inquiries for title, registration, and lienholder verification and certification of service providers is expressly preempted to the state, and the department shall have regulatory authority over the system. The electronic filing system shall be available for use statewide and applied uniformly throughout the state. An entity that, in the normal course of its business, sells products that must be titled or registered, provides title and registration services on behalf of its consumers and meets all established requirements may be an authorized electronic filing system agent and shall not be precluded from participating in the electronic filing system in any county. Upon request from a qualified entity, the tax collector shall appoint the entity as an authorized electronic filing system agent for that county. The department shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 120 to replace the December 10, 2009, program standards and to administer the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, establishing participation requirements, certification of service providers, electronic filing system requirements, and enforcement authority for noncompliance. The December 10, 2009, program standards, excluding any standards which conflict with this subsection, shall remain in effect until the rules are adopted. An authorized electronic filing agent may charge a fee to the customer for use of the electronic filing system.
History.—s. 2, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1007; s. 3, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 2, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1281; s. 1, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 1, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 78-37; s. 1, ch. 78-207; s. 48, ch. 80-274; s. 1, ch. 81-181; s. 1, ch. 82-129; s. 1, ch. 83-150; s. 6, ch. 83-318; s. 8, ch. 84-260; s. 46, ch. 85-180; s. 3, ch. 85-325; s. 1, ch. 89-43; s. 11, ch. 89-376; s. 2, ch. 90-48; s. 26, ch. 90-330; s. 58, ch. 90-331; s. 3, ch. 91-180; s. 23, ch. 92-132; s. 78, ch. 93-120; s. 20, ch. 93-164; s. 1, ch. 94-142; s. 44, ch. 94-306; s. 139, ch. 94-356; s. 912, ch. 95-148; s. 33, ch. 98-34; s. 97, ch. 99-13; ss. 18, 260, ch. 99-248; s. 1, ch. 2001-164; s. 13, ch. 2002-235; s. 29, ch. 2006-290; s. 11, ch. 2009-71; s. 3, ch. 2009-206; s. 17, ch. 2010-223; s. 15, ch. 2010-225; s. 18, ch. 2011-4; s. 29, ch. 2012-181; ss. 10, 29, ch. 2013-160; s. 1, ch. 2014-6; s. 9, ch. 2015-163.
320.031 Mailing of registration certificates, license plates, and validation stickers.—
(1) The department and the tax collectors of the several counties of the state may at the request of the applicant use United States mail service to deliver registration certificates and renewals thereof, license plates, mobile home stickers, and validation stickers to applicants.
(2) A mail service charge may be collected for each registration certificate, license plate, mobile home sticker, and validation sticker mailed by the department or any tax collector. Each registration certificate, license plate, mobile home sticker, and validation sticker shall be mailed by first-class mail unless otherwise requested by the applicant. The amount of the mail service charge shall be the actual postage required, rounded to the nearest 5 cents, plus a 25-cent handling charge. The mail service charge is in addition to the service charge provided by s. 320.04. All charges collected by the department under this section shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 29956, 1955; s. 1, ch. 59-190; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 5, ch. 75-66; s. 2, ch. 78-207; s. 7, ch. 83-318; s. 30, ch. 96-413; s. 261, ch. 99-248; s. 25, ch. 2000-313.
320.04 Registration service charge.—
(1)(a) A service charge of $2.50 shall be imposed on each application that is handled in connection with original issuance, duplicate issuance, or transfer of a license plate, mobile home sticker, or validation sticker or with transfer or duplicate issuance of a registration certificate. This service charge shall be retained by the department or by the tax collector, as the case may be, as other fees accruing to those offices.
(b) A service charge of $1 shall also be imposed for the issuance of each license plate validation sticker, vessel decal, and mobile home sticker issued from an automated vending facility or printer dispenser machine. This service charge is payable to the department and shall be used to provide for automated vending facilities or printer dispenser machines that are used to dispense such stickers and decals by each tax collector’s or license tag agent’s employee.
(c) The tax collector may impose an additional service charge of up to 50 cents on any transaction specified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), or on any transaction specified in s. 319.32(2)(a) or s. 328.48 if such transaction occurs at a tax collector’s branch office.
(2) The service charges shall be collected by the department on all applications handled directly from its office; and the proceeds thereof, together with any fees returned to it by the tax collector, shall be paid into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. No tax collector, deputy tax collector, or employee of the state or any county shall charge, collect, or receive any fee or compensation for services performed as notary public in connection with or incidental to the issuance of license plates or titles. The provisions of this subsection and of s. 116.38(2) prohibiting the charging, collecting, or receiving of notary public fees do not apply to any privately owned license plate agency appointed by the county manager of a charter county which has an appointed tax collector.
(3) The department may absorb all or any portion of any interchange, assessment, charge back, authorization or settlement or equivalent fees charged by financial institutions relating to a credit or debit card transaction. The department may request approval to establish additional budget authority to pay additional fees related to credit and debit card transactions pursuant to s. 216.177.
History.—s. 2, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1007; s. 3, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 2, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1281; s. 1, ch. 15625, 1931; ss. 1, 5, ch. 16085, 1933; ss. 1, 2, ch. 23149, 1945; s. 10, ch. 26484, 1951; s. 43, ch. 26869, 1951; s. 1, ch. 61-403; s. 1, ch. 63-143; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 72-79; s. 1, ch. 74-338; s. 6, ch. 75-66; s. 3, ch. 78-207; s. 47, ch. 80-274; s. 1, ch. 82-50; s. 23, ch. 82-134; s. 8, ch. 83-318; s. 2, ch. 85-324; s. 54, ch. 90-132; s. 8, ch. 98-324; s. 19, ch. 99-248; s. 4, ch. 99-289; s. 44, ch. 2000-152; s. 26, ch. 2000-313; s. 12, ch. 2009-71; s. 2, ch. 2014-6.
320.05 Records of the department; inspection procedure; lists and searches; fees.—
(1) Except as provided in chapter 119 and s. 320.025(3), the department may release records as provided in this section.
(2) Upon receipt of an application for the registration of a motor vehicle, vessel, or mobile home, as herein provided for, the department shall register the motor vehicle, vessel, or mobile home under the distinctive number assigned to such motor vehicle, vessel, or mobile home by the department. Electronic registration records shall be open to the inspection of the public during business hours. Information on a motor vehicle or vessel registration may not be made available to a person unless the person requesting the information furnishes positive proof of identification. The agency that furnishes a motor vehicle or vessel registration record shall record the name and address of any person other than a representative of a law enforcement agency who requests and receives information from a motor vehicle or vessel registration record and shall also record the name and address of the person who is the subject of the inquiry or other information identifying the entity about which information is requested. A record of each such inquiry must be maintained for a period of 6 months from the date upon which the information was released to the inquirer. Nothing in this section shall prohibit any financial institution, insurance company, motor vehicle dealer, licensee under chapter 493, attorney, or other agency which the department determines has the right to know from obtaining, for professional or business use only, information in such records from the department through any means of telecommunication pursuant to a code developed by the department providing all fees specified in subsection (3) have been paid. The department shall disclose records or information to the child support enforcement agency to assist in the location of individuals who owe or potentially owe support, as defined in s. 409.2554, or to whom such an obligation is owed pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.
(3)(a) The department is authorized, upon application of any person and payment of the proper fees, to prepare and furnish lists containing motor vehicle or vessel information in such form as the department may authorize, to search the records of the department and make reports thereof, and to make photographic copies of the department records and attestations thereof.
(b) Fees therefor shall be charged and collected as follows:
1. For providing lists of motor vehicle or vessel records for the entire state, or any part or parts thereof, divided according to counties, a sum computed at a rate of not less than 1 cent nor more than 5 cents per item.
2. For providing noncertified photographic copies of motor vehicle or vessel documents, $1 per page.
3. For providing noncertified photographic copies of micrographic records, $1 per page.
4. For providing certified copies of motor vehicle or vessel records, $3 per record.
5. For providing noncertified computer-generated printouts of motor vehicle or vessel records, 50 cents per record.
6. For providing certified computer-generated printouts of motor vehicle or vessel records, $3 per record.
7. For providing electronic access to motor vehicle, vessel, and mobile home registration data requested by tag, vehicle identification number, title number, or decal number, 50 cents per item.
8. For providing electronic access to driver license status report by name, sex, and date of birth or by driver license number, 50 cents per item.
9. For providing lists of licensed mobile home dealers and manufacturers and recreational vehicle dealers and manufacturers, $15 per list.
10. For providing lists of licensed motor vehicle dealers, $25 per list.
11. For each copy of a videotape record, $15 per tape.
12. For each copy of the Division of Motorist Services Procedures Manual, $25.
(c) Fees collected pursuant to paragraph (b) shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(d) The department shall furnish such information without charge to any court or governmental entity.
(e) When motor vehicle, vessel, or mobile home registration data is provided by electronic access through a tax collector’s office, the applicable fee as provided in paragraph (b) must be collected and deposited pursuant to paragraph (c). However, when such registration data is obtained through an electronic system described in s. 320.03(10), s. 320.0609, or s. 320.131 and results in the issuance of a title certificate or the registration credential, such fee shall not apply.
(4) The department is authorized to reproduce such documents, records, and reports as required to meet the requirements of the law and the needs of the public, either by photographing, microphotographing, or reproducing on film the document, record, or report, or by using an electronic digitizing process capable of reproducing a true and correct image of the original source document. The photographs, microphotographs, or electronic digitized copy of any records made in compliance with the provisions of this section shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility into evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of such photographs, microphotographs, or electronically digitized records shall be admitted into evidence equally with the original photographs, microphotographs, or electronically digitized records.
(5) The creation and maintenance of records by the Division of Motorist Services pursuant to this chapter shall not be regarded as law enforcement functions of agency recordkeeping.
History.—s. 3, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1008; CGL 1282; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 69-178; s. 5, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 82-112; s. 12, ch. 83-218; s. 9, ch. 83-318; s. 2, ch. 89-48; s. 46, ch. 94-306; s. 15, ch. 95-333; s. 153, ch. 96-406; s. 17, ch. 96-413; s. 41, ch. 97-170; s. 4, ch. 97-185; s. 27, ch. 2000-313; s. 21, ch. 2001-158; s. 116, ch. 2002-20; s. 3, ch. 2002-215; s. 39, ch. 2004-335; s. 46, ch. 2005-251; s. 18, ch. 2010-223; s. 17, ch. 2011-66.
320.055 Registration periods; renewal periods.—The following registration periods and renewal periods are established:
(1)(a) For a motor vehicle subject to registration under s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (5)(b), (c), (d), or (f), (6)(a), (7), (8), (9), or (10) and owned by a natural person, the registration period begins the first day of the birth month of the owner and ends the last day of the month immediately preceding the owner’s birth month in the succeeding year. If such vehicle is registered in the name of more than one person, the birth month of the person whose name first appears on the registration shall be used to determine the registration period. For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal period is the 30-day period ending at midnight on the vehicle owner’s date of birth.
(b) A motor vehicle or mobile home that is subject to registration under s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11) is eligible for an extended registration period as defined in s. 320.01(19)(b).
(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a), the owner of a motor vehicle subject to paragraph (a) who has had his or her driver license suspended pursuant to a violation of s. 316.193 or pursuant to s. 322.26(2) for driving under the influence must obtain a 6-month registration as a condition of reinstating the license, subject to renewal during the 3-year period that financial responsibility requirements apply. The registration period begins the first day of the birth month of the owner and ends the last day of the fifth month immediately following the owner’s birth month. For such vehicles, the department shall issue a vehicle registration certificate that is valid for 6 months and shall issue a validation sticker that displays an expiration date of 6 months after the date of issuance. The license tax required by s. 320.08 and all other applicable license taxes shall be one-half of the amount otherwise required, except the service charge required by s. 320.04 shall be paid in full for each 6-month registration. A vehicle required to be registered under this paragraph is not eligible for the extended registration period under paragraph (b).
(2) For a vehicle subject to registration under s. 320.08(11), the registration period begins January 1 and ends December 31. For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal period is the 31-day period prior to expiration.
(3) For a vehicle subject to registration under s. 320.08(12), the registration period runs concurrently with the licensing period. For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal period is the first month of the licensing period.
(4) For a vehicle subject to registration under s. 320.08(13), for vehicles subject to registration under s. 320.08(6)(a) that are short-term rental vehicles, and for any vehicle for which a registration period is not otherwise specified, the registration period begins June 1 and ends May 31. For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal period is the 30-day period beginning June 1.
(5) For a vehicle subject to apportioned registration under s. 320.08(4), (5)(a)1., (e), (6)(b), or (14), the registration period shall be a period of 12 months beginning in a month designated by the department and ending on the last day of the 12th month. For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal period is the last month of the registration period. The registration period may be shortened or extended at the discretion of the department, on receipt of the appropriate prorated fees, in order to evenly distribute such registrations on a monthly basis. For a vehicle subject to nonapportioned registration under s. 320.08(4), (5)(a)1., (6)(b), or (14), the registration period begins December 1 and ends November 30. The renewal period is the 31-day period beginning December 1.
(6) For those vehicles subject to registration under s. 320.08(6)(a) which are not short-term rental vehicles, the department shall develop and implement a registration renewal system that, where practicable, evenly distributes the registration renewal period throughout the year. For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal period is the first month of the assigned registration period.
(7) For those vehicles subject to registration under s. 320.0657, the department shall implement a system that distributes the registration renewal process throughout the year.
History.—s. 10, ch. 83-318; s. 4, ch. 84-155; s. 9, ch. 84-260; s. 13, ch. 86-243; s. 22, ch. 87-198; s. 1, ch. 94-330; s. 31, ch. 96-413; s. 98, ch. 99-13; ss. 20, 262, ch. 99-248; s. 34, ch. 2000-266; s. 117, ch. 2002-20; s. 1, ch. 2005-72; s. 2, ch. 2007-242.
320.06 Registration certificates, license plates, and validation stickers generally.—
(1)(a) Upon the receipt of an initial application for registration and payment of the appropriate license tax and other fees required by law, the department shall assign to the motor vehicle a registration license number consisting of letters and numerals or numerals and issue to the owner or lessee a certificate of registration and one registration license plate, unless two plates are required for display by s. 320.0706, for each vehicle so registered.
(b)1. Registration license plates bearing a graphic symbol and the alphanumeric system of identification shall be issued for a 10-year period. At the end of the 10-year period, upon renewal, the plate shall be replaced. The department shall extend the scheduled license plate replacement date from a 6-year period to a 10-year period. The fee for such replacement is $28, $2.80 of which shall be paid each year before the plate is replaced, to be credited toward the next $28 replacement fee. The fees shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. A credit or refund may not be given for any prior years’ payments of the prorated replacement fee if the plate is replaced or surrendered before the end of the 10-year period, except that a credit may be given if a registrant is required by the department to replace a license plate under s. 320.08056(8)(a). With each license plate, a validation sticker shall be issued showing the owner’s birth month, license plate number, and the year of expiration or the appropriate renewal period if the owner is not a natural person. The validation sticker shall be placed on the upper right corner of the license plate. The license plate and validation sticker shall be issued based on the applicant’s appropriate renewal period. The registration period is 12 months, the extended registration period is 24 months, and all expirations occur based on the applicant’s appropriate registration period. A vehicle that has an apportioned registration shall be issued an annual license plate and a cab card that denote the declared gross vehicle weight for each apportioned jurisdiction in which the vehicle is authorized to operate.
2. In order to retain the efficient administration of the taxes and fees imposed by this chapter, the 80-cent fee increase in the replacement fee imposed by chapter 2009-71, Laws of Florida, is negated as provided in s. 320.0804.
(c) Registration license plates equipped with validation stickers subject to the registration period are valid for not more than 12 months and expire at midnight on the last day of the registration period. A registration license plate equipped with a validation sticker subject to the extended registration period is valid for not more than 24 months and expires at midnight on the last day of the extended registration period. For each registration period after the one in which the metal registration license plate is issued, and until the license plate is required to be replaced, a validation sticker showing the month and year of expiration shall be issued upon payment of the proper license tax amount and fees and is valid for not more than 12 months. For each extended registration period occurring after the one in which the metal registration license plate is issued and until the license plate is required to be replaced, a validation sticker showing the year of expiration shall be issued upon payment of the proper license tax amount and fees and is valid for not more than 24 months. When license plates equipped with validation stickers are issued in any month other than the owner’s birth month or the designated registration period for any other motor vehicle, the effective date shall reflect the birth month or month and the year of renewal. However, when a license plate or validation sticker is issued for a period of less than 12 months, the applicant shall pay the appropriate amount of license tax and the applicable fee under s. 320.14 in addition to all other fees. Validation stickers issued for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(6)(a), for any company that owns 250 vehicles or more, or for semitrailers taxed under the provisions of s. 320.08(5)(a), for any company that owns 50 vehicles or more, may be placed on any vehicle in the fleet so long as the vehicle receiving the validation sticker has the same owner’s name and address as the vehicle to which the validation sticker was originally assigned.
(2) The department shall provide the several tax collectors and license plate agents with the necessary number of validation stickers.
(3)(a) Registration license plates must be made of metal specially treated with a retroreflection material, as specified by the department. The registration license plate is designed to increase nighttime visibility and legibility and must be at least 6 inches wide and not less than 12 inches in length, unless a plate with reduced dimensions is deemed necessary by the department to accommodate motorcycles, mopeds, or similar smaller vehicles. Validation stickers must also be treated with a retroreflection material, must be of such size as specified by the department, and must adhere to the license plate. The registration license plate must be imprinted with a combination of bold letters and numerals or numerals, not to exceed seven digits, to identify the registration license plate number. The license plate must be imprinted with the word “Florida” at the top and the name of the county in which it is sold, the state motto, or the words “Sunshine State” at the bottom. Apportioned license plates must have the word “Apportioned” at the bottom and license plates issued for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(3)(d), (4)(m) or (n), (5)(b) or (c), or (14) must have the word “Restricted” at the bottom. License plates issued for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(12) must be imprinted with the word “Florida” at the top and the word “Dealer” at the bottom. Manufacturer license plates issued for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(12) must be imprinted with the word “Florida” at the top and the word “Manufacturer” at the bottom. License plates issued for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(5)(d) or (e) must be imprinted with the word “Wrecker” at the bottom. Any county may, upon majority vote of the county commission, elect to have the county name removed from the license plates sold in that county. The state motto or the words “Sunshine State” shall be printed in lieu thereof. A license plate issued for a vehicle taxed under s. 320.08(6) may not be assigned a registration license number, or be issued with any other distinctive character or designation, that distinguishes the motor vehicle as a for-hire motor vehicle.
(b) An additional fee of 50 cents shall be collected on each motor vehicle registration or motor vehicle renewal registration issued in this state in order for all license plates and validation stickers to be fully treated with retroreflection material. The fee shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(4) The corporation organized under chapter 946 may manufacture license plates, validation stickers, and decals, as well as temporary tags, disabled hang tags, vessel decals, and fuel use decals, for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as provided in this chapter and chapter 327. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is not required to obtain competitive bids in order to contract with the corporation.
(5) The department may conduct a pilot program to evaluate the designs, concepts, and technologies for alternative license plates. For purposes of the pilot program, the department shall investigate the feasibility and use of alternative license plate technologies and the long-term cost impact to the consumer. The pilot program shall be limited to license plates that are used on government-owned motor vehicles as described in s. 320.0655. Such license plates are exempt from the requirements in paragraph (3)(a).
(6) All license plates issued pursuant to this chapter are the property of the state.
History.—ss. 4, 13, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1009, 1018; ss. 4, 10, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 5, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1283, 1292; s. 1, ch. 13701, 1929; s. 1, ch. 20408, 1941; s. 1, ch. 26481, 1951; ss. 1, 2, ch. 63-490; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 69-178; ss. 2, 9, ch. 72-79; s. 92, ch. 73-333; s. 2, ch. 74-338; s. 7, ch. 75-66; s. 4, ch. 77-120; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 6, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 77-395; s. 1, ch. 77-415; s. 1, ch. 78-48; s. 2, ch. 78-186; s. 4, ch. 78-207; s. 2, ch. 78-225; s. 9, ch. 79-3; s. 65, ch. 79-164; s. 13, ch. 81-151; s. 4, ch. 81-212; s. 25, ch. 83-216; s. 11, ch. 83-318; s. 10, ch. 84-260; s. 7, ch. 84-280; s. 1, ch. 85-176; s. 47, ch. 85-180; s. 23, ch. 87-198; s. 22, ch. 88-557; s. 2, ch. 89-364; s. 50, ch. 90-132; s. 1, ch. 90-194; s. 1, ch. 91-82; s. 63, ch. 93-120; s. 1, ch. 93-398; s. 1, ch. 94-163; s. 47, ch. 94-306; s. 32, ch. 96-413; s. 4, ch. 97-58; s. 20, ch. 97-300; ss. 21, 263, ch. 99-248; s. 11, ch. 99-260; s. 118, ch. 2002-20; s. 60, ch. 2005-164; s. 3, ch. 2007-242; s. 1, ch. 2008-68; s. 2, ch. 2009-14; s. 13, ch. 2009-71; s. 30, ch. 2012-181; s. 3, ch. 2014-6.
320.0601 Lease and rental car companies; identification of vehicles as for-hire.—
(1) A rental car company may not rent in this state any for-hire vehicle, other than vehicles designed to transport cargo, that has affixed to its exterior any bumper stickers, insignias, or advertising that identifies the vehicle as a rental vehicle.
(2) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Bumper stickers, insignias, or advertising” does not include:
1. Any emblem of no more than two colors which is less than 2 inches by 4 inches, which is placed on the rental car for inventory purposes only, and which does not display the name or logo of the rental car company; or
2. Any license required by the law of the state in which the vehicle is registered.
(b) “Rent in this state” means to sign a rental contract in this state or to deliver a car to a renter in this state.
(3) A rental car company that leases a motor vehicle that is found to be in violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of $500 per occurrence.
(4) Any registration or renewal as required under s. 320.02 for an original or transfer of a long-term leased motor vehicle must be in the name and address of the lessee.
History.—s. 3, ch. 93-398; s. 264, ch. 99-248; s. 61, ch. 2005-164.
320.0605 Certificate of registration; possession required; exception.—
(1) The registration certificate or an official copy thereof, a true copy of rental or lease documentation issued for a motor vehicle or issued for a replacement vehicle in the same registration period, a temporary receipt printed upon self-initiated electronic renewal of a registration via the Internet, or a cab card issued for a vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan shall, at all times while the vehicle is being used or operated on the roads of this state, be in the possession of the operator thereof or be carried in the vehicle for which issued and shall be exhibited upon demand of any authorized law enforcement officer or any agent of the department, except for a vehicle registered under s. 320.0657. The provisions of this section do not apply during the first 30 days after purchase of a replacement vehicle. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
(2) Rental or lease documentation that is sufficient to satisfy the requirement in subsection (1) includes the following:
(a) Date of rental and time of exit from rental facility;
(b) Rental station identification;
(c) Rental agreement number;
(d) Rental vehicle identification number;
(e) Rental vehicle license plate number and state of registration;
(f) Vehicle’s make, model, and color;
(g) Vehicle’s mileage; and
(h) Authorized renter’s name.
History.—s. 12, ch. 83-318; s. 5, ch. 86-185; s. 14, ch. 86-243; s. 48, ch. 94-306; s. 913, ch. 95-148; s. 50, ch. 96-350; s. 265, ch. 99-248; s. 28, ch. 2000-313; s. 62, ch. 2005-164; s. 31, ch. 2012-181.
320.0607 Replacement license plates, validation decal, or mobile home sticker.—
(1) Any law enforcement officer or department license and registration inspector may at any time inspect a license plate or validation decal for proper display and legibility as prescribed by chapter 316. A damaged or defaced plate or decal may be required to be replaced.
(2) When a license plate, mobile home sticker, or validation decal has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, the owner of the motor vehicle or mobile home for which the plate, sticker, or decal was issued shall make application to the department for a replacement. The application shall contain the plate, sticker, or decal number being replaced and a statement that the item was lost, stolen, or destroyed. If the application includes a copy of the police report prepared in response to a report of a stolen plate, sticker, or decal, such plate, sticker, or decal must be replaced at no charge.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (2), upon filing of an application accompanied by a fee of $28 plus applicable service charges, the department shall issue a replacement plate, sticker, or decal, as applicable, if it is satisfied that the information reported in the application is true. The replacement fee shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(4) Any license plate, sticker, or decal lost in the mail may be replaced at no charge. Neither the service charge nor the replacement fee shall be applied to this replacement. However, the application for a replacement shall contain a statement of such fact, the audit number of the lost item, and the date issued.
(5) Upon the issuance of an original license plate, the applicant shall pay a fee of $28 to be deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(6) All funds derived from the sale of temporary tags under the provisions of s. 320.131 shall be deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
History.—s. 13, ch. 83-318; s. 3, ch. 86-88; s. 51, ch. 90-132; s. 64, ch. 93-120; s. 49, ch. 94-306; s. 14, ch. 2009-71.
320.0609 Transfer and exchange of registration license plates; transfer fee.—
(1)(a) The registration license plate and certificate of registration shall be issued to, and remain in the name of, the owner of the vehicle registered and may be transferred by the owner from the vehicle for which the registration license plate was issued to any vehicle which the owner may acquire within the same classification; or, subject to the procedures set forth in subsection (2), such plate may be surrendered to the department in exchange for a license plate of the appropriate classification, if the replacement vehicle is of a different classification.
(b) The transfer of a license plate from a vehicle disposed of to a newly acquired vehicle does not constitute a new registration. The application for transfer shall be accepted without requiring proof of personal injury protection or liability insurance.
(2)(a) Upon a sale, trade, transfer, or other disposition of a motor vehicle, the owner shall remove the registration license plate therefrom and either return it or transfer it to a replacement motor vehicle. No registration license plate shall be temporarily or permanently attached to any new or used replacement or substitute vehicle without filing an application for transfer of such registration license plate and paying the transfer fee of $4.50 to the department.
(b) The requirement to pay a transfer fee does not apply when the replacement vehicle is classified under s. 320.08(2)(b), (c), or (d) or (3)(a), (b), or (c) and the original vehicle to be replaced is also classified under s. 320.08(2)(b), (c), or (d) or (3)(a), (b), or (c).
(3) A registration license plate assigned to a vehicle is transferable to any other vehicle within the same classification. If the license plate is not transferable, the owner may surrender such license plate to the department in exchange for a license plate of the appropriate classification for use on the newly acquired vehicle.
(4) If the replacement vehicle and the original vehicle to be replaced meet the criteria in paragraph (2)(b), there shall be no additional tax required in order to transfer the registration license plate to the replacement vehicle for the duration of a current registration period and to issue a new registration certificate.
(5) For a transfer or exchange other than one specified in paragraph (2)(b), the following provisions apply:
(a) If the replacement motor vehicle requires the same amount of license tax under s. 320.08 as the original vehicle to be replaced, no additional tax other than the transfer fee of $4.50, accompanied by an application for transfer on a form supplied by the department, is required to transfer or exchange a registration license plate for use on a replacement vehicle for the duration of a current registration period and to issue a new certificate of registration.
(b) If the replacement motor vehicle is within a classification requiring a higher license tax than that of the original vehicle to be replaced, the original license plate shall be surrendered in exchange for a plate within the appropriate classification, and an amount representing the pro rata difference in the tax required shall be paid for the remaining months of the registration period. Such payment is in addition to the transfer fee authorized in this section. The minimum charge for issuance of a license plate provided in s. 320.14 does not apply to an exchange of license plates under this section.
(6) Upon a sale, trade, transfer, or other disposition of a mobile home, the owner shall remove the sticker therefrom and may exchange it for another sticker to be applied to a replacement mobile home. Such exchange shall be without cost to the owner. No credit will be given toward the purchase of a license plate for any other type of vehicle. The department shall ensure that there is adequate internal control of mobile home stickers that have been removed for exchange or refund.
(7) A surviving spouse of a registered owner of any motor vehicle may, upon presenting the death certificate, request a registration certificate and transfer of the registration license plate.
(8)(a) When the owner of a vehicle transfers a registration license plate to a replacement or substitute vehicle acquired from a motor vehicle dealer licensed under this chapter, the dealer shall timely provide to the department, via an electronic system administered by the department for this purpose, information regarding the transfer which is required by the department. The dealer shall also give the owner written notice documenting the transfer if the dealer cannot timely provide the required transfer information to the department due to system or connectivity problems. The dealer shall maintain all records required by the department which must be open to inspection by the department or its agents during reasonable business hours. The dealer may charge the vehicle owner a fee to comply with this subsection. The department may charge a fee of $2 to be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund for each transfer in addition to any other fee imposed by law.
(b) A dealer is not required to comply with paragraph (a) if the department’s records are otherwise modified on the date of transfer to reflect that the transfer has occurred.
(c) The department has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this subsection.
History.—s. 14, ch. 83-318; s. 4, ch. 85-81; s. 24, ch. 87-198; s. 116, ch. 90-136; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2009-206; s. 7, ch. 2011-3.
320.061 Unlawful to alter motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, temporary license plates, mobile home stickers, or validation stickers or to obscure license plates; penalty.—A person may not alter the original appearance of a vehicle registration certificate, license plate, temporary license plate, mobile home sticker, or validation sticker issued for and assigned to a motor vehicle or mobile home, whether by mutilation, alteration, defacement, or change of color or in any other manner. A person may not apply or attach a substance, reflective matter, illuminated device, spray, coating, covering, or other material onto or around any license plate which interferes with the legibility, angular visibility, or detectability of any feature or detail on the license plate or interferes with the ability to record any feature or detail on the license plate. A person who violates this section commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.—s. 9, ch. 28186, 1953; s. 3, ch. 69-178; s. 192, ch. 71-136; s. 3, ch. 72-79; s. 7, ch. 77-357; s. 15, ch. 83-318; s. 33, ch. 96-413; s. 23, ch. 2007-196; s. 25, ch. 2010-162; s. 32, ch. 2012-181.
320.0655 Permanent license plates for governmental entities and volunteer fire departments.—
(1) A permanent license plate shall be issued for any motor vehicle owned or exclusively operated by the state or by any county, municipality, or other governmental entity. All such license plates shall be of a distinctive color, different from that of plates issued under s. 320.06. Such plate shall be displayed as required by s. 316.605 and shall be removed upon the sale of the vehicle or when the vehicle otherwise becomes ineligible for the permanent plate. If it has become lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the plate may be replaced as provided by s. 320.0607. The use of such plate on any vehicle other than one authorized in this subsection is prohibited, except as approved by the department. However, such plate may be used on a vehicle loaned, rented, or leased to a district school board for the purpose of providing driver education training.
(2) A permanent license plate shall be issued for any motor vehicle owned and exclusively operated by a volunteer fire department, which plate shall be of a distinctive color. The plate shall be displayed as required by s. 316.605 and shall be removed upon sale of the vehicle or when the vehicle otherwise becomes ineligible for the permanent plate. If it has become lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the plate may be replaced as provided by s. 320.0607. The use of such plate on any vehicle other than one authorized in this subsection is prohibited, except as approved by the department.
(3) Any motor vehicle issued a license plate pursuant to this section is exempt from the requirement to pay annual license taxes pursuant to s. 320.08 but must pay the fee provided by s. 320.10(2).
History.—s. 17, ch. 83-318.
320.0657 Permanent registration; fleet license plates.—
(1) As used in this section, the term “fleet” means nonapportioned motor vehicles owned or leased by a company and used for business purposes. Vehicle numbers comprising a “fleet” shall be established by the department. Vehicles registered as short-term rental vehicles are excluded from the provisions of this section.
(2)(a) The owner or lessee of a fleet of motor vehicles shall, upon application in the manner and at the time prescribed and upon approval by the department and payment of the license tax prescribed under s. 320.08(2), (3), (4), (5)(a) and (b), (6)(a), (7), and (8), be issued permanent fleet license plates. All vehicles with a fleet license plate shall have the company’s name or logo and unit number displayed so that they are readily identifiable.
(b) The plates, which shall be of a distinctive color, shall have the word “Fleet” appearing at the bottom and the word “Florida” appearing at the top. The plates shall conform in all respects to the provisions of this chapter, except as specified herein.
(c) In addition to the license tax prescribed by s. 320.08(2), (3), (4), (5)(a) and (b), (6)(a), (7), and (8), an annual fleet management fee of $2 shall be charged. A one-time license plate manufacturing fee of $1.50 shall be charged for plates issued for the established number of vehicles in the fleet. If the size of the fleet is increased, an issuance fee of $10 per vehicle will be charged to include the license plate manufacturing fee. If the license plate manufacturing cost increases, the department shall increase the license plate manufacturing fee to recoup its cost. Fees collected shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. Payment of registration license tax and fees shall be made annually and be evidenced only by the issuance of a single receipt by the department. The provisions of s. 320.0605 do not apply to vehicles registered in accordance with this section, and no annual validation sticker is required.
(3) If a recipient of fleet license plates fails to properly and timely renew or initially register vehicles in its fleet, the department may impose a delinquency penalty of $50 or 10 percent of the delinquent taxes due, whichever is greater, if the failure is for not more than 30 days, with an additional 10 percent penalty for each additional 30 days, or fraction thereof, that the failure continues, not to exceed a total penalty of 100 percent in the aggregate; however, the penalty may not be less than $50.
(4) All recipients of fleet license plates authorized by this section must provide the department with an annual vehicle reconciliation and must annually surrender all unassigned license plates. Failure to comply with this subsection may result in fines of up to $1,000 for each occurrence, or in suspension or termination from the fleet program.
History.—s. 50, ch. 94-306; s. 1, ch. 94-312; s. 35, ch. 96-413; s. 23, ch. 99-248; s. 27, ch. 2013-18.
320.0659 Permanent registration of trailer for hire and semitrailers.—
(1) A permanent license plate may be issued for any semitrailer classified under s. 320.08(5)(a)2. All such license plates shall be of a distinctive color, and shall be imprinted with the words “Permanent Trl” at the bottom. Such plates shall be displayed as required by s. 316.605 and shall be removed upon the sale of the vehicle or upon the vehicle’s being removed from service. If the plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed, the plate may be replaced as provided by s. 320.0607. The use of such plate on any vehicle other than the one to which it is issued is prohibited. No refunds shall be issued for this plate.
(2) If apportionment is required for a permanent semitrailer, the apportionment must be indicated by means of a serially numbered decal, or decals, with the name of the state for which apportionment is granted and the year for which the apportionment is valid. The apportionment must be for 1 calendar year and must be renewed as necessary. For jurisdictions that do not require additional trailer fees, the fee provided in s. 320.08(5)(a)2. applies.
History.—s. 36, ch. 96-413.
320.07 Expiration of registration; renewal required; penalties.—
(1) The registration of a motor vehicle or mobile home expires at midnight on the last day of the registration or extended registration period, or for a motor vehicle or mobile home owner who is a natural person, at midnight on the owner’s birthday. A vehicle may not be operated on the roads of this state after expiration of the renewal period, or, for a natural person, at midnight on the owner’s birthday, unless the registration has been renewed according to law.
(2) Registration shall be renewed semiannually, annually, or biennially, as provided in this subsection, during the applicable renewal period, upon payment of the applicable license tax amounts required by s. 320.08, service charges required by s. 320.04, and any additional fees required by law.
(a) Any person who owns a motor vehicle registered under s. 320.08(4), (6)(b), or (13) may register semiannually as provided in s. 320.0705.
(b) Any person who owns a motor vehicle or mobile home registered under s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11) may renew the vehicle registration biennially during the applicable renewal period upon payment of the 2-year cumulative total of all applicable license tax amounts required by s. 320.08 and service charges or surcharges required by ss. 320.03, 320.04, 320.0801, 320.08015, 320.0802, 320.0804, 320.0805, 320.08046, and 320.08056 and payment of the 2-year cumulative total of any additional fees required by law for an annual registration.
(3) The operation of any motor vehicle without having attached thereto a registration license plate and validation stickers, or the use of any mobile home without having attached thereto a mobile home sticker, for the current registration period shall subject the owner thereof, if he or she is present, or, if the owner is not present, the operator thereof to the following penalty provisions:
(a) Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home registration has been expired for a period of 6 months or less commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318. However, a law enforcement officer may not issue a citation for a violation under this paragraph until midnight on the last day of the owner’s birth month of the year the registration expires.
(b) Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home registration has been expired for more than 6 months, upon a first offense, is subject to the penalty provided in s. 318.14.
(c) Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home registration has been expired for more than 6 months, upon a second or subsequent offense, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(d) However, an operator shall not be charged with a violation of this subsection if the operator can show, pursuant to a valid lease agreement, that the vehicle had been leased for a period of 30 days or less at the time of the offense.
(e) Any servicemember, as defined in s. 250.01, whose mobile home registration expired while he or she was serving on active duty or state active duty shall not be charged with a violation of this subsection if, at the time of the offense, the servicemember was serving on active duty or state active duty 35 miles or more from the mobile home. The servicemember must present to the department either a copy of the official military orders or a written verification signed by the servicemember’s commanding officer to receive a waiver of charges.
(f) The owner of a leased motor vehicle is not responsible for any penalty specified in this subsection if the motor vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the motor vehicle.
(4)(a) In addition to a penalty provided in subsection (3), a delinquent fee based on the following schedule of license taxes shall be imposed on any applicant who fails to renew a registration prior to the end of the month in which renewal registration is due. The delinquent fee shall be applied beginning on the 11th calendar day of the month succeeding the renewal period. The delinquent fee does not apply to those vehicles that have not been required to be registered during the preceding registration period or as provided in s. 320.18(2). The delinquent fee shall be imposed as follows:
1. License tax of $5 but not more than $25: $5 flat.
2. License tax over $25 but not more than $50: $10 flat.
3. License tax over $50 but not more than $100: $15 flat.
4. License tax over $100 but not more than $400: $50 flat.
5. License tax over $400 but not more than $600: $100 flat.
6. License tax over $600 and up: $250 flat.
(b) A person who has been assessed a penalty pursuant to s. 316.545(2)(b) for failure to have a valid vehicle registration certificate is not subject to the delinquent fee authorized by this subsection if such person obtains a valid registration certificate within 10 working days after such penalty was assessed. The official receipt authorized by 1s. 316.545(6) constitutes proof of payment of the penalty authorized in s. 316.545(2)(b).
(c) The owner of a leased motor vehicle is not responsible for any delinquent fee specified in this subsection if the motor vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the motor vehicle.
(5) Any servicemember, as defined in s. 250.01, whose motor vehicle or mobile home registration has expired while he or she was serving on active duty or state active duty may renew his or her registration upon return from active duty or state active duty without penalty, if the servicemember served on active duty or state active duty 35 miles or more from the servicemember’s home of record prior to entering active duty or state active duty. The servicemember must provide to the department either a copy of the official military orders or a written verification signed by the servicemember’s commanding officer to receive a waiver of delinquent fees.
(6) Delinquent fees imposed under this section are not apportionable under the International Registration Plan.
History.—s. 5, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1010; CGL 1284; s. 2, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 1, ch. 16084, 1933; ss. 2, 5, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 1, ch. 26544, 1951; s. 2, ch. 28186, 1953; s. 1, ch. 61-12; s. 4, ch. 63-528; s. 2, ch. 63-496; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 5, ch. 69-178; s. 3, ch. 73-284; s. 8, ch. 75-66; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 9, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 77-454; s. 4, ch. 79-27; s. 1, ch. 79-79; s. 1, ch. 82-97; s. 1, ch. 82-128; s. 18, ch. 83-318; s. 60, ch. 85-180; s. 5, ch. 85-250; s. 6, ch. 86-185; s. 16, ch. 86-243; ss. 25, 48, ch. 87-198; s. 2, ch. 88-246; s. 37, ch. 91-224; s. 350, ch. 95-148; s. 51, ch. 96-350; s. 7, ch. 97-300; s. 7, ch. 98-223; s. 266, ch. 99-248; s. 15, ch. 2003-72; s. 30, ch. 2006-290; s. 4, ch. 2007-242; s. 1, ch. 2012-110; s. 33, ch. 2012-181; s. 58, ch. 2016-239.
1Note.—Reference to an official receipt was deleted from s. 316.545(6) by s. 16, ch. 2003-286.
320.0705 Semiannual registration or renewal for certain vehicles.—
(1) The owner of a motor vehicle taxed under s. 320.08(4) or (6)(b) may register his or her vehicle semiannually, if the amount of license tax due annually is more than $100 and the vehicle registration fee is not required to be apportioned, upon payment of a fee of $2.50 for each semiannual registration.
(2) During the first 3 months of the semiannual registration period beginning either June 1 or December 1, the semiannual tax shall be one-half of the respective annual amount set forth in s. 320.08. The fee for registration during the fourth month of the semiannual period or thereafter shall be at the rate of one-twelfth of the annual amount for the month of registration and one-twelfth of the annual amount for each month of the semiannual registration period succeeding the month of registration. However, any vehicle not registered in this state during the prior semiannual period and not subject to registration during such prior registration period may be registered in any month of the semiannual registration period beginning June 1 or December 1 at the rate of one-twelfth of the annual amount for the month of registration and one-twelfth of the annual amount for each month of the semiannual period succeeding the month of registration. The provisions of s. 320.14 do not apply to such vehicles.
(3) The owner of a motor vehicle taxed under s. 320.08(6)(a) may register such vehicle for any 6-month period upon payment of one-half the annual license tax plus an additional fee of $2.50 for each period; provided, notwithstanding any other provision of law, such person is not entitled to a refund of any tax imposed under s. 320.08(6) upon such vehicle.
History.—s. 19, ch. 83-318; s. 48, ch. 85-180; s. 3, ch. 89-364; s. 351, ch. 95-148.
320.0706 Display of license plates on trucks.—The owner of any commercial truck of gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more shall display the registration license plate on both the front and rear of the truck in conformance with all the requirements of s. 316.605 that do not conflict with this section. The owner of a dump truck may place the rear license plate on the gate no higher than 60 inches to allow for better visibility. However, the owner of a truck tractor shall be required to display the registration license plate only on the front of such vehicle. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
History.—s. 11, ch. 84-260; s. 49, ch. 85-180; s. 17, ch. 86-243; s. 26, ch. 87-198; s. 37, ch. 96-413; s. 31, ch. 2006-290; s. 19, ch. 2008-176.
320.071 Advance registration renewal; procedures.—
(1)(a) The owner of any motor vehicle or mobile home currently registered in this state may file an application for renewal of registration with the department, or its authorized agent in the county wherein the owner resides, any time during the 3 months preceding the date of expiration of the registration period. The registration period may not exceed 27 months.
(b) The owner of any apportionable vehicle currently registered in this state under the International Registration Plan may file an application for renewal of registration with the department any time during the 3 months preceding the date of expiration of the registration period.
(2) Upon the filing of the application and payment of the appropriate license tax under s. 320.08, service charges required by s. 320.04, and any additional fees required by law, the department or its agent shall issue to the owner of the motor vehicle or mobile home a validation sticker or mobile home sticker, as appropriate, which, when affixed to the license plate or mobile home, shall renew the registration for the appropriate registration period.
(3) Any person who uses a mobile home sticker or validation sticker without lawful authority or who willfully violates any rule of the department relating to this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 1, ch. 70-6; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 194, ch. 71-136; s. 10, ch. 77-357; s. 20, ch. 83-318; s. 18, ch. 86-243; s. 5, ch. 2007-242; s. 19, ch. 2010-223; s. 30, ch. 2013-160.
320.0715 International Registration Plan; motor carrier services; permits; retention of records.—
(1) All apportionable vehicles domiciled in this state shall be registered in accordance with the International Registration Plan and shall display license plates.
(2)(a) An International Registration Plan motor vehicle trip permit registration may be issued for any vehicle which could be lawfully operated in the International Registration Plan jurisdiction if full registration or proportional registration were obtained. A Florida trip permit shall expire 10 days after issuance. The cost of a trip permit shall be $30, payment of which shall exempt the vehicle from payment of Florida apportioned license plate fees during the term for which the permit is valid. Any vehicle for which a trip permit has been issued may be operated in interstate or intrastate commerce in the jurisdiction for the period allowed under such permit. No motor carrier to whom a trip permit is issued shall knowingly allow the permit to be used by any other person, organization, or vehicle.
(b) A motor carrier may, upon payment of the $30 fee, secure from the department or a designated authorized agent of the department a Florida International Registration Plan motor vehicle trip permit which shall be valid for 10 days. Such trip permit shall show the name and address of the motor carrier to whom it is issued, the date the vehicle is placed in and removed from service, a complete identification of the vehicle on which the permit is to be used, and the name and address of the owner or lessee of the vehicle. The permit shall then be carried on the vehicle which it identifies and shall be exhibited on demand to any authorized personnel. The motor carrier to whom a permit is issued shall be solely responsible for the proper use of the permit by its employees and lessees. Any erasure, alteration, or unauthorized use of such permit shall render it invalid and of no effect. Florida International Registration Plan motor vehicle trip permits may be transmitted to the motor carrier by electronic means and shall be complete as outlined by department personnel prior to transmittal.
(c) Special temporary permits shall be provided to owner-operators not operating as a lessor, for a fee of $5. Such permit shall be valid for 10 days and shall only be utilized for owner-operator vehicles with a registered gross weight not in excess of the empty or unladen weight of the vehicle. Special temporary permits may be issued by the department or by any of its designated authorized agents. A special temporary permit may be transmitted to the owner-operator by electronic means and must be completed as outlined by department personnel prior to transmittal.
(3)(a) If the department is unable to immediately issue the apportioned license plate to an applicant currently registered in this state under the International Registration Plan or to a vehicle currently titled in this state, the department or its designated agent may issue a 60-day temporary operational permit. The department or agent of the department shall charge a $3 fee and the service charge authorized by s. 320.04 for each temporary operational permit it issues.
(b) The department may not issue a temporary operational permit for any apportionable vehicle to any applicant until the applicant has shown that:
1. All sales or use taxes due on the registration of the vehicle are paid; and
2. Insurance requirements have been met in accordance with ss. 320.02(5) and 627.7415.
(c) Issuance of a temporary operational permit provides registration privileges in each International Registration Plan member jurisdiction designated on said permit and therefore requires payment of all applicable registration fees and taxes due for that period of registration.
(d) Application for permanent registration must be made to the department within 10 days from issuance of a temporary operational permit. Failure to file an application within this 10-day period may result in cancellation of the temporary operational permit.
(4) Each motor carrier registered under the International Registration Plan shall maintain and keep, for a period of 4 years, pertinent records and papers as may be required by the department for the reasonable administration of this chapter.
(a) The department shall withhold registrations and license plates for commercial motor vehicles unless the identifying number issued by the federal agency responsible for motor carrier safety is provided for the motor carrier and the entity responsible for motor carrier safety for each motor vehicle as part of the application process.
(b) The department may not issue a commercial motor vehicle registration or license plate to, and may not transfer the commercial motor vehicle registration or license plate for, a motor carrier or vehicle owner who has been prohibited from operating by a federal or state agency responsible for motor carrier safety.
(c) The department, with notice, shall suspend any commercial motor vehicle registration and license plate issued to a motor carrier or vehicle owner who has been prohibited from operating by a federal or state agency responsible for motor carrier safety.
(5) The provisions of this section do not apply to any commercial motor vehicle domiciled in a foreign state that enters this state solely for the purpose of bringing a commercial vehicle in for repairs, or picking up a newly purchased commercial vehicle, so long as the commercial motor vehicle is operated by its owner and is not hauling a load.
History.—s. 50, ch. 85-180; s. 19, ch. 86-243; s. 27, ch. 87-198; s. 8, ch. 88-306; s. 8, ch. 90-329; s. 27, ch. 95-143; s. 40, ch. 99-385; s. 20, ch. 2008-176; s. 31, ch. 2013-160.
1320.072 Additional fee imposed on certain motor vehicle registration transactions.—
(1) A fee of $225 is imposed upon the initial application for registration pursuant to s. 320.06 of every motor vehicle classified in s. 320.08(2), (3), and (9)(c) and (d).
(2) The fee imposed by subsection (1) shall not apply to:
(a) Any registration renewal transaction.
(b) A transfer or exchange of a registration license plate from a motor vehicle that has been disposed of to a newly acquired motor vehicle pursuant to s. 320.0609(2) or (5).
(c) Any initial registration resulting from transfer of title between coowners as provided by s. 319.22, transfer of ownership by operation of law as provided by s. 319.28, or transfer of title from a person to a member of that person’s immediate family as defined in s. 657.002 who resides in the same household.
(d) The registration of any motor vehicle owned by and operated exclusively for the personal use of:
1. Any member of the United States Armed Forces, or his or her spouse or dependent child, who is not a resident of this state and who is stationed in this state while in compliance with military orders.
2. Any former member of the United States Armed Forces, or his or her spouse or dependent child, who purchased such motor vehicle while stationed outside of Florida, who has separated from the Armed Forces and was not dishonorably discharged or discharged for bad conduct, who was a resident of this state at the time of enlistment and at the time of discharge, and who applies for registration of such motor vehicle within 6 months after discharge.
3. Any member of the United States Armed Forces, or his or her spouse or dependent child, who was a resident of this state at the time of enlistment, who purchased such motor vehicle while stationed outside of Florida, and who is now reassigned by military order to this state.
4. Any spouse or dependent child of a member of the United States Armed Forces who loses his or her life while on active duty or who is listed by the Armed Forces as “missing-in-action.” Such spouse or child must be a resident of this state and the servicemember must have been a resident of this state at the time of enlistment. Registration of such motor vehicle must occur within 1 year of the notification of the servicemember’s death or of his or her status as “missing-in-action.”
5. Any member of the United States Armed Forces, or his or her spouse or dependent child, who was a resident of this state at the time of enlistment, who purchased a motor vehicle while stationed outside of Florida, and who continues to be stationed outside of Florida.
(e) The registration of any motor vehicle owned or exclusively operated by the state or by any county, municipality, or other governmental entity.
(f) The registration of a truck defined in s. 320.08(3)(d).
(g) Any ancient or antique automobile or truck for private use registered pursuant to s. 320.086(1) or (2).
(3) A refund of the fee imposed under subsection (1) shall be granted to anyone who, within 3 months after paying such fee, sells, transfers, or otherwise disposes of a motor vehicle classified in s. 320.08(2), (3), or (9)(c) or (d) in any transaction not exempt from the fee pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), paragraph (2)(c), or paragraph (2)(d). A person requesting a refund must present proof of having paid the fee pursuant to subsection (1) and must surrender the license plate of the disposed-of vehicle.
(4) A tax collector or other authorized agent of the department shall promptly remit all moneys collected pursuant to this section, less any refunds granted pursuant to subsection (3), to the department. The department shall deposit 85.7 percent of such moneys into the State Transportation Trust Fund and 14.3 percent into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. Notwithstanding any other law, the moneys deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to this subsection shall be used by the Department of Transportation for the following:
(a) The Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network established in s. 339.81, $25 million.
(b) The capital funding for the New Starts Transit Program, authorized by 49 U.S.C. s. 5309 and pursuant to s. 341.051, 3.4 percent.
(c) The Small County Outreach Program pursuant to s. 339.2818, 5 percent.
(d) The Florida Strategic Intermodal System pursuant to ss. 339.61-339.64, 20.6 percent.
(e) The Transportation Regional Incentive Program pursuant to s. 339.2819, 6.9 percent.
(f) All remaining funds for any transportation purpose authorized by law.
(5) The fee imposed in subsection (1) shall not apply if it is determined, pursuant to an affidavit submitted by the owner on a form approved by the department, that the registration being transferred is from a vehicle that is not operational, is in storage, or will not be operated on the streets and highways of this state.
History.—s. 1, ch. 89-364; s. 74, ch. 90-132; s. 113, ch. 90-136; s. 8, ch. 91-79; s. 10, ch. 91-82; s. 352, ch. 95-148; ss. 22, 38, ch. 96-413; s. 8, ch. 97-300; s. 31, ch. 99-248; s. 10, ch. 2000-257; s. 15, ch. 2009-71; s. 4, ch. 2014-6; s. 1, ch. 2015-228.
1Note.—Section 22, ch. 2000-257, provides that “[n]otwithstanding any other law to the contrary the requirements of sections 206.46(3) and 206.606(2), Florida Statutes, shall not apply to any funding, programs, or other provisions contained in this act.”
320.08 License taxes.—Except as otherwise provided herein, there are hereby levied and imposed annual license taxes for the operation of motor vehicles, mopeds, motorized bicycles as defined in s. 316.003(3), tri-vehicles as defined in s. 316.003, and mobile homes as defined in s. 320.01, which shall be paid to and collected by the department or its agent upon the registration or renewal of registration of the following:
(1) MOTORCYCLES AND MOPEDS.—
(a) Any motorcycle: $10 flat.
(b) Any moped: $5 flat.
(c) Upon registration of a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or moped, in addition to the license taxes specified in this subsection, a nonrefundable motorcycle safety education fee in the amount of $2.50 shall be paid. The proceeds of such additional fee shall be deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund to fund a motorcycle driver improvement program implemented pursuant to s. 322.025, the Florida Motorcycle Safety Education Program established in s. 322.0255, or the general operations of the department.
(d) An ancient or antique motorcycle: $7.50 flat, of which $2.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(2) AUTOMOBILES OR TRI-VEHICLES FOR PRIVATE USE.—
(a) An ancient or antique automobile, as defined in s. 320.086, or a street rod, as defined in s. 320.0863: $7.50 flat.
(b) Net weight of less than 2,500 pounds: $14.50 flat.
(c) Net weight of 2,500 pounds or more, but less than 3,500 pounds: $22.50 flat.
(d) Net weight of 3,500 pounds or more: $32.50 flat.
(3) TRUCKS.—
(a) Net weight of less than 2,000 pounds: $14.50 flat.
(b) Net weight of 2,000 pounds or more, but not more than 3,000 pounds: $22.50 flat.
(c) Net weight more than 3,000 pounds, but not more than 5,000 pounds: $32.50 flat.
(d) A truck defined as a “goat,” or other vehicle if used in the field by a farmer or in the woods for the purpose of harvesting a crop, including naval stores, during such harvesting operations, and which is not principally operated upon the roads of the state: $7.50 flat. The term “goat” means a motor vehicle designed, constructed, and used principally for the transportation of citrus fruit within citrus groves or for the transportation of crops on farms, and which can also be used for hauling associated equipment or supplies, including required sanitary equipment, and the towing of farm trailers.
(e) An ancient or antique truck, as defined in s. 320.086: $7.50 flat.
(4) HEAVY TRUCKS, TRUCK TRACTORS, FEES ACCORDING TO GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT.—
(a) Gross vehicle weight of 5,001 pounds or more, but less than 6,000 pounds: $60.75 flat, of which $15.75 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(b) Gross vehicle weight of 6,000 pounds or more, but less than 8,000 pounds: $87.75 flat, of which $22.75 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(c) Gross vehicle weight of 8,000 pounds or more, but less than 10,000 pounds: $103 flat, of which $27 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(d) Gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more, but less than 15,000 pounds: $118 flat, of which $31 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(e) Gross vehicle weight of 15,000 pounds or more, but less than 20,000 pounds: $177 flat, of which $46 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(f) Gross vehicle weight of 20,000 pounds or more, but less than 26,001 pounds: $251 flat, of which $65 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(g) Gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, but less than 35,000: $324 flat, of which $84 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(h) Gross vehicle weight of 35,000 pounds or more, but less than 44,000 pounds: $405 flat, of which $105 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(i) Gross vehicle weight of 44,000 pounds or more, but less than 55,000 pounds: $773 flat, of which $201 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(j) Gross vehicle weight of 55,000 pounds or more, but less than 62,000 pounds: $916 flat, of which $238 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(k) Gross vehicle weight of 62,000 pounds or more, but less than 72,000 pounds: $1,080 flat, of which $280 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(l) Gross vehicle weight of 72,000 pounds or more: $1,322 flat, of which $343 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(m) Notwithstanding the declared gross vehicle weight, a truck tractor used within a 150-mile radius of its home address is eligible for a license plate for a fee of $324 flat if:
1. The truck tractor is used exclusively for hauling forestry products; or
2. The truck tractor is used primarily for the hauling of forestry products, and is also used for the hauling of associated forestry harvesting equipment used by the owner of the truck tractor.

Of the fee imposed by this paragraph, $84 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

(n) A truck tractor or heavy truck, not operated as a for-hire vehicle, which is engaged exclusively in transporting raw, unprocessed, and nonmanufactured agricultural or horticultural products within a 150-mile radius of its home address, is eligible for a restricted license plate for a fee of:
1. If such vehicle’s declared gross vehicle weight is less than 44,000 pounds, $87.75 flat, of which $22.75 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
2. If such vehicle’s declared gross vehicle weight is 44,000 pounds or more and such vehicle only transports from the point of production to the point of primary manufacture; to the point of assembling the same; or to a shipping point of a rail, water, or motor transportation company, $324 flat, of which $84 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

Such not-for-hire truck tractors and heavy trucks used exclusively in transporting raw, unprocessed, and nonmanufactured agricultural or horticultural products may be incidentally used to haul farm implements and fertilizers delivered direct to the growers. The department may require any documentation deemed necessary to determine eligibility prior to issuance of this license plate. For the purpose of this paragraph, “not-for-hire” means the owner of the motor vehicle must also be the owner of the raw, unprocessed, and nonmanufactured agricultural or horticultural product, or the user of the farm implements and fertilizer being delivered.

(5) SEMITRAILERS, FEES ACCORDING TO GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT; SCHOOL BUSES; SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLES.—
(a)1. A semitrailer drawn by a GVW truck tractor by means of a fifth-wheel arrangement: $13.50 flat per registration year or any part thereof, of which $3.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
2. A semitrailer drawn by a GVW truck tractor by means of a fifth-wheel arrangement: $68 flat per permanent registration, of which $18 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(b) A motor vehicle equipped with machinery and designed for the exclusive purpose of well drilling, excavation, construction, spraying, or similar activity, and which is not designed or used to transport loads other than the machinery described above over public roads: $44 flat, of which $11.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(c) A school bus used exclusively to transport pupils to and from school or school or church activities or functions within their own county: $41 flat, of which $11 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(d) A wrecker, as defined in s. 320.01, which is used to tow a vessel as defined in s. 327.02, a disabled, abandoned, stolen-recovered, or impounded motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01, or a replacement motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01: $41 flat, of which $11 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(e) A wrecker that is used to tow any nondisabled motor vehicle, a vessel, or any other cargo unless used as defined in paragraph (d), as follows:
1. Gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more, but less than 15,000 pounds: $118 flat, of which $31 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
2. Gross vehicle weight of 15,000 pounds or more, but less than 20,000 pounds: $177 flat, of which $46 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
3. Gross vehicle weight of 20,000 pounds or more, but less than 26,000 pounds: $251 flat, of which $65 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
4. Gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or more, but less than 35,000 pounds: $324 flat, of which $84 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
5. Gross vehicle weight of 35,000 pounds or more, but less than 44,000 pounds: $405 flat, of which $105 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
6. Gross vehicle weight of 44,000 pounds or more, but less than 55,000 pounds: $772 flat, of which $200 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
7. Gross vehicle weight of 55,000 pounds or more, but less than 62,000 pounds: $915 flat, of which $237 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
8. Gross vehicle weight of 62,000 pounds or more, but less than 72,000 pounds: $1,080 flat, of which $280 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
9. Gross vehicle weight of 72,000 pounds or more: $1,322 flat, of which $343 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(f) A hearse or ambulance: $40.50 flat, of which $10.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(6) MOTOR VEHICLES FOR HIRE.—
(a) Under nine passengers: $17 flat, of which $4.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund; plus $1.50 per cwt, of which 50 cents shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(b) Nine passengers and over: $17 flat, of which $4.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund; plus $2 per cwt, of which 50 cents shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(7) TRAILERS FOR PRIVATE USE.—
(a) Any trailer weighing 500 pounds or less: $6.75 flat per year or any part thereof, of which $1.75 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(b) Net weight over 500 pounds: $3.50 flat, of which $1 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund; plus $1 per cwt, of which 25 cents shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(8) TRAILERS FOR HIRE.—
(a) Net weight under 2,000 pounds: $3.50 flat, of which $1 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund; plus $1.50 per cwt, of which 50 cents shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(b) Net weight 2,000 pounds or more: $13.50 flat, of which $3.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund; plus $1.50 per cwt, of which 50 cents shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(9) RECREATIONAL VEHICLE-TYPE UNITS.—
(a) A travel trailer or fifth-wheel trailer, as defined by s. 320.01(1)(b), that does not exceed 35 feet in length: $27 flat, of which $7 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(b) A camping trailer, as defined by s. 320.01(1)(b)2.: $13.50 flat, of which $3.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(c) A motor home, as defined by s. 320.01(1)(b)4.:
1. Net weight of less than 4,500 pounds: $27 flat, of which $7 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
2. Net weight of 4,500 pounds or more: $47.25 flat, of which $12.25 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(d) A truck camper as defined by s. 320.01(1)(b)3.:
1. Net weight of less than 4,500 pounds: $27 flat, of which $7 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
2. Net weight of 4,500 pounds or more: $47.25 flat, of which $12.25 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(e) A private motor coach as defined by s. 320.01(1)(b)5.:
1. Net weight of less than 4,500 pounds: $27 flat, of which $7 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
2. Net weight of 4,500 pounds or more: $47.25 flat, of which $12.25 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(10) PARK TRAILERS; TRAVEL TRAILERS; FIFTH-WHEEL TRAILERS; 35 FEET TO 40 FEET.—
(a) Park trailers.—Any park trailer, as defined in s. 320.01(1)(b)7.: $25 flat.
(b) Travel trailers or fifth-wheel trailers.—A travel trailer or fifth-wheel trailer, as defined in s. 320.01(1)(b), that exceeds 35 feet: $25 flat.
(11) MOBILE HOMES.—
(a) A mobile home not exceeding 35 feet in length: $20 flat.
(b) A mobile home over 35 feet in length, but not exceeding 40 feet: $25 flat.
(c) A mobile home over 40 feet in length, but not exceeding 45 feet: $30 flat.
(d) A mobile home over 45 feet in length, but not exceeding 50 feet: $35 flat.
(e) A mobile home over 50 feet in length, but not exceeding 55 feet: $40 flat.
(f) A mobile home over 55 feet in length, but not exceeding 60 feet: $45 flat.
(g) A mobile home over 60 feet in length, but not exceeding 65 feet: $50 flat.
(h) A mobile home over 65 feet in length: $80 flat.
(12) DEALER AND MANUFACTURER LICENSE PLATES.—A franchised motor vehicle dealer, independent motor vehicle dealer, marine boat trailer dealer, or mobile home dealer and manufacturer license plate: $17 flat, of which $4.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(13) EXEMPT OR OFFICIAL LICENSE PLATES.—Any exempt or official license plate: $4 flat, of which $1 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund, except that the registration or renewal of a registration of a marine boat trailer exempt under s. 320.102 is not subject to any license tax.
(14) LOCALLY OPERATED MOTOR VEHICLES FOR HIRE.—A motor vehicle for hire operated wholly within a city or within 25 miles thereof: $17 flat, of which $4.50 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund; plus $2 per cwt, of which 50 cents shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(15) TRANSPORTER.—Any transporter license plate issued to a transporter pursuant to s. 320.133: $101.25 flat, of which $26.25 shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
History.—s. 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1011; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1285; ss. 1, 2, ch. 13888, 1929; s. 1, ch. 14656, 1931; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; CGL 1936 Supp. 1285(1); ss. 1, 2, ch. 18030, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 1285(2); s. 1, ch. 20310, 1941; s. 1, ch. 20507, 1941; s. 1, ch. 24272, 1947; s. 1, ch. 25393, 1949; s. 3, ch. 28186, 1953; s. 1, ch. 59-312; s. 2, ch. 59-351; s. 1, ch. 59-387; s. 1, ch. 61-116; s. 1, ch. 63-528; s. 6, ch. 65-190; s. 1, ch. 65-257; s. 1, ch. 65-332; s. 1, ch. 67-187; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 71-300; s. 3, ch. 72-339; s. 1, ch. 73-197; s. 1, ch. 73-244; s. 4, ch. 73-284; s. 1, ch. 74-243; s. 9, ch. 75-66; s. 2, ch. 76-135; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 2, ch. 77-395; s. 3, ch. 78-353; s. 5, ch. 78-363; s. 126, ch. 79-400; s. 14, ch. 81-151; s. 4, ch. 81-209; s. 6, ch. 82-97; s. 52, ch. 83-3; s. 1, ch. 83-19; s. 21, ch. 83-318; s. 5, ch. 85-81; s. 51, ch. 85-180; s. 11, ch. 85-309; s. 5, ch. 85-343; ss. 3, 12, ch. 87-161; s. 28, ch. 87-198; s. 2, ch. 88-410; s. 67, ch. 89-282; s. 3, ch. 89-320; s. 2, ch. 90-194; s. 65, ch. 93-120; s. 1, ch. 93-228; ss. 40, 51, ch. 94-306; s. 3, ch. 94-315; s. 19, ch. 96-413; s. 5, ch. 97-58; s. 9, ch. 97-300; s. 7, ch. 98-324; s. 24, ch. 99-248; s. 6, ch. 99-385; s. 7, ch. 2001-279; s. 6, ch. 2006-172; s. 3, ch. 2009-14; s. 16, ch. 2009-71; s. 20, ch. 2010-223; s. 16, ch. 2010-225; s. 84, ch. 2013-160; s. 5, ch. 2014-6; s. 5, ch. 2014-70; s. 18, ch. 2015-163; s. 73, ch. 2016-239; s. 14, ch. 2017-3; s. 36, ch. 2017-36.
320.08001 Electric vehicles; license tax.—The license tax for an electric vehicle or low-speed vehicle is the same as that prescribed in s. 320.08 for a vehicle that is not electrically powered.
History.—s. 11, ch. 95-333; s. 3, ch. 99-163.
320.0801 Additional license tax on certain vehicles.—
(1) In addition to the license taxes specified in s. 320.08 and in subsection (2), there is hereby levied and imposed an annual license tax of 10 cents for the operation of a motor vehicle, as defined in s. 320.01, and moped, as defined in s. 316.003, which tax shall be paid to the department or its agent upon the registration or renewal of registration of the vehicle. Notwithstanding s. 320.20, revenues collected from the tax imposed in this subsection shall be deposited in the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund and used solely for the purpose of carrying out ss. 395.401, 395.4015, 395.404, and 395.4045 and s. 11, chapter 87-399, Laws of Florida.
(2) In addition to the license taxes imposed by s. 320.08 and by subsection (1), there is imposed an additional surcharge of $10 on each commercial motor vehicle having a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more, which surcharge must be paid to the department or its agent upon the registration or renewal of registration of the commercial motor vehicle. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.20, 50 percent of the revenues collected from the surcharge imposed in this subsection shall be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund, and 50 percent shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund.
History.—s. 9, ch. 87-399; s. 4, ch. 88-186; s. 4, ch. 88-306; s. 33, ch. 92-78; s. 61, ch. 92-289; s. 17, ch. 2009-71; s. 74, ch. 2016-239.
320.08015 License tax surcharge.—
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), there is levied on each license tax imposed under s. 320.08(11) a surcharge in the amount of $1, which shall be collected in the same manner as the license tax and shall be deposited in the Florida Mobile Home Relocation Trust Fund, as created in s. 723.06115. This surcharge may not be imposed during the next registration and renewal period if the balance in the Florida Mobile Home Relocation Trust Fund exceeds $10 million on June 30. The surcharge shall be reinstated in the next registration and renewal period if the balance in the Florida Mobile Home Relocation Trust Fund is below $6 million on June 30.
(2) Any mobile home that is not located in a mobile home park regulated under chapter 723 is exempt from the surcharge.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2003-263.
320.0802 Surcharge on license tax.—There is hereby levied and imposed on each license tax imposed under s. 320.08, except those set forth in s. 320.08(11), a surcharge in the amount of $1, which shall be collected in the same manner as the license tax and deposited into the State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services.
History.—s. 2, ch. 88-144; s. 3, ch. 92-72; s. 278, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 268, ch. 99-248; s. 38, ch. 99-399.
320.0803 Moped license plates.—
(1) Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, registration and payment of license taxes in accordance with these requirements and for the purposes stated herein shall in no way be construed as placing any requirements upon mopeds other than the requirements of registration and payment of license taxes.
(2) Each request for a license plate for a moped shall be submitted to the department or its agent on an application form supplied by the department, accompanied by the license tax required in s. 320.08.
(3) The license plate for a moped shall be 4 inches wide by 7 inches long.
(4) A license plate for a moped shall be of the same material as license plates issued pursuant to s. 320.06; however, the word “Florida” shall be stamped across the top of the plate in small letters.
History.—s. 4, ch. 78-353; s. 22, ch. 83-318; s. 13, ch. 87-161; s. 28, ch. 95-143; s. 7, ch. 99-385.
320.08035 Persons who have disabilities; reduced dimension license plate.—The owner or lessee of a motorcycle, moped, or motorized disability access vehicle who resides in this state and qualifies for a parking permit for a person who has a disability under s. 320.0848, upon application and payment of the appropriate license tax and fees under s. 320.08(1), must be issued a license plate that has reduced dimensions as provided under s. 320.06(3)(a). The plate must be stamped with the international symbol of accessibility after the numeric and alpha serial number of the license plate. The plate entitles the person to all privileges afforded by a disabled parking permit issued under s. 320.0848.
History.—s. 52, ch. 94-306; s. 9, ch. 96-200; s. 8, ch. 99-385.
320.0804 Surcharge on license tax.—A surcharge of $2 shall be imposed on each license tax imposed under s. 320.08, except those set forth in s. 320.08(11), which shall be collected in the same manner as the license tax. This surcharge shall be further reduced to $1.20 on September 1, 2014, in order to negate the license plate increase of 80 cents imposed by chapter 2009-71, Laws of Florida. Of this amount, $1 shall be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund, and 20 cents shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
History.—s. 175, ch. 91-112; s. 18, ch. 2009-71; s. 1, ch. 2013-49; s. 6, ch. 2014-6.
320.08046 Juvenile programs surcharge on license tax.—A surcharge of $1 shall be imposed on each license tax imposed under s. 320.08, except those set forth in s. 320.08(11), which shall be collected in the same manner as the license tax and deposited into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund in the Department of Juvenile Justice to fund the juvenile crime prevention programs and the community juvenile justice partnership grants program.
History.—s. 66, ch. 94-209; s. 37, ch. 95-267; s. 15, ch. 2003-179; s. 19, ch. 2009-71; s. 7, ch. 2014-6.
320.08047 Voluntary contribution for organ and tissue donor education.—As a part of the collection process for license taxes as specified in s. 320.08, individuals shall be permitted to make a voluntary contribution of $1, which contribution shall be deposited into the Health Care Trust Fund for organ and tissue donor education and for maintaining the organ and tissue donor registry.
History.—s. 1, ch. 95-423; s. 30, ch. 96-418; s. 1, ch. 98-68; s. 5, ch. 2008-9.
320.08048 Sample license plates.—
(1) The department is authorized, upon application and payment of a $28 fee per plate, to provide one or more sample regular issuance license plates or specialty license plates based upon availability.
(2) The sample license plates described in subsection (1) shall have the word “SAMPLE” or an abbreviated variation thereof, as determined by the department, based on the specific design of such plate.
(3) Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(4) Tax collectors are not required to pay fees for sample license plates obtained for display purposes at main or branch offices.
History.—s. 11, ch. 97-300; s. 20, ch. 2009-71.
320.0805 Personalized prestige license plates.—
(1) The department shall issue a personalized prestige license plate to the owner or lessee of any motor vehicle, except a vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan or a commercial truck required to display two license plates pursuant to s. 320.0706, upon application and payment of the appropriate license tax and fees.
(2) Each request for specific numbers or letters or combinations thereof shall be submitted annually to the department on an application form supplied by the department, accompanied by the following tax and fees:
(a) The license tax required for the vehicle, as set forth in s. 320.08.
(b) A prestige plate annual use fee of $10.
(c) A processing fee of $5, to be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(3) The department shall review each application requesting a personalized prestige license plate and, if requested numerals or letters or combinations thereof have not been previously assigned or issued to any other applicant, and if the required tax and fees have been submitted, the department shall issue and deliver the requested personalized prestige license plate to the applicant.
(4) The department is authorized to reject requests deemed by it to be objectionable, and the department is further authorized to recall, during a registration period, any issued personalized license plate determined by it to be obscene or otherwise objectionable.
(5) Any application rejected by the department shall be returned to the applicant, along with the tax and fees submitted, within 15 days after the receipt of the application. If any personalized license plate is recalled within a current registration period, the department shall refund the prestige plate use fee of $10, the special fee of 50 cents, and the portion of the license tax, computed on a monthly basis, for the unused balance of the registration period.
(6) A personalized prestige license plate shall be issued for the exclusive continuing use of the applicant. An exact duplicate of any plate may not be issued to any other applicant during the same registration period. An exact duplicate may not be issued for any succeeding year unless the previous owner of a specific plate relinquishes it by failure to apply for renewal or reissuance for 1 year following the last year of issuance.
(7) If a vehicle owner who has been issued a personalized prestige license plate acquires a replacement vehicle within a registration period, the department shall authorize a transfer of a prestige license plate to the replacement vehicle in accordance with the provisions of s. 320.0609. There will be no refund of the annual use fee or processing fee.
(8)(a) Personalized prestige license plates shall consist of three types of plates as follows:
1. A plate imprinted with numerals only. Such plates shall consist of numerals from 1 to 999, inclusive.
2. A plate imprinted with capital letters only. Such plates shall consist of capital letters “A” through “Z” and shall be limited to a total of seven of the same or different capital letters. A hyphen may be added in addition to the seven letters.
3. A plate imprinted with both capital letters and numerals. Such plates shall consist of no more than a total of seven characters, including both numerals and capital letters, in any combination, except that a hyphen may be added in addition to the seven characters if desired or needed. However, on those plates issued to, and bearing the names of, organizations, the letters and numerals shall be of such size, if necessary, as to accommodate a maximum of 18 digits for automobiles, trucks, and recreational vehicles and 7 digits for motorcycles. Plates consisting of the four capital letters “PRES” preceded or followed by a hyphen and numerals of 1 to 999 shall be reserved for issuance only to applicants who qualify as members of the press and who are associated with, or are employees of, the reporting media.
(b) Personalized prestige plates must be of the same material, size, and distinctive color as any license plates authorized by this chapter and issued by the state for any registration period; however, the imprinting of personalized prestige license plates shall be limited solely to the following:
1. The letters or numerals or combination of both requested by the applicant must be stamped in large bold letters and numerals, limited to the number of characters based on the specific design of the plate requested by the applicant.
2. The word “Florida” must be stamped across the bottom of the plate in small letters, unless the word “Florida” is required to be stamped across the top of the plate according to the specific design of the plate.
(9) The annual use fee generated pursuant to this section shall be distributed pursuant to s. 320.20.
History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ch. 72-80; s. 1, ch. 74-301; s. 1, ch. 75-229; s. 1, ch. 77-125; s. 11, ch. 77-357; s. 3, ch. 77-395; s. 2, ch. 77-415; s. 1, ch. 78-213; s. 2, ch. 82-50; s. 23, ch. 83-318; s. 20, ch. 86-243; s. 1, ch. 87-197; s. 9, ch. 88-306; s. 1, ch. 88-311; s. 3, ch. 90-194; s. 82, ch. 91-221; s. 53, ch. 94-306; s. 4, ch. 94-315; s. 6, ch. 95-282; s. 20, ch. 96-413; s. 119, ch. 2002-20; s. 63, ch. 2008-4; s. 4, ch. 2009-14; s. 21, ch. 2009-71.
320.08053 Requirements for requests to establish specialty license plates.—
(1) If a specialty license plate requested by an organization is approved by law, the organization must submit the proposed art design for the specialty license plate to the department, in a medium prescribed by the department, as soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days after the act approving the specialty license plate becomes a law.
(2)(a) Within 120 days following the specialty license plate becoming law, the department shall establish a method to issue a specialty license plate voucher to allow for the presale of the specialty license plate. The processing fee as prescribed in s. 320.08056, the service charge and branch fee as prescribed in s. 320.04, and the annual use fee as prescribed in s. 320.08056 shall be charged for the voucher. All other applicable fees shall be charged at the time of issuance of the license plates.
(b) Within 24 months after the presale specialty license plate voucher is established, the approved specialty license plate organization must record with the department a minimum of 1,000 voucher sales before manufacture of the license plate may commence. If, at the conclusion of the 24-month presale period, the minimum sales requirements have not been met, the specialty plate is deauthorized and the department shall discontinue development of the plate and discontinue issuance of the presale vouchers. Upon deauthorization of the license plate, a purchaser of the license plate voucher may use the annual use fee collected as a credit towards any other specialty license plate or apply for a refund on a form prescribed by the department.
History.—s. 1, ch. 95-282; s. 1, ch. 98-414; s. 3, ch. 2004-337; s. 21, ch. 2008-176; s. 22, ch. 2010-223; s. 10, ch. 2015-163.
320.08056 Specialty license plates.—
(1) The department is responsible for developing the specialty license plates authorized in s. 320.08053.
(2) The department shall issue a specialty license plate to the owner or lessee of any motor vehicle, except a vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan, a commercial truck required to display two license plates pursuant to s. 320.0706, or a truck tractor, upon request and payment of the appropriate license tax and fees.
(3) Each request must be made annually to the department or an authorized agent serving on behalf of the department, accompanied by the following tax and fees:
(a) The license tax required for the vehicle as set forth in s. 320.08.
(b) A processing fee of $5, to be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(c) A license plate fee as required by s. 320.06(1)(b).
(d) A license plate annual use fee as required in subsection (4).

A request may be made any time during a registration period. If a request is made for a specialty license plate to replace a current valid license plate, the specialty license plate must be issued with appropriate decals attached at no tax for the plate, but all fees and service charges must be paid. If a request is made for a specialty license plate at the beginning of the registration period, the tax, together with all applicable fees and service charges, must be paid.

(4) The following license plate annual use fees shall be collected for the appropriate specialty license plates:
(a) Manatee license plate, $25.
(b) Challenger/Columbia license plate, $25, except that a person that purchases 1,000 or more of such license plates shall pay an annual use fee of $15 per plate.
(c) Collegiate license plate, $25.
(d) Florida Salutes Veterans license plate, $15.
(e) Florida panther license plate, $25.
(f) Florida United States Olympic Committee license plate, $15.
(g) Florida Special Olympics license plate, $15.
(h) Florida educational license plate, $20.
(i) Florida Professional Sports Team license plate, $25.
(j) Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate, $15.
(k) Invest in Children license plate, $20.
(l) Florida arts license plate, $20.
(m) Bethune-Cookman University license plate, $25.
(n) Florida Agricultural license plate, $20.
(o) Police Athletic League license plate, $20.
(p) Boy Scouts of America license plate, $20.
(q) Largemouth Bass license plate, $25.
(r) Sea Turtle license plate, $23.
(s) Protect Wild Dolphins license plate, $20.
(t) Barry University license plate, $25.
(u) Everglades River of Grass license plate, $20.
(v) Keep Kids Drug-Free license plate, $25.
(w) Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches license plate, $25.
(x) Conserve Wildlife license plate, $25.
(y) Florida Memorial University license plate, $25.
(z) Tampa Bay Estuary license plate, $15.
(aa) Florida Wildflower license plate, $15.
(bb) United States Marine Corps license plate, $15.
(cc) Choose Life license plate, $20.
(dd) Share the Road license plate, $15.
(ee) American Red Cross license plate, $25.
(ff) United We Stand license plate, $25.
(gg) Breast Cancer Research license plate, $25.
(hh) Protect Florida Whales license plate, $25.
(ii) Florida Golf license plate, $25.
(jj) Florida Firefighters license plate, $20.
(kk) Police Benevolent Association license plate, $20.
(ll) Military Services license plate, $15.
(mm) Protect Our Reefs license plate, $25.
(nn) Fish Florida license plate, $22.
(oo) Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention license plate, $25.
(pp) Hospice license plate, $25.
(qq) Stop Heart Disease license plate, $25.
(rr) Save Our Seas license plate, $25, except that for an owner purchasing the specialty license plate for more than 10 vehicles registered to that owner, the annual use fee shall be $10 per plate.
(ss) Aquaculture license plate, $25, except that for an owner purchasing the specialty license plate for more than 10 vehicles registered to that owner, the annual use fee shall be $10 per plate.
(tt) Family First license plate, $25.
(uu) Wildlife Foundation of Florida license plate, $25.
(vv) Live the Dream license plate, $25.
(ww) Florida Food Banks license plate, $25.
(xx) Discover Florida’s Oceans license plate, $25.
(yy) Family Values license plate, $25.
(zz) Parents Make A Difference license plate, $25.
(aaa) Support Soccer license plate, $25.
(bbb) Kids Deserve Justice license plate, $25.
(ccc) Animal Friend license plate, $25.
(ddd) Future Farmers of America license plate, $25.
(eee) Donate Organs-Pass It On license plate, $25.
(fff) A State of Vision license plate, $25.
(ggg) Homeownership For All license plate, $25.
(hhh) Florida NASCAR license plate, $25.
(iii) Protect Florida Springs license plate, $25.
(jjj) Trees Are Cool license plate, $25.
(kkk) Support Our Troops license plate, $25.
(lll) Florida Tennis license plate, $25.
(mmm) Lighthouse Association license plate, $25.
(nnn) In God We Trust license plate, $25.
(ooo) Horse Country license plate, $25.
(ppp) Autism license plate, $25.
(qqq) St. Johns River license plate, $25.
(rrr) Hispanic Achievers license plate, $25.
(sss) Endless Summer license plate, $25.
(ttt) Fraternal Order of Police license plate, $25.
(uuu) Protect Our Oceans license plate, $25.
(vvv) Florida Horse Park license plate, $25.
(www) Florida Biodiversity Foundation license plate, $25.
(xxx) Freemasonry license plate, $25.
(yyy) American Legion license plate, $25.
(zzz) Lauren’s Kids license plate, $25.
(aaaa) Big Brothers Big Sisters license plate, $25.
(bbbb) Fallen Law Enforcement Officers license plate, $25.
(cccc) Florida Sheriffs Association license plate, $25.
(dddd) Keiser University license plate, $25.
(eeee) Moffitt Cancer Center license plate, $25.
(5) If a vehicle owner or lessee to whom the department has issued a specialty license plate acquires a replacement vehicle within the owner’s registration period, the department must authorize a transfer of the specialty license plate to the replacement vehicle in accordance with s. 320.0609. The annual use fee or processing fee may not be refunded.
(6) Specialty license plates must bear the design required by law for the appropriate specialty license plate, and the designs and colors must conform to the department’s design specifications. In addition to a design, the specialty license plates may bear the imprint of numerals from 1 to 999, inclusive, capital letters “A” through “Z,” or a combination thereof. The department shall determine the maximum number of characters, including both numerals and letters. All specialty license plates must be otherwise of the same material and size as standard license plates issued for any registration period. A specialty license plate may bear an appropriate slogan, emblem, or logo in a size and placement that conforms to the department’s design specifications. The sponsoring organization’s Internet domain name may appear on the plate.
(7) The department shall annually retain from the first proceeds derived from the annual use fees collected an amount sufficient to defray each specialty plate’s pro rata share of the department’s costs directly related to the specialty license plate program. Such costs shall include inventory costs, distribution costs, direct costs to the department, costs associated with reviewing each organization’s compliance with audit and attestation requirements of s. 320.08062, and any applicable increased costs of manufacturing the specialty license plate. Any cost increase to the department related to actual cost of the plate, including a reasonable vendor profit, shall be verified by the Department of Management Services. The balance of the proceeds from the annual use fees collected for that specialty license plate shall be distributed as provided by law.
(8)(a) The department must discontinue the issuance of an approved specialty license plate if the number of valid specialty plate registrations falls below 1,000 plates for at least 12 consecutive months. A warning letter shall be mailed to the sponsoring organization following the first month in which the total number of valid specialty plate registrations is below 1,000 plates. 1This paragraph does not apply to collegiate license plates established under s. 320.08058(3).
(b) The department is authorized to discontinue the issuance of a specialty license plate and distribution of associated annual use fee proceeds if the organization no longer exists, if the organization has stopped providing services that are authorized to be funded from the annual use fee proceeds, if the organization does not meet the presale requirements as prescribed in s. 320.08053, or pursuant to an organizational recipient’s request. Organizations shall notify the department immediately to stop all warrants for plate sales if any of the conditions in this section exist and must meet the requirements of s. 320.08062 for any period of operation during a fiscal year.
(9) The organization that requested the specialty license plate may not redesign the specialty license plate unless the inventory of those plates has been depleted. However, the organization may purchase the remaining inventory of the specialty license plates from the department at cost.
(10)(a) A specialty license plate annual use fee collected and distributed under this chapter, or any interest earned from those fees, may not be used for commercial or for-profit activities nor for general or administrative expenses, except as authorized by s. 320.08058 or to pay the cost of the audit or report required by s. 320.08062(1). The fees and any interest earned from the fees may be expended only for use in this state unless the annual use fee is derived from the sale of United States Armed Forces and veterans-related specialty license plates pursuant to paragraphs (4)(d), (bb), (ll), (kkk), and (yyy) and s. 320.0891.
(b) As used in this subsection, the term “administrative expenses” means those expenditures which are considered as direct operating costs of the organization. Such costs include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Administrative salaries of employees and officers of the organization who do not or cannot prove, via detailed daily time sheets, that they actively participate in program activities.
2. Bookkeeping and support services of the organization.
3. Office supplies and equipment not directly utilized for the specified program.
4. Travel time, per diem, mileage reimbursement, and lodging expenses not directly associated with a specified program purpose.
5. Paper, printing, envelopes, and postage not directly associated with a specified program purpose.
6. Miscellaneous expenses such as food, beverage, entertainment, and conventions.
(11) The annual use fee from the sale of specialty license plates, the interest earned from those fees, or any fees received by an agency as a result of the sale of specialty license plates may not be used for the purpose of marketing to, or lobbying, entertaining, or rewarding, an employee of a governmental agency that is responsible for the sale and distribution of specialty license plates, or an elected member or employee of the Legislature.
(12) The application form for a specialty license plate shall provide the applicant the option to instruct the department to provide his or her name, address, and renewal date to the sponsoring organization.
History.—s. 2, ch. 95-282; s. 1, ch. 96-160; s. 1, ch. 96-161; s. 1, ch. 96-162; s. 1, ch. 96-163; s. 1, ch. 96-164; s. 1, ch. 96-165; s. 49, ch. 97-100; s. 2, ch. 97-252; s. 1, ch. 97-272; s. 1, ch. 98-67; s. 1, ch. 98-72; s. 1, ch. 98-74; s. 1, ch. 98-76; s. 1, ch. 98-77; s. 1, ch. 98-181; ss. 2, 6, ch. 98-414; s. 99, ch. 99-13; s. 1, ch. 99-191; s. 25, ch. 99-248; s. 1, ch. 99-268; s. 1, ch. 99-294; s. 1, ch. 99-295; s. 1, ch. 99-301; s. 1, ch. 99-302; s. 7, ch. 2001-196; s. 1, ch. 2001-355; s. 72, ch. 2002-20; s. 1, ch. 2002-203; s. 1, ch. 2002-237; s. 1, ch. 2002-249; s. 1, ch. 2003-26; s. 1, ch. 2003-66; ss. 2, 4, ch. 2003-73; s. 1, ch. 2003-121; s. 1, ch. 2003-183; s. 1, ch. 2003-256; ss. 1, 4, ch. 2004-337; s. 1, ch. 2006-240; s. 32, ch. 2006-290; s. 1, ch. 2006-293; ss. 1, 4, ch. 2006-297; s. 1, ch. 2007-103; s. 2, ch. 2007-223; s. 1, ch. 2008-37; s. 1, ch. 2008-38; s. 5, ch. 2009-14; s. 22, ch. 2009-71; s. 5, ch. 2009-86; s. 1, ch. 2010-81; s. 1, ch. 2010-168; s. 1, ch. 2010-215; s. 1, ch. 2010-216; s. 24, ch. 2010-223; s. 34, ch. 2012-181; s. 1, ch. 2013-85; ss. 34, 36, 39, ch. 2013-160; s. 1, ch. 2014-168; s. 19, ch. 2014-216; s. 11, ch. 2015-163.
1Note.—As enacted by s. 32, ch. 2006-290. For a description of multiple acts in the same session affecting a statutory provision, see preface to the Florida Statutes, “Statutory Construction.” Section 1, ch. 2006-297, also added a sentence to paragraph (8)(a), and that version reads: “The provisions of this subsection do not apply to collegiate license plates established pursuant to s. 320.08058(3).”
320.08058 Specialty license plates.—
(1) MANATEE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a manatee license plate to commemorate the official state marine mammal. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Save the Manatee” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The manatee license plate annual use fee must be deposited into the Save the Manatee Trust Fund, created within the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and shall be used only for the purposes specified in s. 379.2431(4).
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), up to 10 percent of the annual use fee deposited in the Save the Manatee Trust Fund from the sale of the manatee license plate may be used to promote and market the license plate issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles after June 30, 2007.
(2) CHALLENGER/COLUMBIA LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Challenger/Columbia license plate to commemorate the seven astronauts who died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded on liftoff in 1986 and the seven astronauts who died when the Columbia exploded on reentry in 2003. The word “Florida” shall appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Challenger/Columbia” must appear at the bottom of the plate, in small letters.
(b) The Challenger/Columbia license plate annual use fee must be distributed to the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Inc., to support the operations of the Center for Space Education and the Space Mirror Memorial located at the Kennedy Space Center. Funds received by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Inc., may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operation of the center and the memorial. These funds must be used for the maintenance and support of the operations of the Center for Space Education and the Space Mirror Memorial operated by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Inc. These operations must include programs and infrastructure that inform, inspire, and educate the public on the benefits of human space flight. Up to 20 percent of funds received by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Inc., may be expended for administrative costs.
(c) Up to 10 percent of the funds distributed under paragraph (b) may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
(d) The Auditor General has authority to examine any and all records pertaining to the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, Inc., to determine compliance with the law.
(3) COLLEGIATE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a collegiate license plate as provided in this section for state and independent universities domiciled in this state. However, any collegiate license plate created or established after October 1, 2002, must comply with the requirements of s. 320.08053 and be specifically authorized by an act of the Legislature. Collegiate license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department as appropriate for each state and independent university. The word “Florida” must be stamped across the bottom of the plate in small letters.
(b) A collegiate plate annual use fee is to be distributed to the state or independent university foundation designated by the purchaser for deposit in an unrestricted account. The Board of Governors of the State University System shall require each state university to submit a plan for approval of the expenditure of all funds so designated. These funds may be used only for academic enhancement, including scholarships and private fundraising activities.
(4) FLORIDA SALUTES VETERANS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Salutes Veterans license plate. The words “Florida Salutes Veterans” and the flag of the United States of America must appear on the plate.
(b) The Florida Salutes Veterans license plate annual use fee shall be distributed as follows:
1. Ten percent shall be distributed to a direct-support organization created under s. 292.055 for a period not to exceed 48 months after the date the direct-support organization is incorporated.
2. Any remaining fees must be deposited in the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and must be used to support program operations that benefit veterans or the operation, maintenance, or construction of domiciliary and nursing homes for veterans and for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate, subject to the requirements of chapter 216.
(5) FLORIDA PANTHER LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida panther license plate as provided in this section. Florida panther license plates must bear the design of a Florida panther and the colors that department approves. In small letters, the word “Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The Florida panther license plate annual use fee must be deposited in the Florida Panther Research and Management Trust Fund in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to be used for education and programs to protect the endangered Florida panther, and up to 10 percent of such deposit may be used to promote and market the license plate.
(c) A person or corporation that purchases 10,000 or more panther license plates shall pay an annual use fee of $5 per plate and an annual processing fee of $2 per plate, in addition to the applicable license tax required under s. 320.08.
(6) FLORIDA UNITED STATES OLYMPIC COMMITTEE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Because the United States Olympic Committee has selected this state to participate in a combined fundraising program that provides for one-half of all money raised through volunteer giving to stay in this state and be administered by Enterprise Florida, Inc., to support amateur sports, and because the United States Olympic Committee and Enterprise Florida, Inc., are nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing athletes with support and training and preparing athletes of all ages and skill levels for sports competition, and because Enterprise Florida, Inc., assists in the bidding for sports competitions that provide significant impact to the economy of this state, and the Legislature supports the efforts of the United States Olympic Committee and Enterprise Florida, Inc., the Legislature establishes a Florida United States Olympic Committee license plate for the purpose of providing a continuous funding source to support this worthwhile effort. Florida United States Olympic Committee license plates must contain the official United States Olympic Committee logo and must bear a design and colors that are approved by the department. The word “Florida” must be centered at the top of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees are to be annually distributed as follows:
1. The first $5 million collected annually must be paid to the direct-support organization to be distributed as follows:
a. Fifty percent must be distributed to the direct-support organization to be used for Florida’s Sunshine State Games.
b. Fifty percent must be distributed to the United States Olympic Committee.
2. Any additional fees must be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(7) SPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Special Olympics Florida license plates must contain the official Special Olympics Florida logo and must bear a design and colors that are approved by the department. The word “Florida” must be centered at the bottom of the plate, and the words “Everyone Wins” must be centered at the top of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees are to be annually distributed as follows:
1. The first $5 million collected annually must be forwarded to the private nonprofit corporation as described in s. 393.002 and must be used solely for Special Olympics purposes as approved by the private nonprofit corporation.
2. Any additional fees must be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(8) FLORIDA EDUCATIONAL LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop a Florida educational license plate as provided in this section. Florida educational license plates must bear a design and colors that the department approves. The word “Florida” must appear in small letters at the top of the plate.
(b) The license annual use fees are to be distributed annually as follows:
1. Up to 10 percent of the moneys raised from the sale of the plates may be used for continuing marketing and promotion of the plates.
2. In each school district that has a district prekindergarten through grade 12 public school foundation or a direct-support organization, the moneys raised in that school district through the sale of Florida educational license plates must be distributed to the foundation or organization for enhancing educational programs.
3. In each school district that does not have a district prekindergarten through grade 12 public school foundation or a direct-support organization, the moneys raised in that school district through the sale of Florida educational license plates must be distributed to the district school board and must be used at the discretion of the board for enhancing educational programs.
(9) FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop a Florida Professional Sports Team license plate as provided in this section for Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Arena Football League, National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer teams domiciled in this state. However, any Florida Professional Sports Team license plate created or established after January 1, 1997, must comply with the requirements of s. 320.08053 and be specifically authorized by an act of the Legislature. Florida Professional Sports Team license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department and must include the official league or team logo, or both, as appropriate for each team. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees are to be annually distributed as follows:
1. Fifty-five percent of the proceeds from the Florida Professional Sports Team plate must be deposited into the Professional Sports Development Trust Fund within the Department of Economic Opportunity. These funds must be used solely to attract and support major sports events in this state. As used in this subparagraph, the term “major sports events” means, but is not limited to, championship or all-star contests of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, the men’s and women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Final Four basketball championship, or a horseracing or dogracing Breeders’ Cup. All funds must be used to support and promote major sporting events, and the uses must be approved by the Department of Economic Opportunity.
2. The remaining proceeds of the Florida Professional Sports Team license plate must be allocated to Enterprise Florida, Inc. These funds must be deposited into the Professional Sports Development Trust Fund within the Department of Economic Opportunity. These funds must be used by Enterprise Florida, Inc., to promote the economic development of the sports industry; to distribute licensing and royalty fees to participating professional sports teams; to promote education programs in Florida schools that provide an awareness of the benefits of physical activity and nutrition standards; to partner with the Department of Education and the Department of Health to develop a program that recognizes schools whose students demonstrate excellent physical fitness or fitness improvement; to institute a grant program for communities bidding on minor sporting events that create an economic impact for the state; to distribute funds to Florida-based charities designated by Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the participating professional sports teams; and to fulfill the sports promotion responsibilities of the Department of Economic Opportunity.
3. Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall provide an annual financial audit in accordance with s. 215.981 of its financial accounts and records by an independent certified public accountant pursuant to the contract established by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The auditor shall submit the audit report to the Department of Economic Opportunity for review and approval. If the audit report is approved, the Department of Economic Opportunity shall certify the audit report to the Auditor General for review.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs 1. and 2., proceeds from the Professional Sports Development Trust Fund may also be used for operational expenses of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and financial support of the Sunshine State Games.
(10) FLORIDA INDIAN RIVER LAGOON LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Because the Indian River Lagoon system has been targeted by the state as a priority water body for restoration and preservation since the 1987 Surface Water Improvement and Management Act, and because the St. Johns River and South Florida Water Management Districts have jointly developed a management plan that includes water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and public awareness and education, and because the United States Environmental Protection Agency has declared the Indian River Lagoon to be an estuary of national significance, and because coastal lagoon activities relating to saltwater fishing account for a multibillion dollar economic base, and because the Legislature supports the restoration efforts of the water management districts, the Legislature establishes a Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate for the purpose of providing a continuous funding source to support this worthwhile effort and to heighten public awareness of this economically significant resource. Florida Indian River Lagoon license plates must contain the fish “snook,” which has been used as the Indian River Lagoon Surface Water Improvement and Management logo, suspended over seagrass, and must bear the colors and design approved by the department.
(b) The license plate annual use fees are to be distributed annually as follows:
1. The first $5 million collected annually must be transferred to the St. Johns River Water Management District. The district shall account for these funds separate from all other funds received. These funds must be distributed as follows:
a. Based on Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate sales data from each county tax collector for Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties, each county’s total number of Florida Indian River Lagoon license plates sold between October 1 and September 30 must represent a percentage of the six-county total, calculated as follows: the total number sold for county A divided by the total number sold for counties A, B, C, D, E, and F is multiplied by 100. The percentage determined for St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties must be totaled, and that total percentage of the statewide Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate revenues must be transferred to the South Florida Water Management District special Indian River Lagoon License Plate Revenue Account and distributed proportionately among St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties. The remaining funds in the St. Johns River Water Management District Revenue Account must be divided proportionately between Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River Counties.
b. Each water management district is responsible for administering projects in its respective counties funded with the appropriate percentage of license plate revenues.
2. Up to 5 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fee may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
3. Any additional fees must be deposited into the General Revenue Fund. Fees are not to be deposited into the general revenue funds of the water management districts.
(c) The application of Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate annual use fees is to be administered by the St. Johns River and South Florida Water Management Districts for Indian River Lagoon projects and in accordance with their contracting and purchasing policies and procedures, with the following restrictions:
1. An annual amount of the total license plate use fees must be earmarked for each of the six lagoon basin counties, as determined in sub-subparagraph (b)1.a., to be expended in those counties on habitat restoration, including water quality improvement, and environmental education projects. At least 80 percent of the use fees must be used for restoration projects, and not more than 20 percent may be used for environmental education in each county. These project funds may serve as matching funds for other local, state, or federal funds or grants. Unencumbered funds from one year may be carried over to the following year but must be dedicated to a project within 2 years in the form of a contract, an interlocal agreement, or an approved plan by the governing board of the respective district.
2. Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate annual use fees may not be used for administrative salaries or overhead within the water management districts, nor for any general coordination fees or overhead outside of the districts which is not specifically related to a project, nor for any projects which are considered to be research, studies, inventories, or evaluations, nor for administrative salaries or overhead related to environmental education or ongoing regular maintenance. Annual use fees may be used for acquisition of rights-of-way specific to the implementation of restoration or improvement projects, if acquisition expenditures do not exceed 20 percent of a county’s appropriation.
3. In Volusia County, project implementation may occur in all estuarine waters extending north to and including the Tomoka Basin.
4. In Palm Beach County, first priority must be given to projects within the Indian River Lagoon. Second priority must be given to projects within adjacent estuarine waters.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that revenues generated by the Florida Indian River Lagoon license plate annual use fees must not be used as replacement funds for Surface Water Improvement and Management Act funds, but must be used solely for the enhancement of the Indian River Lagoon area.
(11) INVEST IN CHILDREN LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop an Invest in Children license plate. Invest in Children license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Invest in Children” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The proceeds of the Invest in Children license plate annual use fee must be deposited into the Juvenile Crime Prevention and Early Intervention Trust Fund within the Department of Juvenile Justice. Based on the recommendations of the juvenile justice councils, the department shall use the proceeds of the fee to fund programs and services that are designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. The department shall allocate moneys for programs and services within each county based on that county’s proportionate share of the license plate annual use fee collected by the county.
(12) FLORIDA ARTS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop a Florida arts license plate as provided in this section. In small letters, the word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the word “Art” or “Arts” or a combination of words including the word “Art” or “Arts” may appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees are to be distributed quarterly to the single arts council officially designated by the county in direct proportion to the amounts of fees collected in each county. If there is no county arts council, fees collected must be forwarded to such other agency in the county as the highest ranking county administrative official designates, to be applied by the arts council or agency to support arts organizations, arts programs, and arts activities within the county.
(13) BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Bethune-Cookman University license plate to commemorate Bethune-Cookman University.
(b) The annual use fees must be distributed to Bethune-Cookman University.
(14) FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop a Florida Agricultural license plate. Florida Agricultural license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Agriculture” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Keeps Florida Green” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The proceeds of the Florida Agricultural license plate annual use fee must be forwarded to the direct-support organization created pursuant to s. 570.691. The funds must be used for the sole purpose of funding and promoting the Florida agriculture in the classroom program established within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to s. 570.693.
(c) Up to 25 percent of the funds distributed under paragraphs (a) and (b) may be used for promotion, marketing, and administrative costs directly associated with the license plate and Florida agriculture in the classroom programs.
(15) POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Police Athletic League license plate as provided in this section to commemorate the Police Athletic League in this state. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, the words “Police Athletic League” must appear at the bottom of the plate, and a shield with the Police Athletic League logo must appear to the left of the numerals.
(b)1. The annual use fees shall be distributed to the State of Florida Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc.
2. The league may use a maximum of 15 percent of such fees for administrative costs and a maximum of 10 percent to market and promote the plate. The balance of such fees shall be used to provide educational materials, athletic equipment, transportation, food, medical checkups, counseling, scholarships, and other direct expenses incurred by the league in conducting its youth programs.
(16) BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop a Boy Scouts of America license plate. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Scouting Teaches Values” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The license plate must contain the official Boy Scouts of America logo, the fleur-de-lis, in the center of the plate.
(b)1. The Central Florida Council is the lead Boy Scout council on behalf of the nine councils in this state. The proceeds from the annual use fee must be sent to the Central Florida Council together with statistics on sales of the license plates which are tabulated by county. The Central Florida Council must distribute to each of the nine councils the moneys received from sales in the counties within the respective council.
2. The Boy Scouts of America license plate annual use fee may be used by the councils for basic administrative expenses, office and professional services, year-round camping facilities, the recruitment of adult leaders and their continuing training, the maintenance of current facilities, and the continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
(17) LARGEMOUTH BASS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Largemouth Bass license plate as provided in this section to commemorate the official freshwater fish of this state. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, the words “Go Fishing” must appear at the bottom of the plate, and a representation of a largemouth bass must appear to the left of the numerals.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the State Game Trust Fund and used by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to fund current conservation programs that maintain current levels of protection and management of this state’s fish and wildlife resources, including providing hunting, fishing, and nonconsumptive wildlife opportunities. Up to 10 percent of the annual use fees deposited into the trust fund may be used to promote and market the license plate.
(18) SEA TURTLE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Sea Turtle license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, the words “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” must appear at the bottom of the plate, and the image of a sea turtle must appear in the center of the plate.
(b) The first $500,000 of annual use fees shall be deposited in the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and shall be used by the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Program to conduct sea turtle protection, research, and recovery programs. The next $215,000 in annual use fees shall be distributed to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation to fund sea turtle research and education programs. The Caribbean Conservation Corporation shall annually distribute assigned funds through a Sea Turtle Grants Program that supports sea turtle research and education activities of Florida-based nonprofit groups, education and research institutions, and coastal counties in this state. The Caribbean Conservation Corporation shall write and publish procedures for submitting grant applications and criteria for allocating available funds, and shall appoint a technical advisory committee, composed of at least five members, including two representatives from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to establish funding priorities and select grant recipients from proposals submitted by eligible entities. Two of the members shall be selected from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; one member shall be selected on a rotating biennial basis from a county bordering on the Atlantic Coast with sea turtle nesting sites; one member shall be selected on a rotating biennial basis from a county bordering on the Gulf Coast with sea turtle nesting sites; one member shall be the executive director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation; and two members shall be selected at large. Any additional annual revenue shall be distributed as follows: 70 percent shall be deposited in the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund and used by the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Program for sea turtle conservation activities and 30 percent shall be assigned to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation for distribution through the Sea Turtle Grants Program. From the funds distributed to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, an amount not to exceed 10 percent of the total annual revenue from the sale of the plate may be used for marketing the Sea Turtle license plate and for administrative costs directly associated with the grants program. Funds received by the Caribbean Conservation Corporation from the Sea Turtle license plate or the Sea Turtle Grants Program and funds received by any grant recipient of the Sea Turtle Grants Program may not be used for litigation.
(19) PROTECT WILD DOLPHINS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Protect Wild Dolphins license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Protect Wild Dolphins” may appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., to fund wild dolphins related research. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., shall distribute available resources for research of the wild Florida Bottlenose Dolphin. Up to 15 percent of the funds received by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., may be expended for administrative costs directly associated with the operations of the institution. Up to 10 percent of the funds distributed may be used by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate. The remainder of the funds must be used to collect, analyze, and archive scientific data regarding the wild dolphin population in Florida waters; provide care and assistance to stranded wild dolphins; distribute information to the scientific community, federal, state, and local government agencies, educational institutions, and the public for the purpose of protecting and preserving wild dolphins; individually identify wild dolphins through a photographic identification program; and advance the research technology associated with tracking and categorizing wild dolphins.
(c) The Auditor General may examine any records of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., and any other organization that receives funds from the sale of this plate, to determine compliance with law.
(20) BARRY UNIVERSITY LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Barry University license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Barry University” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Barry University Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund.
(21) EVERGLADES RIVER OF GRASS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop an Everglades River of Grass license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Everglades River of Grass” must appear at the bottom of the plate. A roseate spoonbill bird standing beside mangroves must appear on the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Everglades Trust Fund established by s. 17, Art. X of the State Constitution and administered by the South Florida Water Management District and used for the conservation and protection of the natural resources and abatement of water pollution in the Everglades. The funds must be used for Everglades conservation and restoration projects in accordance with state contracting and purchasing procedures with the following restrictions:
1. Fifty percent of the fees must be used for Everglades research.
2. The fees may not be used for administrative salaries or other overhead within the district or for any general coordination fees or overhead expenses out of the district.
3. Revenues generated by these fees may not be used as replacement funds for Surface Water Improvement and Management Act funds or Everglades Forever Act Funds.
(22) KEEP KIDS DRUG-FREE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Keep Kids Drug-Free license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Keep Kids Drug-Free” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Keep Kids Drug-Free Foundation, Inc., which shall use the fees to fund activities to reduce substance abuse among residents of this state. The foundation shall develop a plan to distribute the funds for drug-abuse prevention programs.
(c) Notwithstanding s. 320.08062, up to 10 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fee may be used for marketing the Keep Kids Drug-Free license plate and for administrative costs directly related to the management and distribution of the proceeds.
(23) FLORIDA SHERIFFS YOUTH RANCHES LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Sponsored by the Florida Sheriffs Association” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches logo must appear on the left quarter of the plate, surrounded by the words “Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches” and the words “Preventing delinquency since 1957” must appear below the numerals on the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc., for its operations.
(24) CONSERVE WILDLIFE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Conserve Wildlife license plate. Conserve Wildlife license plates shall bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” shall appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Conserve Wildlife” shall appear at the bottom of the plate. The plate design shall include the likeness of a Florida black bear.
(b) The proceeds of the Conserve Wildlife license plate annual use fee shall be forwarded to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc., a citizen support organization created pursuant to s. 379.223.
1. Notwithstanding s. 320.08062, up to 10 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fee may be used for marketing the Conserve Wildlife license plate and administrative costs directly related to the management and distribution of the proceeds.
2. The remaining proceeds from the annual use fee shall be used for programs and activities of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that contribute to the health and well-being of Florida black bears and other wildlife diversity.
(25) FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Memorial University license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Florida Memorial University” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to Florida Memorial University.
(26) TAMPA BAY ESTUARY LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Tampa Bay Estuary license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, the words “Tampa Bay Estuary” must appear at the bottom of the plate, and the image of a tarpon must appear on the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program created by s. 163.01.
1. A maximum of 5 percent of such fees may be used for marketing the plate.
2. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the annual use fee, not to exceed $50,000, shall be provided to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council for activities of the Agency on Bay Management implementing the Council/Agency Action Plan for the restoration of the Tampa Bay estuary, as approved by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program Policy Board.
3. The remaining proceeds must be used to implement the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Tampa Bay, pursuant to priorities approved by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program Policy Board.
(27) FLORIDA WILDFLOWER LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Wildflower license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “State Wildflower” and “coreopsis” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
1(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The proceeds must be used to establish native Florida wildflower research programs, wildflower educational programs, and wildflower grant programs to municipal, county, and community-based groups in this state.
1. The Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc., shall develop procedures of operation, research contracts, education and marketing programs, and wildflower planting grants for Florida native wildflowers, plants, and grasses.
2. A maximum of 15 percent of the proceeds from the sale of such plates may be used for administrative and marketing costs.
3. If the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc., ceases to be an active nonprofit corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the proceeds from the annual use fee shall be deposited into the General Inspection Trust Fund created within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Any funds held by the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc., must be promptly transferred to the General Inspection Trust Fund. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall use and administer the proceeds from the use fee in the manner specified in this paragraph.
(28) UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a United States Marine Corps license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top center of the plate, and the words “Marine Corps” must appear at the bottom center of the plate. The United States Marine Corps logo, 3 inches in diameter, must appear on the left side centered top to bottom of the plate in proper colors.
(b) The department shall distribute the United States Marine Corps license plate annual use fees as provided in this paragraph.
1. The first $50,000 collected annually shall be distributed to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
2. Any remaining fees collected annually shall be distributed as follows:
a. Thirty-five percent shall be deposited in the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and must be used to support program operations that benefit veterans or the operation, maintenance, or construction of domiciliary and nursing homes for veterans, subject to the requirements of chapter 216.
b. Sixty-five percent shall be distributed to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Inc., which shall use all fees distributed by the department to fund scholarships and assist Marine Corps Junior ROTC and Young Marine programs of this state. The foundation shall develop a plan to distribute the funds to recipients nominated by residents of the state to receive scholarships, and to the Marine Corps Junior ROTC and Young Marine programs in the state.
(29) CHOOSE LIFE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Choose Life license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate, and the words “Choose Life” must appear at the top of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed annually to Choose Life, Inc., along with a report that specifies the ratio that the annual use fees collected by each county bear to the total fees collected for the plates within the state. Choose Life, Inc., shall distribute each county’s share of the funds to nongovernmental, not-for-profit agencies within each Florida county which assist pregnant women who are making an adoption plan for their children. Funds may not be distributed to any agency that is involved or associated with abortion activities, including counseling for or referrals to abortion clinics, providing medical abortion-related procedures, or proabortion advertising, and funds may not be distributed to any agency that charges women for services received.
1. Agencies that receive the funds must use the funds to provide for the material needs of pregnant women who are making an adoption plan for their children, including, but not limited to, clothing, housing, medical care, food, utilities, and transportation. Such funds may also be expended on birth mothers for 60 days after delivery and on infants awaiting placement with adoptive parents.
2. Funds may also be used for adoption-related counseling, training, or advertising but may not be used for administrative expenses, legal expenses, or capital expenditures. However, a maximum of 15 percent of the total funds received annually may be used by Choose Life, Inc., for the administration and promotion of the Choose Life license plate program.
3. If no qualified agency applies to receive funds in a county in any year, that county’s Choose Life funds shall be distributed pro rata to any qualified agencies that apply and maintain a place of business within a 100-mile radius of the county seat of such county. If no qualified agencies apply, the funds shall be held by Choose Life, Inc., until a qualified agency under this section applies for the funds.
4. Each agency that receives such funds must submit an annual attestation to Choose Life, Inc. Any unused funds that exceed 10 percent of the funds received by an agency each year must be returned to Choose Life, Inc., which shall distribute the funds to other qualified agencies within the State of Florida.
(c) By October 1, 2011, the department and each county shall transfer all of its Choose Life license plate funds to Choose Life, Inc.
(30) SHARE THE ROAD LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Share the Road license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Share the Road” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to Bike Florida, Inc., up to 25 percent of which shall be used for marketing and promotion of the “Share the Road” concept and license plate. The remaining funds shall be divided equally between Bike Florida, Inc., and the Florida Bicycle Association, Inc., to be used for:
1. Education and awareness programs, for bicycle safety and motorist safety, with emphasis on sharing the roadway by all users.
2. Training, workshops, educational materials, and media events.
3. The promotion of safe bicycling.
(31) AMERICAN RED CROSS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop an American Red Cross license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “American Red Cross” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall retain all revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, 50 percent of the annual use fees shall be distributed to the American Red Cross Chapter of Central Florida, with statistics on sales of license plates, which are tabulated by county. The American Red Cross Chapter of Central Florida must distribute to each of the chapters in this state the moneys received from sales in the counties covered by the respective chapters, which moneys must be used for education and disaster relief in Florida. Fifty percent of the annual use fees shall be distributed proportionately to the three statewide approved poison control centers for purposes of combating bioterrorism and other poison-related purposes.
(32) UNITED WE STAND LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a United We Stand license plate as provided in this section. The American Flag must appear on the license plate in addition to the words “United We Stand.” The colors of the license plate must be red, white, and blue.
(b) The department shall retain all revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, 100 percent of the annual use fee shall be distributed to the Department of Transportation to fund security-related aviation projects pursuant to chapter 332.
(33) BREAST CANCER RESEARCH LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop a Breast Cancer Research license plate as provided in this section. The plate shall be designed to include a figure on the left side of the plate with a pink ribbon on the chest, along with a pink banner displaying the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition (FBCC) website. The background shall be blue, and the words “End Breast Cancer” shall appear at the top of the plate. The word “Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall distribute the Breast Cancer Research license plate annual use fee to the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation to be used as follows:
1. All fees collected shall be forwarded quarterly to the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation.
2. The foundation shall provide for a peer review grant solicitation and award process to distribute fees for breast cancer research and education in the State of Florida. Research funding shall be made available for:
a. Basic, clinical, and translational breast cancer research.
b. Epidemiological studies of breast cancer.
c. Research on possible links between breast cancer and the environment.
d. Psychoimmunological research.
e. Innovative awards and idea grants.
(c)1. In the first year that the plate is issued, no more than 25 percent of the fees collected may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operation of the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation and marketing and promotion of the Florida breast cancer research concept and license plate.
2. In the second and subsequent years that the plate is sold, no more than 20 percent of the fees collected may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operation of the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation and marketing and promotion of the Florida breast cancer research concept and license plate.
(34) PROTECT FLORIDA WHALES LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Protect Florida Whales license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” shall appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Protect Florida Whales” shall appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., to fund whale research, rehabilitation, and education programs. Up to 15 percent of the funds received by the institution may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution’s Marine Mammal Research and Conservation program and this specialty license plate funding. Up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate. Ten percent of the funds shall be distributed to the Wyland Foundation, Inc., and used specifically to conduct educational programs in this state which promote conservation of Florida marine mammals. The remainder of the funds shall be used to collect, analyze, and archive scientific data regarding whale populations that inhabit, utilize, or migrate in state waters; provide care and assistance to stranded whales; construct and maintain a Harbor-Branch-based teaching marine mammal hospital; train veterinary students in the rescue, medical and rehabilitation treatment, and release and postrelease monitoring of stranded whales; distribute information for the purpose of protecting and preserving whales; identify whale populations; conduct scientific research through genetic, telemetry, bioacoustical, and photographic identification research programs; advance the research technology associated with tracking, monitoring, and categorizing whales; develop methods of monitoring whale movements; and provide for methods of early-warning detection systems and advance notification that will help prevent accidental boat strikes in state waters.
(35) FLORIDA GOLF LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall develop a Florida Golf license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The Dade Amateur Golf Association, following consultation with the PGA TOUR, Enterprise Florida, Inc., the LPGA, and the PGA of America may submit a revised sample plate for consideration by the department.
(b) The department shall distribute the Florida Golf license plate annual use fee to the Dade Amateur Golf Association, a nonprofit organization under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The license plate annual use fees are to be annually allocated as follows:
1. Up to 15 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fees may be used by the Dade Amateur Golf Association for the administration of the Florida Junior Golf Program.
2. The Dade Amateur Golf Association shall receive the first $80,000 in proceeds from the annual use fees for the operation of youth golf programs in Miami-Dade County. Thereafter, 15 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fees shall be provided to the Dade Amateur Golf Association for the operation of youth golf programs in Miami-Dade County.
3. The remaining proceeds from the annual use fees shall be available for grants to nonprofit organizations to operate youth golf programs and for marketing the Florida Golf license plates. All grant recipients shall be required to provide to the Dade Amateur Golf Association an annual program and financial report regarding the use of grant funds. Such reports shall be made available to the public.
(c) The Dade Amateur Golf Association shall establish a Florida Junior Golf Council. The Florida Junior Golf Council shall assist organizations for the benefit of youth, introduce young people to golf, instruct young people in golf, teach the values of golf, and stress life skills, fair play, courtesy, and self-discipline.
(d) The Dade Amateur Golf Association shall establish a seven-member Florida Junior Golf Council to offer advice regarding the distribution of the annual use fees for grants to nonprofit organizations. The council shall consist of one member from a group serving youth, one member from a group serving disabled youth, and five members at large.
(36) FLORIDA FIREFIGHTERS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a Florida Firefighters license plate as provided in this section. Florida Firefighters license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Salutes Firefighters” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The requirements of s. 320.08053 must be met prior to the issuance of the plate. Thereafter, the proceeds of the annual use fee shall be distributed to Florida Firefighters Charities, a s. 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Florida Firefighters Charities shall distribute the moneys according to its articles of incorporation.
(37) POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a Police Benevolent Association license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, the words “Support Law Enforcement” must appear at the bottom of the plate, and a shield with the Police Benevolent Association logo must appear to the left of the numerals.
(b) The requirements of s. 320.08053 must be met prior to the issuance of the plate. Thereafter, the proceeds of the annual use fee shall be distributed to the Florida Police Benevolent Association Heart Fund, Incorporated, a s. 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The Florida Police Benevolent Association Heart Fund, Incorporated, shall distribute moneys according to its articles of incorporation.
(38) MILITARY SERVICES LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a series of military services license plates for the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the word “Army,” “Navy,” “Air Force,” or “Coast Guard” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The appropriate logo for the particular branch of the military must appear on the left side of the plate, approximately 3 inches in diameter.
(b) The department shall retain all revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, the annual use fee shall be deposited into the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and must be used to support program operations that benefit veterans or the operation, maintenance, or construction of domiciliary and nursing homes for veterans, subject to the requirements of chapter 216.
(39) PROTECT OUR REEFS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Protect Our Reefs license plate as provided in this section. Protect Our Reefs license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Protect Our Reefs” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The proceeds of the annual use fee shall be distributed to Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc., to fund Florida reef research, conservation, and education programs. Up to 15 percent of the funds received by Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc., may be expended for annual administrative costs directly associated with the administration of the Protect Our Reefs program. Up to 10 percent of the funds received by Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc., may be used by Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc., for the continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate. After reimbursement for documented costs expended in the establishment of the plate, Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc., shall use and distribute the remaining funds to eligible Florida-based scientific, conservation, and education organizations for the collection, analysis, and distribution of scientific, educational, and conservation information to the research community; federal, state, and local government agencies; educational institutions; and the public. Eligible organizations shall be based in Florida and engaged in reef research, conservation, or education.
(c) The state Auditor General may examine any records of Mote Marine Laboratory, Inc., and any other organization that receives funds from the sale of the Protect Our Reefs license plate, to determine compliance with law.
(40) “FISH FLORIDA” LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Fish Florida license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Fish Florida!” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Foundation for Responsible Angling, Inc., to fund aquatic education, marine resource stewardship, and ethical angling practices in this state. A maximum of 15 percent of the funds received by the foundation may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the foundation’s grant distribution program and license plate funding. A maximum of 10 percent of the funds may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate. The foundation shall provide for a peer review grant solicitation and award process to distribute the remainder of the funds to benefit aquatic education, marine resource stewardship, and ethical angling practices in this state.
(41) CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Stop Child Abuse” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Children’s Home Society of Florida and the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers as follows: The first $90,000 in annual use fees shall be equally divided between the two organizations, to be used to pay startup costs, including costs incurred in developing and issuing the plates. Thereafter, 50 percent of the proceeds shall be distributed to the Children’s Home Society of Florida, which must distribute the funds proportionately to each of its divisions, to be used for child abuse prevention programs. The other 50 percent of the proceeds shall be distributed to the board of directors of the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Inc., who shall develop funding criteria and an allocation methodology that ensures an equitable distribution of those funds among network participant centers that meet the standards set forth in s. 39.3035. The criteria and methodologies shall take into account factors that include, but need not be limited to, the center’s accreditation status with respect to the National Children’s Alliance, the number of clients served, and the population of the area being served by the children’s advocacy center.
(c) For the first 5 years in which the plate is issued, a maximum of 20 percent of the fees collected may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operation of the marketing and promotion of the plate. Ten percent of the fees shall be allocated to the Children’s Home Society of Florida and 10 percent shall be allocated to the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, Inc. Five years after the date the first license plate is issued, revenues from plate sales may not be used for marketing or promoting the license plate.
(42) HOSPICE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Hospice license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Hospice: Every Day Is A Gift” must appear at the bottom of the plate. A figure of a butterfly in the colors of orange, light purple, and black shall appear on the left side of the plate and the background of the plate shall be in shades of orange and white.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc., to be used as follows:
1. To fund projects relating to hospice care for special groups, such as children, veterans, and ethnic, religious, gender, or minority groups, or to provide disease-specific research or outreach.
2. To fund education and outreach for hospice volunteers, patients, families, and health care professionals.
3. To fund informational and educational media programs regarding the availability of hospice services.
4. To fund the expansion or enhancement of the Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc., toll-free referral line operated to provide hospice information.
5. To fund the expansion or enhancement of the Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc., Internet website.
(c) The sum of $90,000 in annual use fees shall be distributed to Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc., to be used to recover all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates. Thereafter, the proceeds shall be distributed to Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc., which shall distribute the fees through a standing committee that reviews funding solicitations and awards.
(43) STOP HEART DISEASE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Stop Heart Disease license plate as provided in this section. Stop Heart Disease license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The plate shall be designed to include a red, white, and blue background with a slanted heart shape in the middle of the plate. The word “Florida” shall appear at the top of the plate in yellow outlined in black, and the words “Stop Heart Disease” shall appear at the bottom of the plate in yellow.
(b) The department shall remit the proceeds of the annual use fee to the Florida Heart Research Foundation, Inc. The first $80,000 of the use fee given to the Florida Heart Research Foundation, Inc., shall be used to pay startup costs, including costs incurred developing and issuing the plates. Thereafter, the Florida Heart Research Foundation, Inc., shall provide for a peer review grant solicitation and award process to distribute fees for cardiovascular disease research, education, and prevention within the state and shall make the funds available for any one or more of the following:
1. Quality research to pursue top quality cardiovascular research that will further understanding of heart disease and its cause, treatment, cure, and prevention. Accepted projects must conform to the highest standards of scientific research, be efficiently organized, and report updates continually to ensure research credibility and excellence.
2. Heart disease prevention programs to provide cardiovascular screenings to state residents.
3. Educational programs to offer educational programs, literature, seminars, or speakers for both clinicians and lay people so that the latest risk factors, technologies, treatments, methodologies, protocols, and preventive measures are well known and used in the state.
(c) In the first year in which the plate is issued, no more than 25 percent of the fees collected may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operation of the Florida Heart Research Foundation, Inc., and marketing and promotion of the Stop Heart Disease license plate. In the second and subsequent years in which the plate is sold, no more than 20 percent of the fees collected may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operation of the Florida Heart Research Foundation, Inc., and marketing and promotion of the Stop Heart Disease license plate.
(44) SAVE OUR SEAS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Save Our Seas license plate as provided in this section. Save Our Seas license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Save Our Seas” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. After reimbursement for documented costs expended for establishing the license plate, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., shall use the remaining funds for marine science research and education programs as follows:
1. Ten percent of the funds shall be distributed to the Guy Harvey Research Institute of the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center to conduct fisheries and shark research in the state.
2. Up to 15 percent of the funds may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution’s marine science and marine education programs and administrative costs associated with the Save Our Seas license plate.
3. Up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
4. The remaining funds shall be used to conduct scientific research and education on marine plants and animals and coastal oceanography in state marine waters; to collect and analyze long-term data sets on the state’s critical marine habitats; to determine changes in populations and communities of marine organisms and their impacts on the use of the state’s marine resources; to maintain reference collections of scientific specimens and photographic archives of the state’s marine plants and animals; and to conduct scientific conferences of relevance to the state’s marine resources and their management, utilization, and conservation.
(45) AQUACULTURE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop an Aquaculture license plate as provided in this section. Aquaculture license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the word “Aquaculture” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. After reimbursement for documented costs expended for establishing the license plate, the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., shall use the remaining funds for aquaculture research and education programs as follows:
1. Ten percent of the funds shall be distributed to the Guy Harvey Research Institute of the Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center to conduct outreach and education regarding aquaculture in the state.
2. Up to 15 percent of the funds may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution’s aquaculture programs and administrative costs associated with the Aquaculture license plate.
3. Up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
4. The remaining funds shall be used to conduct scientific research on environmentally responsible and sustainable methods of farming freshwater and saltwater organisms such as fish, shellfish, and crustaceans for food; biomedical species for pharmaceutical and nutriceutical compounds; and marine ornamentals for the aquarium trade. These funds shall also be used to expand the institution’s educational programs that include secondary school field experiences, college degree programs, and intensive courses in order to further the objective of increasing aquaculture’s contribution to the state’s economy.
(46) FAMILY FIRST LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Family First license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Family First” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to Family First to fund programs, projects, seminars, events, and family resources that promote principles for building marriages, guiding parents, and raising children. Family First shall retain all revenues from the sale of the plate until its startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered. Up to 5 percent of the funds received by Family First may be expended for administrative costs directly associated with the operations of Family First. Up to 20 percent of the funds received by Family First may be expended for promoting and marketing the license plate. Family First may expend all remaining funds for programs.
(47) WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Wildlife Foundation of Florida license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Wildlife Foundation of Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual revenues from the sales of the license plate shall be distributed to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc., a citizen support organization created pursuant to s. 379.223. Such annual revenues must be used in the following manner:
1. Seventy-five percent must be used to fund programs and projects within the state that preserve open space and wildlife habitat, promote conservation, improve wildlife habitat, and establish open space for the perpetual use of the public.
2. Twenty-five percent may be used for promotion, marketing, and administrative costs directly associated with operation of the foundation.
(c) When the provisions of subparagraph (b)1. are met, those annual revenues shall be used for the purposes of subparagraph (b)2.
(48) LIVE THE DREAM LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Live the Dream license plate as provided in this section. Live the Dream license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Live the Dream” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The proceeds of the annual use fee shall be distributed to the Dream Foundation, Inc. The Dream Foundation, Inc., shall retain the first $60,000 in proceeds from the annual use fees as reimbursement for administrative costs, startup costs, and costs incurred in the approval process. Thereafter, up to 25 percent shall be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate and concept. The remaining funds shall be used in the following manner:
1. Twenty-five percent shall be distributed equally among the sickle cell organizations that are Florida members of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., for programs that provide research, care, and treatment for sickle cell disease.
2. Twenty-five percent shall be distributed to the Florida chapter of the March of Dimes for programs and services that improve the health of babies through the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality.
3. Ten percent shall be distributed to the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions to decrease racial disparity in infant mortality and to increase healthy birth outcomes. Funding will be used by local Healthy Start Coalitions to provide services and increase screening rates for high-risk pregnant women, children under 4 years of age, and women of childbearing age.
4. Ten percent shall be distributed to the Community Partnership for Homeless, Inc., for programs that provide relief from poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
5. Five percent of the proceeds shall be used by the foundation for administrative costs directly associated with operations as they relate to the management and distribution of the proceeds.
(49) FLORIDA FOOD BANKS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Food Banks license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate, and the word “Imagine” must appear at the top of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Association of Food Banks, Inc., which may use up to 25 percent of the proceeds to market the association’s concept and the license plate. The balance of the proceeds shall be used by the association to fund programs to end hunger in this state.
(c) An advisory board, composed of a representative of each member food bank of the Florida Association of Food Banks, Inc., shall review the distribution of funds by the association.
(50) DISCOVER FLORIDA’S OCEANS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Discover Florida’s Oceans license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Discover Florida’s Oceans” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Hubbs Florida Ocean Fund, Inc., which shall administer the fees as follows:
1. Twenty percent of the funds shall be distributed to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc., to be used for ocean, estuarine, or coastal scientific research, conservation, and education projects.
2. Up to 10 percent of the funds may be used for administrative costs directly associated with research, conservation, and education programs of the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute and with the license plate.
3. Up to 15 percent of the funds may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
4. The remainder of the funds shall be used to collect, analyze, archive, and publish scientific data regarding the state’s ocean, estuary, and coastal habitats and the species that inhabit, use, or migrate in state waters or along the state’s coastal areas; to provide response, care, assistance, and research as part of the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s role in responding to and archiving data on stranded marine species; to construct and maintain a marine and coastal research center in association with the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge on lands donated to the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute by the Richard King Mellon Foundation; to train teachers and students to enhance scientific literacy, research competency, and technology development; to conduct ocean-space aquatic research and scientific research focused on ocean observations from space; to conduct research on economic benefits of the state’s ocean, estuary, and coastal resources and public use of those resources; to create research and education programs that contribute to the development of the state’s knowledge and diversify the economy; and to implement programs that seek objective, common-sense, scientific solutions to the complex marine and coastal ecological problems facing the state.
(51) FAMILY VALUES LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Family Values license plate as provided in this section. Family Values license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The words “Family Values” must appear at the top of the plate, and the word “Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to Sheridan House, Inc., to be used in the following manner:
1. Sheridan House, Inc., shall retain all revenues from the sale of Family Values license plates until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plates have been recovered.
2. Up to 5 percent of the funds received by Sheridan House, Inc., shall be expended for administrative costs directly associated with the operations of Sheridan House, Inc., and up to 20 percent of the funds received shall be expended for promotion and marketing of the license plate.
3. All remaining funds shall be expended by Sheridan House, Inc., to fund residential care programs, family counseling, social services for single parents and their children, resource materials, and facility construction.
(52) PARENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Parents Make A Difference license plate as provided in this section. The words “Parents Make A Difference” must appear at the top of the plate, and the word “Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to The Gathering/USA, Inc., to fund personal counseling for parents, marriage seminars, Dads and Moms That Make A Difference seminars, father-and-son retreats, mother-and-daughter retreats, and personal parenting behavioral assessments. The Gathering/USA, Inc., shall distribute the Parents Make A Difference license plate annual use fees in the following manner:
1. The Gathering/USA, Inc., shall retain all revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered.
2. Up to 5 percent of the funds received by The Gathering/USA, Inc., shall be expended for administrative costs directly associated with the operations of The Gathering/USA, Inc., and up to 20 percent of the funds received shall be expended for promotion and marketing of the license plate.
3. All remaining funds shall be expended by The Gathering/USA, Inc., for programs.
(53) SUPPORT SOCCER LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Support Soccer license plate as provided in this section. Support Soccer license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Support Soccer” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Lighthouse Soccer Foundation, Inc., which shall retain the initial revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered, not to exceed $85,000. Thereafter, the proceeds of the annual use fee shall be used in the following manner:
1. Up to 25 percent of the proceeds may be used by the Lighthouse Soccer Foundation, Inc., for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate and concept.
2. Twenty percent shall be distributed to the Florida Youth Soccer Association for programs and services that foster the physical, mental, and emotional growth and development of Florida’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition, including a portion to be determined by the Florida Youth Soccer Association for the TOPSoccer program to promote participation by the physically and mentally disadvantaged.
3. Twenty percent shall be distributed as grants for programs that promote participation by the economically disadvantaged and to support soccer programs where none previously existed.
4. Ten percent shall be distributed to the Florida State Soccer Association to promote the sport of soccer and the long-term development of the sport.
5. Ten percent shall be distributed as grants for programs that promote and support the construction of fields and soccer-specific infrastructure.
6. Ten percent shall be distributed as grants for programs that foster and promote health, physical fitness, and educational opportunities through soccer.
7. Five percent shall be expended by the Lighthouse Soccer Foundation, Inc., for administrative costs directly associated with the foundation’s operations as they relate to the management and distribution of the proceeds.
(54) KIDS DESERVE JUSTICE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Kids Deserve Justice license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Kids Deserve Justice” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Bar Foundation, Inc., which shall use the funds to operate a grant award process to fund legal services programs for children, including legal services programs, programs to obtain federal benefits for disabled children, programs to obtain testing and services required by law for learning-disabled children, and programs to obtain permanent placement for abused and neglected children. The foundation may retain all proceeds until all costs for developing the plate have been recovered.
(55) ANIMAL FRIEND LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop an Animal Friend license plate as provided in this section. Animal Friend license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Animal Friend” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall retain all annual use fee revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates are recovered, not to exceed $60,000.
(c) After the department has recovered all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates, the annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Animal Friend, Inc., for spay and neuter programs in the state.
(d) No more than 10 percent of the fees collected may be used for administrative costs directly associated with marketing and promotion of the Animal Friend license plate and distribution of funds as described in paragraph (c).
(e) Funds received from the purchase of the Animal Friend license plate shall not be used for litigation.
(56) FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a Future Farmers of America license plate as provided in this section. Future Farmers of America license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Agricultural Education” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fee shall be distributed quarterly to the Florida Future Farmers of America Foundation, Inc., to fund activities and services of the Future Farmers of America.
(c) The Florida Future Farmers of America Foundation, Inc., shall retain all revenue from the annual use fees until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the annual use fee revenue may be used for administrative, handling, and disbursement expenses and up to 5 percent may be used for advertising and marketing costs. All remaining annual use fee revenue shall be used by the Florida Future Farmers of America Foundation, Inc., to fund its activities, programs, and projects, including, but not limited to, student and teacher leadership programs, the Foundation for Leadership Training Center, teacher recruitment and retention, and other special projects.
(57) DONATE ORGANS-PASS IT ON LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Donate Organs-Pass It On license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Donate Organs-Pass It On” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to Transplant Foundation, Inc., and shall use up to 10 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fee for marketing and administrative costs that are directly associated with the management and distribution of the proceeds. The remaining proceeds shall be used to provide statewide grants for patient services, including preoperative, rehabilitative, and housing assistance; organ donor education and awareness programs; and statewide medical research.
(58) A STATE OF VISION LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop an A State of Vision license plate as provided in this section. A State of Vision license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “A State of Vision” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed quarterly to the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, Inc., to fund direct-support services to blind and visually impaired people.
(c) The Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, Inc., shall retain all revenue from the annual use fees until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, up to 5 percent of the annual use fee revenue shall be used for administrative costs and up to 20 percent shall be used for promotion and marketing of the specialty license plate. All remaining annual use fee revenue shall be used by the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, Inc., to fund its activities, programs, and projects within the state through its local nonprofit organizations’ direct-support services to blind and visually impaired people.
(59) HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR ALL LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Homeownership For All license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Support Homeownership For All” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to Homeownership For All, Inc., which may use a maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds to promote and market the plate. The remainder of the proceeds shall be used by Homeownership For All, Inc., to fund programs that provide, promote, or otherwise support affordable housing in this state.
(60) FLORIDA NASCAR LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida NASCAR license plate as provided in this section. Florida NASCAR license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the term “NASCAR” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, following consultation with Enterprise Florida, Inc., may submit a sample plate for consideration by the department.
(b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed to Enterprise Florida, Inc. The license plate annual use fees shall be annually allocated as follows:
1. Up to 5 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fees may be used by Enterprise Florida, Inc., for the administration of the NASCAR license plate program.
2. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing shall receive up to $60,000 in proceeds from the annual use fees to be used to pay startup costs, including costs incurred in developing and issuing the plates. Thereafter, 10 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fees shall be provided to the association for the royalty rights for the use of its marks.
3. The remaining proceeds from the annual use fees shall be distributed to Enterprise Florida, Inc. Enterprise Florida, Inc., will retain 15 percent to support its regional grant program, attracting sporting events to Florida; 20 percent to support the marketing of motorsports-related tourism in the state; and 50 percent to be paid to the NASCAR Foundation, a s. 501(c)(3) charitable organization, to support Florida-based charitable organizations.
(c) Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall provide an annual financial audit in accordance with s. 215.981 of its financial accounts and records by an independent certified public accountant pursuant to the contract established by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The auditor shall submit the audit report to the Department of Economic Opportunity for review and approval. If the audit report is approved, the Department of Economic Opportunity shall certify the audit report to the Auditor General for review.
(61) PROTECT FLORIDA SPRINGS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Protect Florida Springs license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Protect Florida Springs” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc., a citizen support organization created pursuant to s. 379.223, which shall administer the fees as follows:
1. Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc., shall retain the first $60,000 of the annual use fees as direct reimbursement for administrative costs, startup costs, and costs incurred in the development and approval process.
2. Thereafter, a maximum of 10 percent of the fees may be used for administrative costs directly associated with education programs, conservation, springs research, and grant administration of the foundation. A maximum of 15 percent of the fees may be used for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate.
3. At least 55 percent of the fees shall be available for competitive grants for targeted community-based springs research not currently available for state funding. The remaining 20 percent shall be directed toward community outreach programs aimed at implementing such research findings. The competitive grants shall be administered and approved by the board of directors of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida. The granting advisory committee shall be composed of nine members, including one representative from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, one representative from the Department of Environmental Protection, one representative from the Department of Health, one representative from the Department of Economic Opportunity, three citizen representatives, and two representatives from nonprofit stakeholder groups.
4. The remaining funds shall be distributed with the approval of and accountability to the board of directors of the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and shall be used to support activities contributing to education, outreach, and springs conservation.
(62) TREES ARE COOL LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Trees Are Cool license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Trees Are Cool” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, Inc., which shall retain the initial revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered not to exceed $60,000. Thereafter, the proceeds of the annual use fee shall be used in the following manner:
1. Twenty percent of the funds may be used by the Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, Inc., for continuing promotion and marketing of the license plate and concept. Five percent of the funds received by the Florida Society of Arboriculture, Inc., may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operations of the Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, Inc., with respect to the management of the Trees Are Cool license plate program.
2. Seventy-five percent of the funds must be used to fulfill the mission of the Florida Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, Inc., which is to provide education and training statewide with respect to tree care and tree safety.
(63) SUPPORT OUR TROOPS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Support Our Troops license plate as provided in this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department and must contain the “Support Our Troops” mark of Support Our Troops, Inc. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate and the words “Support Our Troops” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The field of the plate may be colored.
(b) The annual use fees from the plate shall be distributed to Support Our Troops, Inc., to be used for the benefit of Florida troops and their families in accordance with its articles of incorporation. Support Our Troops, Inc., shall receive the first $60,000 of the use fees to offset startup costs for developing and establishing the plate. Thereafter, the department shall distribute the annual use fees as follows:
1. Twenty-five percent shall be distributed to Support Our Troops, Inc., to offset marketing, administration, and promotion costs.
2. Of the remaining 75 percent, 65 percent shall be distributed to Support Our Troops, Inc., and 35 percent shall be distributed to the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
(64) FLORIDA TENNIS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Tennis license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate and the words “Play Tennis” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The United States Tennis Association Florida Section Foundation may submit a revised sample plate for consideration by the department.
(b) The department shall distribute the annual use fees to Enterprise Florida, Inc. The license plate annual use fees shall be annually allocated as follows:
1. Up to 5 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fees may be used by Enterprise Florida, Inc., to administer the license plate program.
2. The United States Tennis Association Florida Section Foundation shall receive the first $60,000 in proceeds from the annual use fees to reimburse it for startup costs, administrative costs, and other costs it incurs in the development and approval process.
3. Up to 5 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fees may be used for promoting and marketing the license plates. The remaining proceeds shall be available for grants by the United States Tennis Association Florida Section Foundation to nonprofit organizations to operate youth tennis programs and adaptive tennis programs for special populations of all ages, and for building, renovating, and maintaining public tennis courts.
(c) All grant recipients shall provide to the United States Tennis Association Florida Section Foundation an annual program and financial report regarding the use of grant funds. Such reports shall be made available to the public.
(65) LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATION LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Lighthouse Association license plate as provided in this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Visit Our Lights” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Lighthouse Association, Inc., which may use a maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds to promote and market the plates. The remaining proceeds shall be used by the association to fund the preservation, restoration, and protection of the 29 historic lighthouses remaining in the state.
(66) IN GOD WE TRUST LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop an In God We Trust license plate as provided in this section. However, the requirements of s. 320.08053 must be met before the plates are issued. In God We Trust license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “In God We Trust” must appear in the body of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed to the In God We Trust Foundation, Inc., to fund educational scholarships for the children of Florida residents who are members of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the United States Armed Forces Reserve and for the children of public safety employees who have died in the line of duty who are not covered by existing state law. Funds shall also be distributed to other s. 501(c)(3) organizations that may apply for grants and scholarships and to provide educational grants to public and private schools to promote the historical and religious significance of American and Florida history. The In God We Trust Foundation, Inc., shall distribute the license plate annual use fees in the following manner:
1. The In God We Trust Foundation, Inc., shall retain all revenues from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered.
2. Ten percent of the funds received by the In God We Trust Foundation, Inc., shall be expended for administrative costs, promotion, and marketing of the license plate directly associated with the operations of the In God We Trust Foundation, Inc.
3. All remaining funds shall be expended by the In God We Trust Foundation, Inc., for programs.
(67) HORSE COUNTRY LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a Horse Country license plate as provided in this section. Horse Country license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Horse Country” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The requirements of s. 320.08053 must be met prior to the issuance of the plate. Thereafter, the license plate annual use fees shall be distributed to PCMI Properties, Inc., to fund programs involved in the rehabilitation of at-risk youth as directed by the Board of Trustees of PCMI Properties, Inc. Such funds may be used to provide educational materials, athletic equipment, transportation, food, medical services, counseling, scholarships, and other direct administrative and program expenses. The funds may also be used as grants for expansion of youth rehabilitation programs in the state. Special consideration shall be given to programs using horses and other livestock in the efforts to redirect at-risk youth. PCMI Properties, Inc., may retain all revenue from the annual use fees until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the annual use fee revenue may be used for promotion and marketing of the plate, and as necessary for annual audit or compliance affidavit costs.
(68) AUTISM LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop an Autism license plate as provided in this section. Autism license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Support Autism Programs” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The proceeds from the license plate annual use fee shall be distributed to Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc., to fund service programs for autism and related disabilities throughout the state and to operate and establish programs to support individuals with autism and related disabilities through direct services, evaluation, training, and awareness. Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc., shall establish an Autism Services Grant Council that shall provide grants from available Autism license plate proceeds to nonprofit organizations for direct services and programs for individuals with autism and related disabilities and their families. Consideration for participation in such services and programs shall be given to applicants who are children or adults with autism and related disabilities and their families and shall include those who are on the Agency for Persons with Disabilities waiting lists for services. Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc., shall also establish an Autism License Plate Fund. Moneys in the fund shall be used by the grant council as provided in this paragraph. All funds received under this subsection must be used in this state.
(c) Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc., may retain all proceeds from the annual use fee up to $85,000 until all documented startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the proceeds from the annual use fee shall be used as follows:
1. Up to 10 percent of the proceeds may be used for the cost of administration, marketing, and promotion of the Autism License Plate Fund, the Autism Services Grant Council, and related matters, including annual audit and compliance affidavit costs.
2. Funds may be used as necessary for annual audit or compliance affidavit costs.
3. Thirty-five percent of the proceeds shall be used to establish and operate programs to support individuals with autism and related disabilities and their families through direct services, evaluation, training, and awareness in the state.
4. The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of Miami shall receive 15 percent of the proceeds for distribution, as determined appropriate by the director of that center, to the seven regional autism centers created under s. 1004.55. The regional centers shall use the proceeds to support the services they provide.
5. The remaining proceeds shall be available to the Autism Services Grant Council for grants to nonprofit organizations to operate direct services programs for individuals with autism and related disabilities and their families. All grant recipients, including Achievement and Rehabilitation Centers, Inc., and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, must provide to the Autism Services Grant Council an annual program and financial report regarding the use of grant funds. Such reports must be available to the public.
(69) ST. JOHNS RIVER LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a St. Johns River license plate as provided in this section. The St. Johns River license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “St. Johns River” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The requirements of s. 320.08053 must be met prior to the issuance of the plate. Thereafter, the license plate annual use fees shall be distributed to the St. Johns River Alliance, Inc., a s. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which shall administer the fees as follows:
1. The St. Johns River Alliance, Inc., shall retain the first $60,000 of the annual use fees as direct reimbursement for administrative costs, startup costs, and costs incurred in the development and approval process. Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the annual use fee revenue may be used for administrative costs directly associated with education programs, conservation, research, and grant administration of the organization, and up to 10 percent may be used for promotion and marketing of the specialty license plate.
2. At least 30 percent of the fees shall be available for competitive grants for targeted community-based or county-based research or projects for which state funding is limited or not currently available. The remaining 50 percent shall be directed toward community outreach and access programs. The competitive grants shall be administered and approved by the board of directors of the St. Johns River Alliance, Inc. A grant advisory committee shall be composed of six members chosen by the St. Johns River Alliance board members.
3. Any remaining funds shall be distributed with the approval of and accountability to the board of directors of the St. Johns River Alliance, Inc., and shall be used to support activities contributing to education, outreach, and springs conservation.
(70) HISPANIC ACHIEVERS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a Hispanic Achievers license plate as provided in this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Hispanic Achievers” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The proceeds from the license plate annual use fee shall be distributed to National Hispanic Corporate Achievers, Inc., a nonprofit corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to fund grants to nonprofit organizations to operate programs and provide scholarships and for marketing the Hispanic Achievers license plate. National Hispanic Corporate Achievers, Inc., shall establish a Hispanic Achievers Grant Council that shall provide recommendations for statewide grants from available Hispanic Achievers license plate proceeds to nonprofit organizations for programs and scholarships for Hispanic and minority Floridians. National Hispanic Corporate Achievers, Inc., shall also establish a Hispanic Achievers License Plate Fund. Moneys in the fund shall be used by the grant council as provided in this paragraph. All funds received under this subsection must be used in this state.
(c) National Hispanic Corporate Achievers, Inc., may retain all proceeds from the annual use fee until documented startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the proceeds from the annual use fee shall be used as follows:
1. Up to 5 percent of the proceeds may be used for the cost of administration of the Hispanic Achievers License Plate Fund, the Hispanic Achievers Grant Council, and related matters.
2. Funds may be used as necessary for annual audit or compliance affidavit costs.
3. Up to 20 percent of the proceeds may be used to market and promote the Hispanic Achievers license plate.
4. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds shall be used by the Hispanic Corporate Achievers, Inc., located in Seminole County, for grants.
5. The remaining proceeds shall be available to the Hispanic Achievers Grant Council to award grants for services, programs, or scholarships for Hispanic and minority individuals and organizations throughout Florida. All grant recipients must provide to the Hispanic Achievers Grant Council an annual program and financial report regarding the use of grant funds. Such reports must be available to the public.
(d) Effective July 1, 2014, the Hispanic Achievers license plate will shift into the presale voucher phase, as provided in s. 320.08053(2)(b). National Hispanic Corporate Achievers, Inc., shall have 24 months to record a minimum of 1,000 sales. Sales include existing active plates and vouchers sold subsequent to July 1, 2014. During the voucher period, new plates may not be issued, but existing plates may be renewed. If, at the conclusion of the 24-month presale period, the requirement of a minimum of 1,000 sales has been met, the department shall resume normal distribution of the Hispanic Achievers license plate. If, after 24 months, the minimum of 1,000 sales has not been met, the department shall discontinue the Hispanic Achievers license plate. This subsection is repealed June 30, 2016.
(71) ENDLESS SUMMER LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop an Endless Summer license plate as provided in this section. Endless Summer license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Endless Summer” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed to Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Corporation to fund its activities, programs, and projects aimed at preserving the sport of surfing. Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Corporation may retain all revenue from the annual use fees until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the annual use fee revenue may be used for promotion and marketing of the specialty license plate and administrative costs directly associated with the corporation’s programs and the specialty license plate. Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Corporation shall use the remaining funds as follows:
1. To fund the proposed Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Experience project.
2. To provide funds for the provision of lifeguards or the building of artificial reefs.
3. To provide funds to organizations that house the history and artifacts of surfing or promote the sport through exhibits, lectures, and events.
4. To support programs and events of other organizations that support beaches and oceans and promote education on beach safety, coastal pollution, and beach ecology.
(72) FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LICENSE PLATES.—
(a)1. The department shall develop a Fraternal Order of Police license plate as provided in this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Fraternal Order of Police” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
2. The department may issue the plate only to an applicant who submits a notarized letter from the Florida State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police stating that the applicant is a member of the lodge in good standing or a member of a lodge member’s family, together with other fees and documents required for a specialty plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, which shall retain all proceeds until the startup costs to develop and establish the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the proceeds shall be distributed to the Florida State Lodge Memorial Foundation of the Fraternal Order of Police and used as follows:
1. A maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds may be used to promote and market the plate, to administer the license plate program, and to pay administrative costs directly associated with the state Fraternal Order of Police Law Enforcement Memorial.
2. The remaining proceeds shall be used by the foundation to fund projects, programs, or events related to the memorial or to fund improvements, maintenance, or other support for the memorial.
(73) PROTECT OUR OCEANS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Protect Our Oceans license plate as provided in this section. Protect Our Oceans license plates must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Protect Our Oceans” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Inc., to fund marine-related scientific research, including research of free-ranging pelagic marine species that inhabit, use, or migrate through Florida waters; conservation initiatives; and education and public outreach programs targeting school-aged children in the state. The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Inc., may retain all revenue up to $60,000 from the annual use fees until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the annual use fee revenue may be used for administrative costs directly associated with the operations of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Inc., and promotion and marketing of the specialty license plate.
(74) FLORIDA HORSE PARK LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Horse Park license plate as provided in this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Discover Florida’s Horses” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority created by s. 570.685, which shall retain all proceeds until all startup costs for developing and establishing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the proceeds shall be used as follows:
1. A maximum of 5 percent of the proceeds from the annual use fees may be used for the administration of the Florida Horse Park license plate program.
2. A maximum of 5 percent of the proceeds may be used to promote and market the license plate.
3. The remaining proceeds shall be used by the authority to promote the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park located in Marion County; to support continued development of the park, including the construction of additional educational facilities, barns, and other structures; to provide improvements to the existing infrastructure at the park; and to provide for operational expenses of the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park.
(75) FLORIDA BIODIVERSITY FOUNDATION LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) The department shall develop a Florida Biodiversity Foundation license plate as provided in this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Save Wild Florida” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Biodiversity Foundation, Inc., which shall retain 50 percent of the proceeds until the startup costs to develop and establish the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, the proceeds shall be used as follows:
1. A maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds may be used to fund the administrative, promotion, and marketing costs of the license plate program and the foundation.
2. The remaining fees shall be used by the foundation to fund research, education, and scientific study of the diversity of animals and plants and to aid in the preservation, study, conservation, and recovery of imperiled organisms.
(76) FREEMASONRY LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop a Freemasonry license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053(1) and (2). The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “In God We Trust” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed to the Masonic Home Endowment Fund, Inc., which may use a maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds to promote and market the plate. The remainder of the proceeds shall be used by the Masonic Home Endowment Fund, Inc., to invest and reinvest and use the interest for the operation of the Masonic Home of Florida, a five-star facility dedicated to the care of Masons and their families.
(77) AMERICAN LEGION LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop an American Legion license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “American Legion” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall retain all annual use fees from the sale of such plates until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, the annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be distributed to the American Legion Department of Florida, which may use up to 10 percent of such fees for administrative costs and marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees shall be used by the American Legion Department of Florida to support Florida American Legion Boys State, the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State, the American Legion Department of Florida Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation program, the Gilchrist Endowment Fund, and other appropriate activities.
(78) LAUREN’S KIDS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop a Lauren’s Kids, Prevent Child Sexual Abuse license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Lauren’s Kids” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall retain all annual use fees from the sale of the plate until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be distributed to Lauren’s Kids, Inc., a Florida nonprofit corporation, which may use up to 10 percent of such fees for administrative costs and marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees shall be used by Lauren’s Kids, Inc., to prevent sexual abuse through awareness and education and to help survivors heal with guidance and support.
(79) BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop a Big Brothers Big Sisters license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Big Brothers Big Sisters” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall retain all annual use fees from the sale of the plate until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be distributed to Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida, Inc., which may use up to 10 percent of such fees for administrative costs and marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees shall be used by Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida, Inc., to promote mentoring.
(80) FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop a Fallen Law Enforcement Officers license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “A Hero Remembered Never Dies” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc., which may use a maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds to promote and market the plate. The remainder of the proceeds shall be used by the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc., to invest and reinvest, and the interest earnings shall be used for the operation of the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc.
(81) FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop a Florida Sheriffs Association license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. A sheriff’s star must appear on the left side of the plate, the word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Florida Sheriffs Association” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Sheriffs Association, a s. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which shall administer the fees as follows:
1. The Florida Sheriffs Association shall retain the first $60,000 of the annual use fees as direct reimbursement for administrative costs, startup costs, and cost incurred in the development and approval process. Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the annual use fee revenue may be used for administrative and marketing costs.
2. All remaining collected revenue must be used for continuing education for sheriff’s office members.
(82) KEISER UNIVERSITY LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop a Keiser University license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Keiser University” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall retain all annual use fees from the sale of the plate until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the annual use fees from the sale of the plate shall be distributed to the Keiser Mills Foundation, which may use up to 10 percent of such fees for administrative costs and marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees shall be used by the Keiser Mills Foundation to provide annual college scholarships for students attending Keiser University.
(83) MOFFITT CANCER CENTER LICENSE PLATES.—
(a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida, the department shall develop a Moffitt Cancer Center license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Moffitt Cancer Center” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
(b) The department shall retain all annual use fees from the sale of such plates until the startup costs for developing and issuing the plates have been recovered. Thereafter, the annual use fees shall be distributed to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, which may use up to 10 percent of the proceeds for administrative costs and for the marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees shall be used by the institute to support its research, education, treatment, prevention and detection, teaching, and research activities.
History.—s. 3, ch. 95-282; s. 2, ch. 96-160; s. 2, ch. 96-161; s. 2, ch. 96-162; s. 2, ch. 96-163; s. 2, ch. 96-164; s. 2, ch. 96-165; s. 135, ch. 96-320; s. 15, ch. 96-321; s. 50, ch. 97-100; s. 1, ch. 97-252; s. 2, ch. 97-272; s. 28, ch. 97-300; s. 2, ch. 98-67; s. 2, ch. 98-72; s. 2, ch. 98-74; s. 2, ch. 98-76; s. 2, ch. 98-77; s. 2, ch. 98-181; s. 7, ch. 98-414; ss. 100, 101, ch. 99-13; s. 2, ch. 99-191; ss. 16, 17, 88, ch. 99-245; ss. 26, 27, 269, ch. 99-248; s. 8, ch. 99-251; s. 2, ch. 99-268; s. 2, ch. 99-294; s. 2, ch. 99-295; s. 2, ch. 99-301; s. 2, ch. 99-302; s. 29, ch. 2000-313; s. 2, ch. 2000-358; s. 1, ch. 2000-362; s. 101, ch. 2001-266; s. 2, ch. 2001-355; s. 43, ch. 2002-1; s. 73, ch. 2002-20; s. 2, ch. 2002-181; s. 2, ch. 2002-203; s. 2, ch. 2002-237; s. 2, ch. 2002-249; s. 964, ch. 2002-387; s. 2, ch. 2003-26; s. 2, ch. 2003-66; ss. 3, 5, ch. 2003-73; s. 1, ch. 2003-111; s. 2, ch. 2003-121; s. 2, ch. 2003-183; s. 2, ch. 2003-256; s. 76, ch. 2003-399; s. 10, ch. 2003-401; s. 50, ch. 2004-269; s. 2, ch. 2004-337; s. 2, ch. 2004-338; s. 36, ch. 2005-71; s. 16, ch. 2005-164; s. 35, ch. 2006-26; s. 1, ch. 2006-169; s. 2, ch. 2006-240; s. 33, ch. 2006-290; s. 2, ch. 2006-293; ss. 2, 5, ch. 2006-297; s. 1, ch. 2007-38; ss. 22, 23, 28, ch. 2007-73; s. 1, ch. 2007-91; s. 2, ch. 2007-103; s. 1, ch. 2007-184; s. 43, ch. 2007-217; s. 3, ch. 2007-223; s. 2, ch. 2008-37; s. 2, ch. 2008-38; s. 3, ch. 2008-84; s. 1, ch. 2008-140; s. 193, ch. 2008-247; s. 8, ch. 2009-20; s. 30, ch. 2009-21; s. 23, ch. 2009-71; s. 2, ch. 2010-81; s. 2, ch. 2010-168; s. 2, ch. 2010-215; s. 2, ch. 2010-216; s. 25, ch. 2010-223; s. 17, ch. 2010-225; s. 233, ch. 2011-142; s. 1, ch. 2011-186; s. 1, ch. 2012-95; s. 54, ch. 2012-96; s. 35, ch. 2012-181; s. 2, ch. 2013-85; ss. 33, 35, 37, 40, ch. 2013-160; s. 1, ch. 2013-235; s. 6, ch. 2014-150; s. 2, ch. 2014-168; s. 21, ch. 2014-216; s. 12, ch. 2015-163; s. 4, ch. 2017-4; s. 7, ch. 2017-157.
1Note.—As amended by s. 1, ch. 2007-184, and redesignated as paragraph (27)(b) to conform to the deletion of former subsection (15) by s. 2, ch. 2007-103. For a description of multiple acts in the same session affecting a statutory provision, see preface to the Florida Statutes, “Statutory Construction.” Paragraph (27)(b) was also amended by s. 2, ch. 2007-103, and that version reads:

(b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The proceeds must be used to establish native Florida wildflower research programs, wildflower educational programs, and wildflower grant programs to municipal, county, and community-based groups in this state:

1. The foundation shall develop operation procedures, research contracts, education and marketing programs, and wildflower planting grants for Florida native wildflowers, plants, and grasses.

2. A maximum of 15 percent of the proceeds from the sale of such plates may be used by the foundation for administrative costs and marketing costs.

3. If the foundation ceases to be an active nonprofit corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, any unexpended use fees held by the foundation must be promptly transferred to the General Inspection Trust Fund within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and all future fees collected shall be deposited to the same trust fund in the department. The department shall use and administer the proceeds from the annual use fee in the manner specified in this paragraph.

320.08062 Audits and attestations required; annual use fees of specialty license plates.—
(1)(a) All organizations that receive annual use fee proceeds from the department are responsible for ensuring that proceeds are used in accordance with ss. 320.08056 and 320.08058.
(b) Any organization not subject to audit pursuant to s. 215.97 shall annually attest, under penalties of perjury, that such proceeds were used in compliance with ss. 320.08056 and 320.08058. The attestation shall be made annually in a form and format determined by the department.
(c) Any organization subject to audit pursuant to s. 215.97 shall submit an audit report in accordance with rules promulgated by the Auditor General. The annual attestation shall be submitted to the department for review within 9 months after the end of the organization’s fiscal year.
(2)(a) Within 120 days after receiving an organization’s audit or attestation, the department shall determine which recipients of revenues from specialty license plate annual use fees have not complied with subsection (1). In determining compliance, the department may commission an independent actuarial consultant, or an independent certified public accountant, who has expertise in nonprofit and charitable organizations.
(b) The department must discontinue the distribution of revenues to any organization failing to submit the required documentation as required in subsection (1), but may resume distribution of the revenues upon receipt of the required information.
(c) If the department or its designee determines that an organization has not complied or has failed to use the revenues in accordance with ss. 320.08056 and 320.08058, the department must discontinue the distribution of the revenues to the organization. The department shall notify the organization of its findings and direct the organization to make the changes necessary in order to comply with this chapter. If the officers of the organization sign an affidavit under penalties of perjury stating that they acknowledge the findings of the department and attest that they have taken corrective action and that the organization will submit to a followup review by the department, the department may resume the distribution of revenues.
(d) If an organization fails to comply with the department’s recommendations and corrective actions as outlined in paragraph (c), the revenue distributions shall be discontinued until completion of the next regular session of the Legislature. The department shall notify the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by the first day of the next regular session of any organization whose revenues have been withheld as a result of this paragraph. If the Legislature does not provide direction to the organization and the department regarding the status of the undistributed revenues, the department shall deauthorize the plate and the undistributed revenues shall be immediately deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(3) The department or its designee has the authority to examine all records pertaining to the use of funds from the sale of specialty license plates.
History.—s. 5, ch. 90-194; s. 7, ch. 95-282; s. 3, ch. 98-414; s. 270, ch. 99-248; s. 8, ch. 2001-196; s. 102, ch. 2001-266; s. 38, ch. 2013-160; s. 22, ch. 2014-216.
320.08068 Motorcycle specialty license plates.—
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the department shall develop a reduced dimensions specialty license plate for display on motorcycles.
(2) The department shall issue a specialty license plate to the owner or lessee of any motorcycle upon request and payment of the appropriate license taxes and fees.
(3) Each request must be made annually to the department, accompanied by the following taxes and fees:
(a) The license tax required under s. 320.08.
(b) A license plate fee as required by s. 320.06(1)(b).
(c) A processing fee of $2.
(d) A license plate annual use fee as required in subsection (4).
(4) A license plate annual use fee of $20 shall be collected for each motorcycle specialty license plate. Annual use fees shall be distributed as follows:
(a) Twenty percent to the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program Trust Fund.
(b) Twenty percent to Prevent Blindness Florida.
(c) Twenty percent to the Blind Services Foundation of Florida.
(d) Twenty percent to the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living to support the James Patrick Memorial Work Incentive Personal Attendant Services and Employment Assistance Program pursuant to s. 413.402.
(e) Twenty percent to the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living.
(5) If an owner or lessee to whom the department has issued a motorcycle specialty license plate acquires a replacement vehicle within the owner’s registration period, the department must authorize a transfer of the specialty license plate to the replacement vehicle in accordance with s. 320.0609. The annual use fee or processing fee may not be refunded.
(6) The license plate shall be 4 inches wide by 7 inches long and incorporate a red, white, and blue color scheme approved by the department and may bear the imprint of numerals from 1 to 999, inclusive, capital letters “A” through “Z,” or a combination thereof. The department shall determine the maximum number of characters, including numerals and letters. Motorcycle specialty license plates must be otherwise of the same material as standard license plates issued for any registration period. In small letters, the word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate.
(7) The department may issue personalized prestige plates for license plates authorized in this section. Such plates shall be issued in accordance with applicable provisions contained in s. 320.0805.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2003-280; s. 2, ch. 2006-169; s. 36, ch. 2012-181; s. 3, ch. 2016-30; s. 3, ch. 2017-75.
320.0807 Special license plates for Governor and federal and state legislators.—
(1) Upon application by any member of the House of Representatives of Congress and payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805, the department may issue to such member of Congress a license plate stamped “Official Congress” followed by the number of the appropriate congressional district and the letters “MC,” or any other configuration chosen by the member which is not already in use. Upon application by a United States Senator and payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805, the department may issue a license plate stamped “USS,” followed by the numeral II in the case of the junior senator.
(2) Upon application by any member of the state House of Representatives and payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805, the department may issue the state representative license plates stamped “Official House,” followed by the number of the appropriate House of Representatives district and the letters “HR,” or any other configuration chosen by the member which is not already in use. Upon application by a state senator and payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805, the department may issue license plates stamped “Official Senate,” followed by the number of the appropriate Senate district and the letters “SN,” or any other configuration chosen by the member which is not already in use.
(3) Upon application by the Governor and payment of the appropriate fees, the department may issue to the Governor two license plates stamped “Florida 1” and “Florida 2.”
(4) License plates purchased under subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (3) shall be replaced by the department at no cost, other than the fees required under ss. 320.04 and 320.06(3)(b), when the person to whom the plates have been issued leaves the elective office with respect to which the license plates were issued. Within 30 days after leaving office, the person to whom the license plates have been issued must apply to the department for a replacement license plate. The person may return the prestige license plates to the department or retain the plates as souvenirs. Upon receipt of the replacement license plate, the person may not display on any vehicle the prestige license plate or plates issued with respect to his or her former office.
(5) Upon application by any current or former President of the Senate and payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805, the department may issue a license plate stamped “Senate President” followed by the number assigned by the department or chosen by the applicant if it is not already in use. Upon application by any current or former Speaker of the House of Representatives and payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805, the department may issue a license plate stamped “House Speaker” followed by the number assigned by the department or chosen by the applicant if it is not already in use.
(6)(a) Upon application by any former member of Congress or former member of the state Legislature, payment of the fees prescribed by s. 320.0805, and payment of a one-time fee of $500, the department may issue a former member of Congress, state senator, or state representative a license plate stamped “Retired Congress,” “Retired Senate,” or “Retired House,” as appropriate, for a vehicle owned by the former member.
(b) To qualify for a Retired Congress, Retired Senate, or Retired House prestige license plate, a former member must have served at least 4 years as a member of Congress, state senator, or state representative, respectively.
(c) Four hundred fifty dollars of the one-time fee collected under paragraph (a) shall be distributed to the account of the direct-support organization established pursuant to s. 272.136 and used for the benefit of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, and the remaining $50 shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(7) The department may create a unique plate design for plates to be used by members or former members of the Legislature or Congress as provided in subsections (2), (5), and (6).
(8) Any person who does not make application for a replacement license plate as required by subsection (4), or who, after receipt of the replacement license plate, continues to display on any vehicle the prestige license plate or plates issued with respect to his or her former office, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 24, ch. 83-318; s. 1, ch. 84-108; s. 7, ch. 87-225; s. 353, ch. 95-148; s. 12, ch. 97-96; s. 3, ch. 2006-297; s. 27, ch. 2010-223; s. 37, ch. 2012-181; s. 8, ch. 2014-6; s. 5, ch. 2015-47.
320.081 Collection and distribution of annual license tax imposed on the following type units.—
(1) The provisions of this section shall apply to all mobile homes and park trailers, and to all travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers exceeding 35 feet in body length.
(2) The annual license tax prescribed in s. 320.08(10) and (11) is in lieu of ad valorem taxes, and a sticker, as appropriate, shall be issued to evidence payment thereof. It is permissible in this state to transport units governed by this section, registered hereunder, without a corresponding state license plate on the towing vehicle.
(3) The owner shall make application for such sticker in the manner provided in s. 320.02, and the tax collectors in the several counties of the state shall collect the license taxes imposed by s. 320.08(10) and (11) and the license tax surcharge imposed by s. 320.08015 in the same manner and under the same conditions and requirements as provided in s. 320.03.
(4) Each tax collector shall make prompt remittance of all moneys collected by him or her to the department at such times and in such manner as provided by law. Upon receipt of the license taxes collected from the tax collectors of the several counties, the department shall pay into the State Treasury for deposit in the General Revenue Fund the sum of $1.50 on each such sticker issued, and shall pay into the State Treasury for deposit in the Florida Mobile Home Relocation Trust Fund $1 on each sticker issued as provided in s. 320.08015. The balance remaining shall be paid into a trust fund in the State Treasury designated “License Tax Collection Trust Fund,” and the moneys so deposited shall be paid to the respective counties and cities wherein such units governed by the provisions of this section are located, regardless of where the license taxes are collected, in the manner hereinafter provided.
(5) The department shall keep records showing the total number of stickers issued to each type unit governed by this section, the total amount of license taxes collected, and the county or municipality where each such unit is located and shall from month to month certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount derived from license taxes in each county and each municipality within the county. Such amount, less the amount of $1.50 collected on each license and the $1 license tax surcharge imposed by s. 320.08015, shall be paid to the counties and municipalities within the counties where the unit or units are located as follows: one-half to the district school board and the remainder to the board of county commissioners, for units that are located within the unincorporated areas of the county, or to any municipality within such county, for units that are located within its corporate limits. Payment shall be by warrant drawn monthly by the Chief Financial Officer upon the treasury out of the License Tax Collection Trust Fund.
History.—ss. 1-3, ch. 23969, 1947; s. 2, ch. 63-528; s. 6, ch. 65-190; s. 2, ch. 65-446; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 69-300; s. 4, ch. 72-339; s. 17, ch. 72-360; ss. 1, 2, ch. 73-342; s. 93, ch. 77-104; s. 12, ch. 77-357; s. 5, ch. 78-207; s. 25, ch. 83-318; s. 6, ch. 85-343; s. 41, ch. 94-306; s. 914, ch. 95-148; s. 359, ch. 2003-261; s. 3, ch. 2003-263; s. 24, ch. 2009-71.
320.0815 Mobile homes and recreational vehicle-type units required to have appropriate license plates or stickers.—
(1) Recreational vehicle-type units taxed under s. 320.08(9) and (10) shall be issued appropriate license plates, except as provided in subsection (2).
(2) A mobile home or recreational vehicle-type unit which is permanently affixed to the land shall be issued a mobile home sticker at the fee prescribed in s. 320.08(11) unless the mobile home or recreational vehicle-type unit is qualified and taxed as real property, in which case the mobile home or recreational vehicle-type unit shall be issued an “RP” series sticker. Series “RP” stickers shall be provided by the department to the tax collectors, and such a sticker will be issued by the tax collector to the registered owner of such a mobile home or recreational vehicle-type unit upon the production of a certificate of the respective property appraiser that such mobile home or recreational vehicle-type unit is included in an assessment of the property of such registered owner for ad valorem taxation. An “RP” series sticker shall be issued by the tax collector for an aggregate fee of $3 each, to be distributed as follows: $2.50 shall be retained by the tax collector as a service charge; 25 cents shall be remitted to the property appraiser; and 25 cents shall be remitted to the department to defray the cost of manufacture and handling. Mobile home stickers and “RP” series stickers shall be of a size to be determined by the department. A mobile home sticker or “RP” series sticker shall be affixed to the lower left corner of the window closest to the street or road providing access to such residence.
History.—s. 3, ch. 70-391; s. 5, ch. 72-339; s. 1, ch. 77-102; s. 94, ch. 77-104; s. 13, ch. 77-357; s. 6, ch. 78-207; s. 26, ch. 83-318; s. 4, ch. 85-324; s. 39, ch. 96-413.
320.0821 Wrecker license plates.—
(1) The department shall issue a wrecker license plate to the owner of any motor vehicle that is used to tow, carry, or otherwise transport motor vehicles and that is equipped for that purpose with a boom, winch, carrier, or other similar equipment, except a motor vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan, upon application and payment of the appropriate license tax and fees in accordance with s. 320.08(5)(d) or (e).
(2) A license plate issued under this section shall have the word “Wrecker” imprinted on the bottom of the plate in place of the county name.
(3) Any license plate issued under s. 320.08(5)(e) shall be in a distinctive color approved by the department.
(4) For any license plate issued under this section to any wrecker, when the combined gross vehicle weight of the wrecker and any towed vehicle or vehicles is 55,000 pounds or more, at the time of registration or renewal of registration, every owner or person in charge of such wrecker shall present proof of filing or proof of payment, as applicable, of the federal heavy vehicle use tax in accordance with s. 320.02(7).
History.—s. 6, ch. 97-58.
320.083 Amateur radio operators; special license plates; fees.—
(1) A person who is the owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use; who is a resident of the state; and who holds a valid official amateur radio station license recognized by the Federal Communications Commission shall be issued a special license plate upon application, accompanied by proof of ownership of such radio station license, and payment of the following tax and fees:
(a) The license tax required for the vehicle, as prescribed by s. 320.08(2), (3)(a), (b), or (c), (4)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f), or (9); and
(b) An initial additional fee of $5, and an additional fee of $1.50 thereafter.
(2) The license plate issued shall meet the requirements of s. 320.06, except that, in lieu of the numbers as prescribed by s. 320.06, it shall be inscribed with the official amateur radio call letters of the applicant, as assigned by the Federal Communications Commission, including as a prefix, when applicable, those call letters assigned by the Armed Services of the United States of America, not to exceed eight characters. In lieu of the name of the county or the designation “Sunshine State” on the bottom of the plate as prescribed in s. 320.06, the words “Amateur Radio” shall be inscribed.
(3) All applications for such plates shall be made to the department.
History.—ss. 1-4, ch. 25049, 1949; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 72-379; s. 2, ch. 77-68; s. 14, ch. 77-357; ss. 1, 2, ch. 80-267; s. 27, ch. 83-318; s. 58, ch. 94-306; s. 28, ch. 99-248; s. 120, ch. 2002-20; s. 23, ch. 2014-216.
320.084 Free motor vehicle license plate to certain disabled veterans.—
(1) One free motor vehicle license number plate shall be issued by the department for use on any motor vehicle owned or leased by any disabled veteran who has been a resident of this state continuously for the preceding 5 years or has established a domicile in this state as provided by s. 222.17(1), (2), or (3), and who has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces, upon application, accompanied by proof that:
(a) A vehicle was initially acquired through financial assistance by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor specifically for the purchase of an automobile;
(b) The applicant has been determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a service-connected 100-percent disability rating for compensation; or
(c) The applicant has been determined to have a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States Armed Services.
(2) The production by a veteran of a valid identification card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in accordance with s. 295.17 or a letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor or any branch of the uniformed Armed Services certifying a service-connected disability rating of 100 percent for the veteran is prima facie evidence of the veteran’s eligibility for the benefits contained in subsection (1).
(3) The department shall, as it deems necessary, require each person to whom a motor vehicle license plate has been issued pursuant to subsection (1) to apply to the department for reissuance of his or her registration license plate. Upon receipt of the application and proof of the applicant’s continued eligibility, the department shall issue a new permanent “DV” numerical motor vehicle license plate which shall be of the colors red, white, and blue similar to the colors of the United States flag. The operation of a motor vehicle displaying a “DV” license plate from a previous issue period or a noncurrent validation sticker after the date specified by the department shall subject the owner if he or she is present, otherwise the operator, to the penalty provided in s. 318.18(2). Such permanent license plate shall be removed upon sale of the vehicle, but may be transferred to another vehicle owned by such veteran in the manner prescribed by law. The license number of each plate issued under this section shall be identified by the letter designation “DV.” Upon request of any such veteran, the department is authorized to issue a designation plate containing only the letters “DV,” to be displayed on the front of the vehicle.
(4)(a) With the issuance of each new permanent “DV” numerical motor vehicle license plate, the department shall initially issue, without cost to the applicant, a validation sticker reflecting the owner’s birth month and a serially numbered validation sticker reflecting the year of expiration. The initial sticker reflecting the year of expiration may not exceed 27 months.
(b) There shall be a service charge in accordance with the provisions of s. 320.04 for each initial application or renewal of registration and an additional sum of 50 cents on each license plate and validation sticker as provided in s. 320.06(3)(b).
(c) Registration under this section shall be renewed annually or biennially during the applicable renewal period on forms prescribed by the department, which shall include, in addition to any other information required by the department, a certified statement as to the continued eligibility of the applicant to receive the special “DV” license plate. Any applicant who falsely or fraudulently submits to the department the certified statement required by this paragraph is guilty of a noncriminal violation and is subject to a civil penalty of $50.
(5) A county or municipality, or any agency thereof, may not impose upon any person who is issued a license plate with the international accessibility symbol, under this section, any fee or penalty for parking in any metered or timed parking space except:
(a) As provided in s. 316.1964; or
(b) When the person is parked without a permit issued under s. 320.0848 in a space designated for use by persons who have disabilities.
History.—s. 1, ch. 26839, 1951; s. 7, ch. 28186, 1953; s. 3, ch. 57-266; s. 1, ch. 59-104; s. 1, ch. 63-277; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 1, 2, ch. 67-47; s. 1, ch. 67-420; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 69-269; s. 92, ch. 71-355; s. 3, ch. 77-68; s. 16, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 79-208; s. 1, ch. 80-306; s. 5, ch. 83-71; s. 28, ch. 83-318; s. 3, ch. 85-63; s. 27, ch. 88-290; s. 11, ch. 93-268; s. 354, ch. 95-148; s. 10, ch. 96-200; s. 29, ch. 99-248; s. 28, ch. 2010-223.
320.0841 Free motor vehicle license plates to members of Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Tribes.—
(1) The department shall issue each year, free of charge to any state agency or individual, a sufficient number of motor vehicle license plates for use on vehicles owned and operated by members of the Seminole and Miccosukee Indian Tribes. The allocation for any year may be increased by an amount equal to up to 10 percent of the allocation for the previous year. Any request for such increase shall be accompanied by formal certification of the need therefor by the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribal Councils.
(2) The department shall provide an appropriate application form and procedures for request and issuance of the license plates.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 71-302; s. 17, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 78-232; ss. 29, 57, ch. 83-318; s. 1, ch. 85-190.
320.0842 Free motor vehicle license plates to veterans who use wheelchairs.—
(1) Upon application by any person who owns or leases a motor vehicle and who is qualified under subsection (2), the department shall issue to such person a free motor vehicle license plate, similar in all respects to the plate issued under s. 320.084, with the exception that the designation “DV” is replaced by the international symbol of accessibility. The international symbol of accessibility is as follows:

(2) In order to be eligible for the motor vehicle license plate described in subsection (1), a person must comply with the following provisions:
(a) The veteran must be eligible for the license plate issued under s. 320.084 and must apply for the license plate issued under this section in lieu of or in exchange for the motor vehicle license number plate authorized by s. 320.084; and
(b) The veteran must offer, in addition to the proof required by s. 320.084(1), proof that due to a service-connected disability he or she permanently uses a wheelchair or proof, in the form of an application that conforms to the requirements set forth in s. 320.0848, that he or she qualifies for a disabled parking permit under that section. The license plate entitles the person to all privileges afforded by a parking permit issued under s. 320.0848.
(3) Upon request, the department shall issue, to a person who has received a motor vehicle license plate under subsection (2), a designation plate containing only the international symbol of accessibility, to be displayed on the front of a vehicle.
(4) Section 320.084(3) and (4) applies to license plates issued under this section.
History.—s. 1, ch. 72-31; s. 2, ch. 74-202; s. 5, ch. 79-82; s. 2, ch. 79-208; s. 30, ch. 83-318; s. 355, ch. 95-148; s. 11, ch. 96-200; s. 5, ch. 98-202.
320.0843 License plates for persons with disabilities eligible for permanent disabled parking permits.—
(1) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who resides in this state and qualifies for a disabled parking permit under s. 320.0848(2), upon application to the department and payment of the license tax for a motor vehicle registered under s. 320.08(2), (3)(a), (b), (c), or (e), (4)(a) or (b), (6)(a), or (9)(c) or (d), shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the serial number prescribed by s. 320.06, shall be stamped with the international wheelchair user symbol after the serial number of the license plate. The license plate entitles the person to all privileges afforded by a parking permit issued under s. 320.0848. When more than one registrant is listed on the registration issued under this section, the eligible applicant shall be noted on the registration certificate.
(2) All applications for such license plates must be made to the department.
History.—s. 1, ch. 74-30; s. 4, ch. 77-68; s. 4, ch. 77-83; s. 6, ch. 79-82; s. 66, ch. 79-164; s. 31, ch. 83-318; s. 29, ch. 87-198; s. 6, ch. 98-202; s. 63, ch. 2005-164; s. 31, ch. 2006-1.
320.0845 License plates for members of Paralyzed Veterans of America.—
(1) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who resides in this state and is a member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, upon application and payment of the appropriate license tax and fees accompanied by proof of such membership, shall be issued a motor vehicle license plate, as provided in s. 320.06, which shall be imprinted with the name of said organization to the extent that space permits on the license plate with the serial letters prescribed by s. 320.06(1)(a).
(2) All applications for such license plates shall be made to the department.
History.—s. 1, ch. 87-160.
320.0846 Free motor vehicle license plates to active members of the Florida National Guard.—
(1) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who resides in this state and is an active member of the Florida National Guard may, upon application and proof of eligibility, be issued one standard license plate without charge. Applications for any additional license plates must be accompanied by appropriate fees established in this chapter.
(2) Eligible applicants of the Florida National Guard may apply for a specialty license plate as provided in s. 320.08056 upon payment of the fees required in that section. All other fees will be waived. Applications for any additional specialty license plates must be accompanied by all appropriate fees established in this chapter.
History.—s. 44, ch. 2005-71; s. 1, ch. 2006-241.
320.0847 Mini truck and low-speed vehicle license plates.—
(1) The department shall issue a license plate to the owner or lessee of any vehicle registered as a low-speed vehicle as defined in s. 320.01 or a mini truck as defined in s. 320.01 upon payment of the appropriate license taxes and fees prescribed in s. 320.08.
(2) The license plate for a low-speed vehicle or mini truck shall comply with the provisions of s. 320.06.
History.—s. 7, ch. 2009-183; s. 85, ch. 2013-160.
320.0848 Persons who have disabilities; issuance of disabled parking permits; temporary permits; permits for certain providers of transportation services to persons who have disabilities.—
(1)(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or its authorized agents shall, upon application and receipt of the fee, issue a disabled parking permit for a period of up to 4 years, which period ends on the applicant’s birthday, to any person who has long-term mobility impairment, or a temporary disabled parking permit not to exceed 6 months to any person who has a temporary mobility impairment. No person will be required to pay a fee for a parking permit for disabled persons more than once in a 12-month period from the date of the prior fee payment.
(b)1. The person must be currently certified as being legally blind or as having any of the following disabilities that render him or her unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest:
a. Inability to walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, or other assistive device, or without the assistance of another person. If the assistive device significantly restores the person’s ability to walk to the extent that the person can walk without severe limitation, the person is not eligible for the exemption parking permit.
b. The need to permanently use a wheelchair.
c. Restriction by lung disease to the extent that the person’s forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 liter, or the person’s arterial oxygen is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
d. Use of portable oxygen.
e. Restriction by cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set by the American Heart Association.
f. Severe limitation in the person’s ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.
2. The certification of disability which is required under subparagraph 1. must be provided by a physician licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 460, by a podiatric physician licensed under chapter 461, by an optometrist licensed under chapter 463, by an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 464 under the protocol of a licensed physician as stated in this subparagraph, by a physician assistant licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, or by a similarly licensed physician from another state if the application is accompanied by documentation of the physician’s licensure in the other state and a form signed by the out-of-state physician verifying his or her knowledge of this state’s eligibility guidelines.
(c) The certificate of disability must include, but need not be limited to:
1. The disability of the applicant; the certifying practitioner’s name and address; the practitioner’s certification number; the eligibility criteria for the permit; the penalty for falsification by either the certifying practitioner or the applicant; the duration of the condition that entitles the person to the permit; and justification for the additional placard pursuant to subsection (2).
2. The statement, in bold letters: “A disabled parking permit may be issued only for a medical necessity that severely affects mobility.”
3. The signatures of:
a. The applicant’s physician or other certifying practitioner.
b. The applicant or the applicant’s parent or guardian.
c. The employee of the department’s authorized agent which employee is processing the application.
(d) The department shall renew the disabled parking permit of any person certified as permanently disabled on the application if the person provides a certificate of disability issued within the last 12 months pursuant to this subsection. A veteran who has been previously evaluated and certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability may provide a United States Department of Veterans Affairs Form Letter 27-333, or its equivalent, issued within the last 12 months in lieu of a certificate of disability.
(e) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall, in consultation with the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, adopt rules, in accordance with chapter 120, for the issuance of a disabled parking permit to any organization that can adequately demonstrate a bona fide need for such a permit because the organization provides regular transportation services to persons who have disabilities and are certified as provided in this subsection.
(2) DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; PERSONS WITH LONG-TERM MOBILITY PROBLEMS.—
(a) The disabled parking permit is a placard that can be placed in a motor vehicle so as to be visible from the front and rear of the vehicle. Each side of the placard must have the international symbol of accessibility in a contrasting color in the center so as to be visible. One side of the placard must display the applicant’s driver license number or state identification card number along with a warning that the applicant must have such identification at all times while using the parking permit. In those cases where the severity of the disability prevents a disabled person from physically visiting or being transported to a driver license or tax collector office to obtain a driver license or identification card, a certifying physician may sign the exemption section of the department’s parking permit application to exempt the disabled person from being issued a driver license or identification card for the number to be displayed on the parking permit. A validation sticker must also be issued with each disabled parking permit, showing the month and year of expiration on each side of the placard. Validation stickers must be of the size specified by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and must be affixed to the disabled parking permits. The disabled parking permits must use the same colors as license plate validations.
(b) License plates issued under ss. 320.084, 320.0842, 320.0843, and 320.0845 are valid for the same parking privileges and other privileges provided under ss. 316.1955, 316.1964, and 526.141(5)(a).
(c) The department shall not issue an additional disabled parking permit unless the applicant states that he or she is a frequent traveler or a quadriplegic. The department may not issue to any one eligible applicant more than two disabled parking permits except to an organization in accordance with paragraph (1)(e). Subsections (1), (5), (6), and (7) apply to this subsection.
(d) To obtain a replacement for a disabled parking permit that has been lost or stolen, a person must submit an application on a form prescribed by the department, provide a certificate of disability issued within the last 12 months pursuant to subsection (1), and pay a replacement fee in the amount of $1, to be retained by the issuing agency. If the person submits with the application a police report documenting that the permit was stolen, there is no replacement fee. A veteran who has been previously evaluated and certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability may provide a United States Department of Veterans Affairs Form Letter 27-333, or its equivalent, issued within the last 12 months in lieu of a certificate of disability.
(e) A person who qualifies for a disabled parking permit under this section may be issued an international wheelchair user symbol license plate under s. 320.0843 in lieu of the disabled parking permit; or, if the person qualifies for a “DV” license plate under s. 320.084, such a license plate may be issued to him or her in lieu of a disabled parking permit.
(3) DISABLED PARKING PERMIT; TEMPORARY.—
(a) The temporary disabled parking permit is a placard of a different color from the color of the long-term disabled parking permit placard, and must clearly display the date of expiration in large print and with color coding, but is identical to the long-term disabled parking permit placard in all other respects, including, but not limited to, the inclusion of a state identification card number or driver license number on one side of the temporary permit. The temporary disabled parking permit placard must be designed to conspicuously display the expiration date of the permit on the front and back of the placard.
(b) The department shall issue the temporary disabled parking permit for the period of the disability as stated by the certifying physician, but not to exceed 6 months.
(c) The fee for a temporary disabled parking permit is $15.
(4) From the proceeds of the temporary disabled parking permit fees:
(a) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must receive $3.50 for each temporary permit, to be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund and used for implementing the real-time disabled parking permit database and for administering the disabled parking permit program.
(b) The tax collector, for processing, must receive $2.50 for each temporary permit.
(c) The remainder must be distributed monthly as follows:
1. To be deposited in the Grants and Donations Trust Fund of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Department of Education for the purpose of improving employment and training opportunities for persons who have disabilities, with special emphasis on removing transportation barriers, $4.
2. To be deposited in the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund to be used for funding matching grants to counties for the purpose of improving transportation of persons who have disabilities, $5.
(5) The applications for disabled parking permits and temporary disabled parking permits are official state documents. The following statement must appear on each application form immediately below the physician’s signature and immediately below the applicant’s signature: “Knowingly providing false information on this application is a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, Florida Statutes, or s. 775.083, Florida Statutes. The penalty is up to 1 year in jail or a fine of $1,000, or both.”
(6) Any person who knowingly makes a false or misleading statement in an application or certification under this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(7) Any person who fraudulently obtains or unlawfully displays a disabled parking permit that belongs to another person while occupying a disabled parking space or an access aisle as defined in s. 553.5041 while the owner of the permit is not being transported in the vehicle or who uses an unauthorized replica of such a disabled parking permit with the intent to deceive is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(8) A law enforcement officer or a parking enforcement specialist may confiscate the disabled parking permit from any person who fraudulently obtains or unlawfully uses such a permit. A law enforcement officer or a parking enforcement specialist may confiscate any disabled parking permit that is expired, reported as lost or stolen, or defaced or that does not display a personal identification number.
(a) The permit number of each confiscated permit must be submitted to the department, and the fact that the permit has been confiscated must be noted on the permitholder’s record. If two permits issued to the same person have been confiscated, the department shall refer the information to the central abuse hotline of the Department of Children and Families for an investigation of potential abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the permit owner.
(b) A confiscated permit must be held as evidence until a judicial decision about the violation has been made. After a finding of guilt has been made or a plea of nolo contendere has been entered, the charging agency shall destroy the confiscated permit. A confiscated permit may not, under any circumstances, be returned to its registered owner after a finding of guilt has been made or a plea of nolo contendere has been entered in court. If a finding of guilt has been made or a plea of nolo contendere has been entered for fraudulent or other unlawful use of a disabled parking permit after a prior finding of guilt or plea of nolo contendere for fraudulent or other unlawful use of a disabled parking permit issued to the same registered permitholder, the permitholder may not apply for a new disabled parking permit for 4 years. The permit number of each destroyed permit must be reported to the department, and the department must record in the real-time disabled parking permit database that the permit has been invalidated.
(9)(a) At least once every 6 months, the department shall randomly review disabled parking permitholders to ensure that all required criteria for the ownership and possession of such permit remain valid. As a component of the review, the department shall, at a minimum:
1. Review death records maintained by the Department of Health to ensure that the permitholder has not died.
2. Review the number of times the permit has been confiscated for fraudulent or unlawful use, if at all.
3. Determine if the permit has ever been reported lost or stolen and, if so, determine the current status of the permit.
(b) At least annually, the department shall verify that the owner of each disabled parking permit has not died. Such verification shall include, but need not be limited to, consultation of death records maintained by the Department of Health. If a disabled parking permitholder is found to be deceased, the department shall promptly invalidate the decedent’s disabled parking permit.
(10) The department shall develop and implement a means by which persons can report abuse of disabled parking permits by telephone hotline or by submitting a form online or by mail.
(11) A violation of this section is grounds for disciplinary action under s. 458.331, s. 459.015, s. 460.413, s. 461.013, s. 463.016, or s. 464.018, as applicable.
History.—s. 7, ch. 79-82; s. 3, ch. 80-196; s. 32, ch. 83-318; s. 4, ch. 84-108; s. 7, ch. 85-227; s. 1, ch. 86-237; s. 1, ch. 87-220; s. 1, ch. 90-28; s. 18, ch. 90-330; s. 66, ch. 93-120; s. 1, ch. 93-127; s. 12, ch. 93-268; s. 356, ch. 95-148; s. 7, ch. 95-327; s. 12, ch. 96-200; s. 8, ch. 96-296; s. 52, ch. 96-350; s. 51, ch. 97-100; s. 69, ch. 97-264; s. 12, ch. 97-300; s. 177, ch. 98-166; s. 7, ch. 98-202; s. 102, ch. 99-13; s. 271, ch. 99-248; s. 57, ch. 2000-349; s. 67, ch. 2001-61; s. 1, ch. 2002-6; s. 121, ch. 2002-20; s. 1, ch. 2002-243; s. 1, ch. 2005-225; s. 3, ch. 2007-103; s. 8, ch. 2009-183; s. 2, ch. 2012-157; s. 38, ch. 2012-181; s. 28, ch. 2013-18; s. 58, ch. 2014-19; s. 1, ch. 2015-11; s. 28, ch. 2016-224; s. 4, ch. 2017-75.
320.086 Ancient or antique motor vehicles; horseless carriage, antique, or historical license plates; former military vehicles.—
(1) The owner of a motor vehicle for private use manufactured in model year 1945 or earlier and operated on the streets and highways of this state shall, upon application in the manner and at the time prescribed by the department and upon payment of the license tax for an ancient motor vehicle prescribed by s. 320.08(1)(d), (2)(a), or (3)(e), be issued a special license plate for such motor vehicle. The license plate shall be permanent and valid for use without renewal so long as the vehicle is in existence. In addition to the payment of all other fees required by law, the applicant shall pay such fee for the issuance of the special license plate as may be prescribed by the department commensurate with the cost of its manufacture. The registration numbers and special license plates assigned to such motor vehicles shall run in a separate numerical series, commencing with “Horseless Carriage No. 1,” and the plates shall be of a distinguishing color.
(2)(a) The owner of a motor vehicle for private use manufactured in a model year after 1945 and of the age of 30 years or more after the model year and operated on the streets and highways of this state may, upon application in the manner and at the time prescribed by the department and upon payment of the license tax prescribed by s. 320.08(1)(d), (2)(a), or (3)(e), be issued a special license plate for such motor vehicle. In addition to the payment of all other fees required by law, the applicant shall pay the fee for the issuance of the special license plate prescribed by the department, commensurate with the cost of its manufacture. The registration numbers and special license plates assigned to such motor vehicles shall run in a separate numerical series, commencing with “Antique No. 1,” and the plates shall be of a distinguishing color. The owner of the motor vehicle may, upon application and payment of the license tax prescribed by s. 320.08, be issued a regular Florida license plate or specialty license plate in lieu of the special “Antique” license plate.
(b) Motor vehicles licensed under this section which have been issued a permanent license plate prior to October 1, 1999, shall maintain such plate unless the vehicle is transferred to a new owner. Motor vehicles licensed under this section which have been issued a “Collectible” license plate prior to October 1, 1999, may retain that license plate until the next regularly scheduled replacement.
(3) The owner of an ancient or antique firefighting apparatus, former military vehicle, or other historical motor vehicle 30 years old or older which is used only in exhibitions, parades, or public display may, upon application in the manner and at the time prescribed by the department and upon payment of the license tax prescribed by s. 320.08(2)(a), be issued a license plate as prescribed in subsection (1) or subsection (2). License plates issued under this subsection shall be permanent and valid for use without renewal as long as the vehicle is in existence and its use is consistent with this subsection.
(4) Any person who is the registered owner of a motor vehicle as defined in this section and manufactured in the model year 1974 or earlier may apply to the department for permission to use a historical Florida license plate that clearly represents the model year of the vehicle as a personalized prestige license plate. This plate shall be furnished by such person and shall be presented to the department with a reasonable fee to be determined by the department for approval and for authentication that the historic license plate and any applicable decals were issued by this state in the same year as the model year of the car or truck. The requirements of s. 320.0805(8)(b) do not apply to historical plates authorized under this subsection.
(5) A former military vehicle that is used only in exhibitions, parades, or public display is exempt from the requirement to display a license plate or registration insignia if the exemption is necessary to maintain the vehicle’s accurate military markings. However, the license plate and registration certificate issued under this section must be carried within the vehicle and available for inspection by any law enforcement officer.
(6) For purposes of this section, “former military vehicle” means a vehicle, including a trailer, regardless of the vehicle’s size, weight, or year of manufacture, that was manufactured for use in any country’s military forces and is maintained to represent its military design and markings accurately.
History.—s. 1, ch. 57-326; s. 1, ch. 59-206; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 78-363; s. 33, ch. 83-318; s. 2, ch. 87-197; s. 18, ch. 96-413; ss. 10, 51, ch. 97-300; s. 30, ch. 99-248; s. 45, ch. 2000-152; s. 3, ch. 2005-47; s. 13, ch. 2015-163.
320.0863 Custom vehicles and street rods; registration and license plates.—
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Blue dot tail light” means a red lamp that contains a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter and is installed in the rear of a motor vehicle.
(b) “Custom vehicle” means a motor vehicle that:
1. Is 25 years old or older and of a model year after 1948 or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle that is 25 years old or older and of a model year after 1948; and
2. Has been altered from the manufacturer’s original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal materials.
(c) “Street rod” means a motor vehicle that:
1. Is of a model year of 1948 or older or was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle of a model year of 1948 or older; and
2. Has been altered from the manufacturer’s original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal materials.
(2) The model year and year of manufacture which the body of a custom vehicle or street rod resembles is the model year and year of manufacture listed on the certificate of title, regardless of when the vehicle was actually manufactured.
(3) To register a street rod or custom vehicle, the owner shall apply to the department by submitting a completed application form and providing:
(a) The license tax prescribed by s. 320.08(2)(a) and a processing fee of $3;
(b) A written statement that the vehicle will not be used for general daily transportation but will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, or other functions of public interest and similar uses; and
(c) A written statement that the vehicle meets state equipment and safety requirements for motor vehicles. However, the vehicle must meet only the requirements that were in effect in this state as a condition of sale in the year listed as the model year on the certificate of title.
(4) The registration numbers and special license plates assigned to such vehicles shall run in a separate series, commencing with “Custom Vehicle 1” or “Street Rod 1,” respectively, and the plates shall be of a distinguishing color and design.
(5)(a) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any law or local ordinance that requires periodic vehicle inspections or the use and inspection of emission controls.
(b) Such vehicle may also be equipped with blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors.
History.—s. 2, ch. 83-19; s. 1, ch. 2007-165.
320.087 Intercity buses operated in interstate commerce; tax.—All intercity motor buses owned or operated by residents or nonresidents of this state in interstate commerce or combined interstate and intrastate commerce as a result of which operation such motor buses operate both within and without this state under the authority of the United States Department of Transportation, are subject to motor vehicle license taxes on a basis commensurate with the use of Florida roads. The department shall require the registration in this state of that percentage of intercity motor buses operating in interstate commerce or combined interstate-intrastate commerce, into or through this state, which the actual mileage operated in this state bears to the total mileage all such intercity motor buses are operated both within and without this state. Such percentage figure, so determined, is the “Florida mileage factor.” In determining the state license tax to be paid on the buses actually operated in this state under the foregoing method, the department shall first compute the amount that the state license tax would be if all of such buses were in fact subject to such tax, and then apply to that amount the Florida mileage factor.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 59-194; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 34, ch. 83-318; s. 272, ch. 99-248.
320.089 Veterans of the United States Armed Forces; members of National Guard; survivors of Pearl Harbor; Purple Heart medal recipients; active or retired United States Armed Forces reservists; Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, or Combat Action Badge recipients; Combat Action Ribbon recipients; Air Force Combat Action Medal recipients; Distinguished Flying Cross recipients; former prisoners of war; Korean War Veterans; Vietnam War Veterans; Operation Desert Shield Veterans; Operation Desert Storm Veterans; Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans; Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans; Women Veterans; World War II Veterans; and Navy Submariners; special license plates; fee.—
(1)(a) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use or recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use, who is a resident of the state and a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, a Woman Veteran, a World War II Veteran, a Navy Submariner, an active or retired member of the Florida National Guard, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, an active or retired member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces Reserve, or a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Force Combat Action Medal, or Distinguished Flying Cross, upon application to the department, accompanied by proof of release or discharge from any branch of the United States Armed Forces, proof of active membership or retired status in the Florida National Guard, proof of membership in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association or proof of active military duty in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, proof of being a Purple Heart medal recipient, proof of active or retired membership in any branch of the United States Armed Forces Reserve, or proof of membership in the Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Inc., proof of being a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Ribbon, Air Force Combat Action Medal, or Distinguished Flying Cross, and upon payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the serial numbers prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Veteran,” “Woman Veteran,” “WWII Veteran,” “Navy Submariner,” “National Guard,” “Pearl Harbor Survivor,” “Combat-wounded veteran,” “U.S. Reserve,” “Combat Infantry Badge,” “Combat Medical Badge,” “Combat Action Badge,” “Combat Action Ribbon,” “Air Force Combat Action Medal,” or “Distinguished Flying Cross,” as appropriate, and a likeness of the related campaign medal or badge, followed by the serial number of the license plate. Additionally, the Purple Heart plate may have the words “Purple Heart” stamped on the plate and the likeness of the Purple Heart medal appearing on the plate.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning with fiscal year 2002-2003 and annually thereafter, the first $100,000 in general revenue generated from the sale of license plates issued under this section shall be deposited into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund, as described in s. 296.38(2), to be used for the purposes established by law for that trust fund. Any additional general revenue generated from the sale of such plates shall be deposited into the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and used to support program operations that benefit veterans or the operation, maintenance, or construction of domiciliary and nursing homes for veterans, subject to the requirements of chapter 216.
(c) Any revenue generated from the sale of Woman Veteran license plates must be deposited into the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs pursuant to s. 20.375(3) and must be used solely for the purpose of creating and implementing programs to benefit women veterans. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, an applicant for a Pearl Harbor Survivor license plate or a Purple Heart license plate who also qualifies for a disabled veteran’s license plate under s. 320.084 shall be issued the appropriate special license plate without payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.
(2) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and who is a former prisoner of war, or his or her unremarried surviving spouse, upon application to the department, shall be issued a license plate as provided in s. 320.06, stamped with the words “Ex-POW” followed by the serial number. Each application shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant meets the qualifications specified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
(a) A citizen of the United States who served as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the armed forces of a nation allied with the United States who was held as a prisoner of war at such time as the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in combat, or his or her unremarried surviving spouse, may be issued the special license plate provided for in this subsection without payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.
(b) A person who was serving as a civilian with the consent of the United States Government, or a person who was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States while he or she was not a United States citizen and was held as a prisoner of war when the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in combat, or his or her unremarried surviving spouse, may be issued the special license plate provided for in this subsection upon payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.
(3) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and who is the unremarried surviving spouse of a recipient of the Purple Heart medal, upon application to the department accompanied by the payment of the required fees, shall be issued a license plate as provided in s. 320.06 which is stamped with the words “Purple Heart” and the likeness of the Purple Heart medal followed by the serial number. Each application shall be accompanied by proof that the applicant is the unremarried surviving spouse of a recipient of the Purple Heart medal.
(4) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d) which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and a current or former member of the United States Armed Forces who was deployed and served in Korea during the Korean War as defined in s. 1.01(14), upon application to the department accompanied by proof of active membership or former active duty status during the Korean War and payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Korean War Veteran” and a likeness of the Korean Service Medal, followed by the registration license number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was awarded the Korean Service Medal is sufficient to establish eligibility for the license plate.
(5) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d) which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and a current or former member of the United States military who was deployed and served in Vietnam during United States military deployment in Indochina, upon application to the department accompanied by proof of active membership or former active duty status during these operations and payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Vietnam War Veteran” and a likeness of the Vietnam Service Medal, followed by the registration license number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal is sufficient to establish eligibility for the license plate.
(6) The owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, a truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or a recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d) which is not used for hire or commercial use who is a resident of this state and a current or former member of the United States military who was deployed and served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or another area of the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm; in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom; or in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, upon application to the department accompanied by proof of active membership or former active duty status during one of these operations and payment of the license tax for the vehicle as provided in s. 320.08, shall be issued a license plate as provided by s. 320.06 which, in lieu of the registration license number prescribed by s. 320.06, is stamped with the words “Operation Desert Shield,” “Operation Desert Storm,” “Operation Enduring Freedom,” or “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” as appropriate, and a likeness of the related campaign medal followed by the registration license number of the plate. Proof that the applicant was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is sufficient to establish eligibility for the appropriate license plate.
History.—ss. 1-3, ch. 65-132; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 74-52; s. 5, ch. 77-68; s. 18, ch. 77-357; s. 5, ch. 82-97; s. 13, ch. 83-218; s. 35, ch. 83-318; s. 3, ch. 84-108; s. 1, ch. 85-66; s. 1, ch. 92-189; s. 67, ch. 93-120; s. 59, ch. 94-306; s. 8, ch. 95-282; s. 23, ch. 96-413; s. 1, ch. 99-296; s. 1, ch. 2000-358; s. 122, ch. 2002-20; s. 1, ch. 2002-181; s. 17, ch. 2005-164; s. 34, ch. 2006-290; s. 1, ch. 2008-87; s. 2, ch. 2009-109; s. 13, ch. 2012-159; s. 99, ch. 2012-174; s. 39, ch. 2012-181; s. 32, ch. 2013-160; s. 3, ch. 2014-63; s. 20, ch. 2014-216; s. 1, ch. 2015-91; s. 8, ch. 2017-157.
320.0891 U.S. Paratroopers license plate.—
(1) The department shall develop a U.S. Paratroopers license plate as provided in this section. The U.S. Paratroopers license plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “U.S. Paratroopers” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The Airborne Wings and Glider Wings logo must appear in black on the left side of the plate, centered from top to bottom. The plate must have a white background with red and blue letters or numbers.
(2) U.S. Paratroopers license plates may only be purchased by current or former United States military personnel who, as part of their military duty, have been trained to jump from flying aircraft.
(3) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which is not used for hire or commercial use, who is a resident of this state and who meets the qualifications contained in subsection (2) shall, upon application therefor to the department, with the payment of the taxes and fees described in subsection (5), be issued a U.S. Paratroopers license plate. Each application must be accompanied by proof that the applicant has been decorated as a parachutist or has completed the U.S. Army Jump School.
(4) The department is responsible for developing the license plate authorized in this section. The department shall begin production and distribution within 1 year.
(5) Each request must be made annually to the department, accompanied by the following tax and fees:
(a) The license tax required for the vehicle as set forth in s. 320.08.
(b) A processing fee of $2.
(c) A license plate fee as required under s. 320.06(1)(b).
(d) A license plate annual use fee of $20.
(6) The department shall retain all annual use fee revenues from the sale of the U.S. Paratroopers license plates until all startup costs for developing and issuing the plates are recovered, not to exceed $60,000. Thereafter, the annual use fee revenues shall be distributed to the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2003-73; s. 9, ch. 2017-157.
320.0892 Motor vehicle license plates for recipients of the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross.—Upon receipt of an application and proof that the applicant meets the qualifications listed in this section for the applicable license plate, the department shall issue the license plate without payment of the license tax imposed under s. 320.08:
(1) SILVER STAR.—Any United States citizen who is a resident of Florida and who was awarded the Silver Star while serving as a member of the United States Armed Forces shall be issued a license plate on which is stamped the words “Silver Star” followed by the serial number.
(2) DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.—Any United States citizen who is a resident of Florida and who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross while serving as a member of the United States Armed Forces shall be issued a license plate on which is stamped the words “Distinguished Service Cross” followed by the serial number.
(3) NAVY CROSS.—Any United States citizen who is a resident of Florida and who was awarded the Navy Cross while serving as a member of the United States Armed Forces shall be issued a license plate on which is stamped the words “Navy Cross” followed by the serial number.
(4) AIR FORCE CROSS.—Any United States citizen who is a resident of Florida and who was awarded the Air Force Cross while serving as a member of the United States Armed Forces shall be issued a license plate on which is stamped the words “Air Force Cross” followed by the serial number.
History.—s. 14, ch. 2012-159.
320.0893 Motor vehicle license plates to recipients of the Medal of Honor.—Any United States citizen who is a resident of Florida and who was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving as a member of the United States Armed Forces may, upon application to the department, be issued a license plate on which is stamped the words “Medal of Honor” followed by the serial number. Upon submission of the application and proof that the applicant meets the above qualifications the plate shall be issued without payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08.
History.—s. 2, ch. 85-66.
320.0894 Motor vehicle license plates to Gold Star family members.—The department shall develop a special license plate honoring the family members of servicemembers who have been killed while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. The license plate shall be officially designated as the Gold Star license plate and shall be developed and issued as provided in this section.
(1) The Gold Star license plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department in cooperation with supporters of the license plate. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Gold Star Family” must appear at the bottom of the plate. The plate shall bear a unique design that includes the symbol for a fallen servicemember, a gold star with blue fringe on a white background with a red border. The symbol shall be no larger than 3 inches by 3 inches and shall be placed in a conspicuous place to the left of the identifying number of the plate, which identifying number shall consist of no more than six alphanumeric characters.
(2) This section shall not be implemented until such time as the state has, through a licensing agreement or otherwise, received such license or other permission as may be required to implement this section. The designs of the initial and subsequent editions of the Gold Star license plate, except any part of the designs owned by others and licensed to the state, shall be owned solely by the state for its exclusive use and control, except as authorized by the department. The department may take such steps as may be necessary to give notice of and protect such right, including the copyright or copyrights. However, such steps shall be cumulative of the ownership and exclusive use and control established by this subsection as a matter of law, and no person shall reproduce or otherwise use such designs except as authorized by the department.
(3)(a) Each owner or lessee of an automobile or truck for private use, truck weighing not more than 7,999 pounds, or recreational vehicle as specified in s. 320.08(9)(c) or (d), which automobile, truck, or vehicle is not used for hire or commercial use, who is a resident of this state, and who meets the qualifications provided in subsection (4) shall, upon application therefor to the department and payment of the license tax and appropriate fees established in this chapter, be issued a Gold Star license plate. Each initial application for a Gold Star license plate must be accompanied by proof that the applicant meets the requirements provided in subsection (4).
(b) The surviving spouse and a surviving parent meeting the requirements in subsection (4) shall each, upon application therefor, be issued the Gold Star license plate for one vehicle per household free of charge. Renewal decals for the plate issued under this paragraph shall be issued at no cost.
(4)(a)1.a. The Gold Star license plate shall be issued only to family members of a servicemember who resided in Florida at the time of the death of the servicemember.
b. Any family member, as defined in subparagraph 2., of a servicemember killed while serving may be issued a Gold Star license plate upon payment of the license tax and appropriate fees as provided in paragraph (3)(a) without regard to the state of residence of the servicemember.
2. To qualify for issuance of a Gold Star license plate, the applicant must be directly related to a fallen servicemember as spouse, legal mother or father, stepparent, parent through adoption, foster parent, grandparent, child, stepchild, adopted child, brother, sister, half brother, or half sister of the fallen servicemember.
3. A servicemember is deemed to have been killed while in service as listed by the United States Department of Defense and may be verified from documentation directly from the Department of Defense or from its subordinate agencies, such as the Coast Guard, Reserve, or National Guard.
(b) The applicant must provide documentation of the fact that the servicemember was killed while serving and proof of relationship to the servicemember to the tax collector or license plate agent before being issued a Gold Star license plate. The tax collector or license plate agent may waive the requirement for such documentation and proof if he or she has actual knowledge of the family relationship and that the servicemember was killed while serving.
(5) An eligible family member may request a Gold Star license plate at any time during his or her registration period. If such a license plate is to replace a current valid license plate, the license plate shall be issued with appropriate renewal decals attached.
History.—s. 4, ch. 2007-103; s. 22, ch. 2008-176; s. 1, ch. 2016-182.
320.0898 Emergency service special registration plates; fee; penalty.—
(1) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall issue a special motor vehicle license plate for the front of any motor vehicle of any:
(a) Certified emergency medical technician.
(b) Certified paramedic.
(c) Firefighter.
(d) Law enforcement officer.
(e) Emergency management personnel, as defined in chapter 252.

The designation on such special motor vehicle license plate shall indicate that the motor vehicle is owned by such a public safety officer.

(2) An applicant for a special motor vehicle license plate shall provide proof of one of the following:
(a) If the applicant is an emergency medical technician or paramedic, that he or she is certified in accordance with the provisions of chapter 401 and is actively serving with an emergency medical service or rescue service licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 401 or with a hospital emergency department.
(b) If the applicant is a firefighter, that he or she is actively engaged in firefighting activities in the employ of a fire department or is a member of a volunteer fire department.
(c) If the applicant is a law enforcement officer, that he or she is actively engaged as a law enforcement officer as specified in chapter 943.
(3) Upon application by a qualified person who provides the proof required in subsection (2) together with a fee of $5, the department shall issue an emergency service registration plate. The plate shall remain in force only for the period of time that the applicant is actively engaged in service described in subsection (2). The recipient of a special motor vehicle license plate issued pursuant to this section shall be required to return the plate within 10 days of the date that he or she becomes disassociated from the service or organization on account of service in which the plate was issued.
(4) Special motor vehicle license plates issued pursuant to this section for the front of motor vehicles shall be designed as follows:
(a) With respect to emergency medical technicians and paramedics, the plates shall contain a white background with orange letters and, in addition to whatever else the department may require, the designation “EMS.”
(b) With respect to firefighters, the plates shall contain a white background with red letters and, in addition to whatever else the department may require, the designation “F.D.” and a Maltese cross.
(c) With respect to law enforcement officers, the plates shall contain a white background with blue letters and, in addition to whatever else the department may require, the designation “P.O.”
(d) With respect to emergency management personnel, the plates shall contain a white background with red letters and, in addition to whatever else the department may require, the designation “CD” and the logo for civil defense.
(5) Any person who violates the provisions of this act by willfully or fraudulently obtaining a special motor vehicle license plate pursuant to this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 2, ch. 84-108; s. 38, ch. 91-224; s. 357, ch. 95-148.
320.091 Vehicles held in trust; license plates.—Any trust which provides the beneficial use of a vehicle registered to the trust to a person otherwise qualified for a special license plate pursuant to ss. 320.0807, 320.083, 320.084, 320.0842, 320.0843, 320.0845, 320.086, 320.0863, 320.089, 320.0893, and 320.0898, may purchase the special license plate for the vehicle used by the qualified individual. The trustee shall provide an affidavit as to the terms of the trust related to the motor vehicle.
History.—s. 47, ch. 97-300.
320.10 Exemptions.—
(1) The provisions of s. 320.08 do not apply to:
(a) Any motor vehicle or mobile home owned by, and operated exclusively for the personal use of, any member of the United States Armed Forces who is not a resident of this state and who is stationed in the state while in compliance with military or naval orders;
(b) Any motor vehicle owned or operated exclusively by the Federal Government;
(c) Any motor vehicle owned and operated exclusively for the benefit of the Boys’ Clubs of America, the National Audubon Society, the National Children’s Cardiac Hospital, any humane society, any nationally chartered veterans’ organization that maintains a state headquarters in this state, the Children’s Bible Mission, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, the Salvation Army, the American National Red Cross, the United Service Organization, any local member unit of the National Urban League which provides free services to municipal and county residents who are in need of such services, the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Young Men’s Hebrew Association, the Camp Fire Girls’ Council, the Young Women’s Christian Association, the Young Women’s Hebrew Association, any local member unit of the Arc of Florida, the Children’s Home Society of Florida, or the Goodwill Industries. A not-for-profit organization named in this paragraph, and its local affiliate organizations, is eligible for the exemption if it maintains current articles of incorporation on file with the Department of State and qualifies as a not-for-profit organization under s. 212.08;
(d) Any motor vehicle owned and operated by a church, temple, or synagogue for exclusive use as a community service van or to transport passengers without compensation to religious services or for religious education;
(e) Any motor vehicle owned and operated by the Civil Air Patrol or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary;
(f) Any mobile blood bank unit when operated as a nonprofit service by an organization;
(g) Any mobile X-ray unit or truck or bus used exclusively for public health purposes;
(h) Any school bus owned and operated by a nonprofit educational or religious corporation;
(i) Any vehicle used by any of the various search and rescue units of the several counties for exclusive use as a search and rescue vehicle;
(j) Any motor vehicle used by a community transportation coordinator or a transportation operator as defined in part I of chapter 427, and which is used exclusively to transport transportation disadvantaged persons; or
(k) Any marine boat trailer exempt under s. 320.102.
(2) Any such vehicle or mobile home, except one owned or operated exclusively by the Federal Government, shall be furnished a license plate, validation sticker, or mobile home sticker upon the proper application to the department and upon the payment of $3 to cover the cost of same. For any motor vehicle or mobile home which is exempt under paragraph (1)(a), there shall be issued a license plate, validation sticker, or mobile home sticker prescribed by s. 320.06; and for any vehicle which is exempt under paragraphs (1)(c)-(h), there shall be issued a license plate under series “X.” Vehicles exempt under this provision must be equipped with proper license plates showing such exempt status.
(3) An applicant for an exemption established by this section shall, at the time of initial issuance and at the commencement of each renewal period, furnish the department with sufficient documentary proof to establish eligibility for the requested exemption.
History.—s. 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1011; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1285; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 1, ch. 20411, 1941; s. 1, ch. 20912, 1941; s. 1, ch. 28314, 1953; s. 1, ch. 29980, 1955; s. 1, ch. 57-804; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 72-105; s. 1, ch. 73-198; s. 95, ch. 77-104; s. 19, ch. 77-357; s. 3, ch. 77-454; s. 2, ch. 79-79; s. 1, ch. 82-17; s. 15, ch. 83-218; ss. 12, 13, ch. 83-227; ss. 36, 57, ch. 83-318; s. 7, ch. 84-94; ss. 1, 2, ch. 85-343; s. 7, ch. 86-185; s. 12, ch. 89-376; s. 7, ch. 2013-162; s. 37, ch. 2017-36.
320.102 Marine boat trailers owned by nonprofit organizations; exemptions.—The registration or renewal of a registration of any marine boat trailer owned and operated by a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and which is used exclusively in carrying out its customary nonprofit activities is exempt from paying the fees, taxes, surcharges, and charges in ss. 320.03(5), (6), and (9), 320.031(2), 320.04(1), 320.06(1)(b) and (3)(b), 320.0801, 320.0802, 320.0804, and 320.08046.
History.—s. 38, ch. 2017-36.
320.105 Golf carts and utility vehicles; exemption.—Golf carts and utility vehicles, as defined in s. 320.01, when operated in accordance with s. 316.212 or s. 316.2126, are exempt from provisions of this chapter which require the registration of vehicles or the display of license plates.
History.—s. 4, ch. 83-188; s. 30, ch. 87-198; s. 5, ch. 99-163.
320.13 Dealer and manufacturer license plates and alternative method of registration.—
(1)(a) Any licensed motor vehicle dealer and any licensed mobile home dealer may, upon payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08(12), secure one or more dealer license plates, which are valid for use on motor vehicles or mobile homes owned by the dealer to whom such plates are issued while the motor vehicles are in inventory and for sale, or while being operated in connection with such dealer’s business, but are not valid for use for hire. Dealer license plates may not be used on any tow truck or wrecker unless the tow truck or wrecker is being demonstrated for sale, and the dealer license plates may not be used on a vehicle used to transport another motor vehicle for the motor vehicle dealer.
(b)1. Marine boat trailer dealers and manufacturers may, upon payment of the license taxes imposed by s. 320.08(12), secure one or more dealer plates, which are valid for use on boat trailers owned by the dealer to whom such plates are issued while being used in connection with such dealer’s business, but are not valid for use for hire.
2. It is the intent of the Legislature that the method currently used to license marine boat trailer dealers to do business in the state, that is, by an occupational license issued by the city or county, not be changed. The department shall not interpret this act to mean that it is empowered to license such dealers to do business. An occupational license tax certificate shall be sufficient proof upon which the department may issue dealer license plates.
(c) A dealer of heavy trucks as defined in s. 320.01(10), upon payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08(12), may secure one or more dealer license plates that are valid for use on vehicles owned by the dealer to whom such plates are issued while the heavy trucks are in inventory and for sale and are being used only in the state for demonstration purposes. The license plates may be used for demonstration purposes for a period not to exceed 24 hours. The license plates must be validated on a form prescribed by the department and must be retained in the vehicle being operated.
(2) A licensed manufacturer, importer, or distributor of motor vehicles may, upon payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08(12), secure one or more manufacturer license plates, which are valid for use on motor vehicles owned by the manufacturer, importer, or distributor to whom such plates are issued while the motor vehicles are in inventory and for sale, being operated for demonstration purposes, or in connection with the manufacturer’s business, but are not valid for use for hire.
(3) When a licensed dealer or a marine boat trailer dealer chooses to register any motor vehicle or boat trailer he or she owns and has for sale and secure a regular motor vehicle license plate therefor, the dealer may, upon sale thereof, submit to the department a transfer fee of $4.50 and an application for transfer of the license plate to a comparable motor vehicle or boat trailer owned by the dealer of the same weight series as set forth under s. 320.08.
History.—ss. 1, 3, ch. 9159, 1923; CGL 1313, 1315; s. 1, ch. 24186, 1947; s. 1, ch. 63-173; s. 6, ch. 65-190; s. 1, ch. 65-461; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 5, ch. 72-79; ss. 1, 3, ch. 76-135; s. 1, ch. 76-137; s. 3, ch. 77-125; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 20, ch. 77-357; s. 128, ch. 79-400; s. 37, ch. 83-318; s. 5, ch. 84-155; s. 29, ch. 95-143; s. 358, ch. 95-148; s. 40, ch. 96-413; s. 32, ch. 99-248; s. 25, ch. 2009-71; s. 40, ch. 2012-181.
320.131 Temporary tags.—
(1) The department is authorized and empowered to design, issue, and regulate the use of temporary tags to be designated “temporary tags” for use in the following cases:
(a) Where a dealer license plate may not be lawfully used.
(b) For a casual or private sale, including the sale of a marine boat trailer by a marine boat trailer dealer. A “casual or private sale” means any sale other than that by a licensed dealer.
(c) For certified common carriers or driveaway companies who transport motor vehicles, mobile homes, or recreational vehicles from one place to another for persons other than themselves.
(d) For banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions which are not required to be licensed under the provisions of s. 320.27, s. 320.77, or s. 320.771, but need temporary tags for the purpose of demonstrating repossessions for sale.
(e) Where a motor vehicle is sold in this state to a resident of another state for registration therein and the motor vehicle is not required to be registered under the provisions of s. 320.38.
(f) Where a motor vehicle is required to be weighed or emission tested prior to registration or have a vehicle identification number verified. A temporary tag issued for any of these purposes shall be valid for 10 days.
(g) Where an out-of-state resident, subject to registration in this state, must secure ownership documentation from the home state.
(h) For a rental car company which possesses a motor vehicle dealer license and which may use temporary tags on vehicles offered for lease by such company in accordance with the provisions of rules established by the department. However, the original issuance date of a temporary tag shall be the date which determines the applicable license plate fee.
(i) In the resolution of a consumer complaint where there is a need to issue more than two temporary tags, the department may do so.
(j) While a personalized prestige or specialty license plate is being manufactured for use upon the motor vehicle. A temporary tag issued for this purpose shall be valid for 90 days.
(k) In any case where a permanent license plate cannot legally be issued to an applicant and a temporary license plate is not specifically authorized under the provisions of this section, the department shall have the discretion to issue or authorize agents or Florida licensed dealers to issue temporary license plates to applicants demonstrating a need for such temporary use.
(l) For use by licensed dealers to transport motor vehicles and recreational vehicles from the dealer’s licensed location to an off-premise sales location and return. Temporary tags used for such purposes shall be issued to the licensed dealer who owns the vehicles.

Further, the department is authorized to disallow the purchase of temporary tags by licensed dealers, common carriers, or financial institutions in those cases where abuse has occurred.

(2) The department is authorized to sell temporary tags, in addition to those listed above, to their agents and where need is demonstrated by a consumer complainant. The fee shall be $2 each. One dollar from each tag sold shall be deposited into the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program Trust Fund, with the remaining proceeds being deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. Agents of the department shall sell temporary tags for $2 each and shall charge the service charge authorized by s. 320.04 per transaction, regardless of the quantity sold. Requests for purchase of temporary tags to the department or its agents shall be made, where applicable, on letterhead stationery and notarized. Except as specifically provided otherwise, a temporary tag shall be valid for 30 days, and no more than two shall be issued to the same person for the same vehicle.
(3) Any person or corporation who unlawfully issues or uses a temporary tag or violates this section or any rule adopted by the department to implement this section commits a noncriminal infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318 in addition to other administrative action by the department. Using a temporary tag that has been expired for a period of 7 days or less is a noncriminal infraction, and is a nonmoving violation punishable as provided for in chapter 318.
(4)(a) Temporary tags shall be conspicuously displayed in the rear license plate bracket or, on vehicles requiring front display of license plates, on the front of the vehicle in the location where the metal license plate would normally be displayed.
(b) The department shall designate specifications for the media upon which the temporary tag is printed. Such media shall be either nonpermeable or subject to weatherproofing so that it maintains its structural integrity, including graphic and data adhesion, in all weather conditions after being placed on a vehicle.
(5) Any person who knowingly and willfully abuses or misuses temporary tag issuance to avoid registering a vehicle requiring registration pursuant to this chapter or chapter 319 commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(6) Any person who knowingly and willfully issues a temporary tag or causes another to issue a temporary tag to a fictitious person or entity to avoid disclosure of the true owner of a vehicle commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(7) Any person authorized by this section to purchase and issue a temporary tag shall maintain records as required by this chapter or departmental rules, and such records shall be open to inspection by the department or its agents during reasonable business hours. Any person who knowingly and willfully fails to comply with this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(8) The department shall administer an electronic system for licensed motor vehicle dealers to use for issuing temporary tags. If a dealer fails to comply with the department’s requirements for issuing temporary tags using the electronic system, the department may deny, suspend, or revoke a license under s. 320.27(9)(b)16. upon proof that the licensee has failed to comply with the department’s requirements. The department may adopt rules to administer this section.
(9)(a) The department shall implement a secure print-on-demand electronic temporary tag registration, record retention, and issue system required for use by every department-authorized issuer of temporary tags by the end of the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Such system shall enable the department to issue, on demand, a temporary tag number in response to a request from the issuer by way of a secure electronic exchange of data and then enable the issuer to print the temporary tag 1that has all required information. A motor vehicle dealer licensed under this chapter 2may charge a fee to comply with this subsection.
(b) To ensure the continuation of operations for issuers if a system outage occurs, the department shall allow the limited use of a backup manual issuance method during an outage which requires recordkeeping of information as determined by the department and which requires the timely electronic reporting of this information to the department.
(c) The department may adopt rules necessary to 3administer this subsection. Such rules may include exemptions from the requirements of this subsection as feasibly required to 3administer the program, as well as exemptions for issuers who do not require a dealer license under this chapter because of the type or size of vehicle being sold.
History.—ss. 1-4, ch. 59-348; s. 1, ch. 61-150; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 195, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 72-46; s. 10, ch. 75-66; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 78-217; s. 4, ch. 78-225; s. 1, ch. 80-217; s. 3, ch. 82-97; s. 25, ch. 82-134; s. 38, ch. 83-318; s. 3, ch. 85-176; s. 1, ch. 87-401; s. 1, ch. 88-395; s. 9, ch. 90-329; s. 79, ch. 93-120; s. 2, ch. 94-142; s. 12, ch. 94-314; s. 74, ch. 94-353; s. 23, ch. 95-333; s. 41, ch. 96-413; s. 13, ch. 97-300; s. 33, ch. 99-248; s. 64, ch. 2005-164; s. 1, ch. 2008-71; s. 23, ch. 2008-176; s. 9, ch. 2009-206; s. 5, ch. 2010-161; s. 26, ch. 2010-162; s. 8, ch. 2011-3.
1Note.—As amended by s. 23, ch. 2008-176. The amendment by s. 1, ch. 2008-71, uses the word “with” instead of the words “that has.”
2Note.—As amended by s. 23, ch. 2008-176. The amendment by s. 1, ch. 2008-71, uses the words “shall be authorized to” instead of the word “may.”
3Note.—As amended by s. 23, ch. 2008-176. The amendment by s. 1, ch. 2008-71, uses the word “implement” instead of the word “administer.”
320.1316 Failure to surrender vehicle or vessel.—
(1) Upon receipt from a lienor who claims a lien on a vehicle pursuant to s. 319.27 by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of written notice to surrender a vehicle or vessel that has been disposed of, concealed, removed, or destroyed by the lienee, the department shall place the name of the registered owner of that vehicle on the list of those persons who may not be issued a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement license plate. Pursuant to s. 320.03(8), the department may not issue a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement license plate for the vehicle, or a vessel registration number or decal for the vessel, owned by the lienee which is identified in the claim by the lienor. If the vehicle is owned jointly, the name of each registered owner shall be placed on the list.
(2) The notice to surrender the vehicle or vessel shall be signed under oath by the lienor and submitted on forms developed by the department, which must include:
(a) The name, address, and telephone number of the lienor.
(b) The name of the registered owner of the vehicle or vessel and the address to which the lienor provided notice to surrender the vehicle or vessel to the registered owner.
(c) A general description of the vehicle, including its color, make, model, body style, and year.
(d) The vehicle identification number, registration license plate number, if known, or other identification number, as applicable.
(3) The registered owner of the vehicle or vessel may dispute a notice to surrender the vehicle or vessel or his or her inclusion on the list of those persons who may not be issued a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement license plate under s. 320.03(8), or a vessel registration number or decal, by bringing a civil action in the county in which he or she resides.
(4) In an action brought pursuant to subsection (3), the petitioner is entitled to the summary procedure specified in s. 51.011, and the court shall advance the cause on its calendar if requested by the petitioner.
(5) At a hearing challenging the refusal to issue a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement license plate under s. 320.03(8), or a vessel registration number or decal, the court shall first determine whether the lienor has a recorded lien on the vehicle or vessel and whether the lienor properly made a demand for the surrender of the vehicle or vessel in accordance with this section. If the court determines that the lien was recorded and that such a demand was properly made, the court shall determine whether good cause exists for the lienee’s failure to surrender the vehicle or vessel. As used in this section, the term “good cause” is limited to proof that:
(a) The vehicle that was the subject of the demand for surrender was traded in to a licensed motor vehicle dealer before the date of the demand for surrender;
(b) The lien giving rise to the inclusion on the list has been paid in full or otherwise satisfied;
(c) There is ongoing litigation relating to the validity or enforceability of the lien;
(d) The petitioner was in compliance with all of his or her contractual obligations with the lienholder at the time of the demand for surrender;
(e) The vehicle or vessel was reported to law enforcement as stolen by the registered owner of the vehicle or vessel before the demand for surrender; or
(f) The petitioner no longer has possession of the vehicle or vessel, and the loss of possession occurred pursuant to operation of law. If the petitioner’s loss of possession did not occur pursuant to operation of law, the fact that a third party has physical possession of the vehicle or vessel does not constitute good cause for the failure to surrender the vehicle or vessel.
(6) If the petitioner establishes good cause for his or her failure to surrender the vehicle or vessel, the court shall enter an order removing the petitioner’s name from the list of those persons who may not be issued a license plate, revalidation sticker, or replacement license plate under s. 320.03(8), or a vessel registration number or decal, and shall award the petitioner reasonable attorney fees and costs actually incurred for the proceeding.
(7) If the court finds that the demand for surrender was properly made by the lienor and the petitioner fails to establish good cause for the failure to surrender the vehicle or vessel, the court shall award the lienor reasonable attorney fees and costs actually incurred for the proceeding.
History.—s. 4, ch. 2009-206; s. 24, ch. 2014-216.
320.1325 Registration required for the temporarily employed.—Motor vehicles owned or leased by persons who are temporarily employed within the state but are not residents are required to be registered. Upon payment of the fees prescribed in this section and proof of insurance coverage as required by the applicant’s resident state, the department shall provide a temporary registration plate and a registration certificate valid for 90 days to an applicant who is temporarily employed in this state. The temporary registration plate may be renewed one time for an additional 90-day period. At the end of the 180-day period of temporary registration, the applicant shall apply for a permanent registration if there is a further need to remain in this state. A temporary license registration plate may not be issued for any commercial motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01. The fee for the 90-day temporary registration plate shall be $40 plus the applicable service charge required by s. 320.04. Subsequent permanent registration and titling of a vehicle registered hereunder shall subject the applicant to providing proof of Florida insurance coverage as specified in s. 320.02 and payment of the fees required by s. 320.072, in addition to all other taxes and fees required.
History.—s. 11, ch. 91-82; s. 62, ch. 94-306; s. 103, ch. 99-13; ss. 34, 273, ch. 99-248.
320.133 Transporter license plates.—
(1) The department is authorized to issue a transporter license plate to any applicant who, incidental to the conduct of his or her business, engages in the transporting of motor vehicles which are not currently registered to any owner and which do not have license plates, upon payment of the license tax imposed by s. 320.08(15) for each such license plate and upon proof of liability insurance coverage in the amount of $100,000 or more. Such a transporter license plate is valid for use on any motor vehicle in the possession of the transporter while the motor vehicle is being transported in the course of the transporter’s business.
(2) A license issued pursuant to subsection (1) must be in a distinctive color approved by the department and the word “transporter” must appear on the face of the license plate in place of the county name.
(3) A license plate issued under this section is valid for a period of 12 months, beginning January 1 and ending December 31. No refund of the license tax imposed may be provided for any unexpired portion of a license period.
History.—s. 1, ch. 88-410; s. 359, ch. 95-148.
320.14 Fractional license tax.—
(1) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this section, the full amount of the license tax imposed under s. 320.08 shall be charged for the registration period, regardless of when during the registration period the vehicle is registered.
(2) Except for vehicles covered by subsection (3) and except for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(2)(b), (c), or (d), (3)(a), (b), or (c), (5)(a), (7)(a), or (9), the license tax charged to a person for the registration of a vehicle which was not previously subject to registration in this state by that person and which is being registered:
(a) During the seventh, eighth, or ninth month of the registration period shall be one-half of the annual license tax amount prescribed in s. 320.08.
(b) During the 10th or subsequent month of the registration period shall be one-fourth of the annual license tax amount prescribed in s. 320.08.
(3) The license tax charged a person for the registration of a vehicle which:
(a) Is taxed under s. 320.08(3)(d) or (e), (4), (6)(b), or (7)(b);
(b) Is being registered during the second or subsequent month of the registration period;
(c) Was not previously subject to registration by that person during that registration period; and
(d) If being registered during the first 3 months of the registration period, was not registered by that person in this state during the preceding registration period

shall be at the rate of one-twelfth of the annual license tax amount for the month of registration and one-twelfth of the annual license tax amount for each month of the registration period succeeding the month of registration.

(4) Any truck tractor which is used exclusively for hauling agricultural products and which is not required to be apportioned may register for any 3-month period or 6-month period and pay, respectively, one-quarter or one-half of the annual registration rate provided in s. 320.08.
(5) A license tax of less than $5 may not be charged under this section unless otherwise expressly provided by law.
(6) For a trailer or semitrailer taxed under s. 320.08(5) or (7)(a), there shall be no reduction in the annual license tax paid for a half-year or quarter-year registration.
History.—s. 7, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7276, 1917; RGS 1012; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 4, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1286; s. 4, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 1, ch. 25139, 1949; s. 8, ch. 28186, 1953; s. 1, ch. 57-373; s. 6, ch. 65-190; s. 1, ch. 67-553; s. 11, ch. 75-66; s. 46, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 83-155; s. 39, ch. 83-318; s. 6, ch. 85-81; s. 52, ch. 85-180; s. 31, ch. 87-198; s. 114, ch. 90-136; s. 11, ch. 90-329.
320.15 Refund of license tax.—
(1) Any resident owner of a motor vehicle or mobile home that has been destroyed or permanently removed from the state shall, upon application to the department and surrender of the license plate or mobile home sticker issued for such vehicle, be entitled to a credit to apply to registration of any other vehicle in the name of the owner, if the amount is $3 or more, for the unexpired period of the license. However, if the license plate surrendered is a “for-hire” license plate, the amount of credit may not be more than one-half of the annual license tax amount. A credit is not valid after the expiration date of the license plate which is current on the date of the credit, as provided in s. 320.07.
(2) A motor vehicle registrant or mobile home owner who has renewed a motor vehicle registration during the advance renewal period pursuant to s. 320.071 and who surrenders the license plate for the vehicle before the end of the renewal period may apply for a refund of the license taxes assessed in s. 320.08.
History.—s. 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1011; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1285; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 1, ch. 59-266; s. 6, ch. 65-190; s. 1, ch. 65-465; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 78-186; s. 40, ch. 83-318; s. 53, ch. 85-180; s. 12, ch. 88-306; s. 115, ch. 90-136; s. 10, ch. 90-329; s. 2, ch. 2012-110; s. 41, ch. 2012-181.
320.17 Classification of vehicles and mobile homes and assessment of license tax by department.—The department may, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, determine the classification of, and the amount of license tax due on, any motor vehicle or mobile home required to be registered under the laws of this state and may, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, fix, determine, and assess the amount of license tax and fees to be paid for registration or renewal of registration. A determination of the department, when certified in writing, is prima facie evidence of the validity, regularity, and propriety thereof and of the liability of the vehicle involved therein to the classification and tax so determined, fixed, and assessed. No such determination when made by the department may be disregarded or set aside in any court, except when clearly shown to be unwarranted in law or in fact.
History.—s. 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1011; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1285; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 41, ch. 83-318.
320.18 Withholding registration.—
(1) The department may withhold the registration of any motor vehicle or mobile home the owner or coowner of which has failed to register it under the provisions of law for any previous period or periods for which it appears registration should have been made in this state until the tax for such period or periods is paid. The department may cancel any vehicle or vessel registration, driver license, identification card, or fuel-use tax decal if the owner or coowner pays for any vehicle or vessel registration, driver license, identification card, or fuel-use tax decal; pays any administrative, delinquency, or reinstatement fee; or pays any tax liability, penalty, or interest specified in chapter 207 by a dishonored check, or if the vehicle owner or motor carrier has failed to pay a penalty for a weight or safety violation issued by the Department of Transportation or the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may impound any commercial motor vehicle that has a canceled license plate or fuel-use tax decal until the tax liability, penalty, and interest specified in chapter 207, the license tax, or the fuel-use decal fee, and applicable administrative fees have been paid for by certified funds.
(2) An owner of a motor vehicle is exempt from the payment of a license tax for any previous period or periods for which registration should have been made upon presentation to the department by the owner of a notarized or certified affidavit stating that such motor vehicle was continuously maintained in dead storage and was not operated at any time during the registration period or periods for which the exemption is being claimed.
(3) In the case of repossession, a mobile home is exempt from registration when the dwelling is not transferred or titled for occupancy.
History.—s. 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1011; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1285; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 69-178; s. 1, ch. 78-216; s. 42, ch. 83-318; s. 63, ch. 94-306; s. 915, ch. 95-148; s. 42, ch. 96-413; s. 9, ch. 2001-196; s. 65, ch. 2005-164; s. 18, ch. 2011-66; s. 41, ch. 2013-160.
320.19 Tax lien; enforcement.—The license tax required under this chapter, when not paid, constitutes a first lien upon the motor vehicle or mobile home on which the tax is due. Such lien is superior to all other liens upon such vehicle. If the amount of the license tax due remains unpaid for more than 30 days, the department may, in addition to any other remedy provided by law, enforce the lien by issuance of a tax warrant. The sheriff or other person to whom such warrant is directed shall proceed upon the warrant in the manner and with like effect as is prescribed by law for executions issued against property upon judgments of record.
History.—s. 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1011; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1285; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 21, 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 43, ch. 83-318.
320.20 Disposition of license tax moneys.—The revenue derived from the registration of motor vehicles, including any delinquent fees and excluding those revenues collected and distributed under the provisions of s. 320.081, must be distributed monthly, as collected, as follows:
(1) The first proceeds, to the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of s. 18, Art. XII of the State Constitution of 1885, as adopted by s. 9(d), Art. XII, 1968 revised constitution, and the additional provisions of s. 9(d) and s. 1010.57, must be deposited in the district Capital Outlay and Debt Service School Trust Fund.
(2) Twenty-five million dollars per year of such revenues must be deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund, with priority use assigned to completion of the interstate highway system. However, any excess funds may be utilized for general transportation purposes, consistent with the Department of Transportation’s legislatively approved objectives.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law except subsections (1) and (2), $15 million shall be deposited annually into the State Transportation Trust Fund solely for the purposes of funding the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program as provided in chapter 311. Such revenues shall be distributed on a 50-50 matching basis to any port listed in s. 311.09(1) to be used for funding projects as described in s. 311.07(3)(b). Such revenues may be assigned, pledged, or set aside as a trust for the payment of principal or interest on bonds, tax anticipation certificates, or any other form of indebtedness issued by an individual port or appropriate local government having jurisdiction thereof, or collectively by interlocal agreement among any of the ports, or used to purchase credit support to permit such borrowings. However, such debt is not a general obligation of the state. The state covenants with holders of such revenue bonds or other instruments of indebtedness issued that it will not repeal or impair or amend in any manner that will materially and adversely affect the rights of such holders so long as bonds authorized by this section are outstanding. Any revenues that are not pledged to the repayment of bonds authorized by this section may be used for purposes authorized under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program. This revenue source is in addition to any amounts provided and appropriated in accordance with s. 311.07. The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council shall approve the distribution of funds to ports for projects that have been approved pursuant to s. 311.09(5)-(8). The council and the Department of Transportation may perform acts required to facilitate and implement this subsection. To better enable the ports to cooperate to their mutual advantage, the governing body of each port may exercise powers provided to municipalities or counties in s. 163.01(7)(d) subject to chapter 311 and special acts, if any, pertaining to a port. The use of funds provided pursuant to this subsection are limited to eligible projects listed in this subsection. Income derived from a project completed with the use of program funds, beyond operating costs and debt service, is restricted solely to further port capital improvements consistent with maritime purposes. Use of such income for nonmaritime purposes is prohibited. The revenues available under this subsection may not be pledged to the payment of any bonds other than the Florida Ports Financing Commission Series 1996 and Series 1999 Bonds currently outstanding; however, such revenues may be pledged to secure payment of refunding bonds to refinance the Florida Ports Financing Commission Series 1996 and Series 1999 Bonds. Refunding bonds secured by revenues available under this subsection may not be issued with a final maturity later than the final maturity of the Florida Ports Financing Commission Series 1996 and Series 1999 Bonds or which provide for higher debt service in any year than is currently payable on such bonds. Any revenue bonds or other indebtedness issued after July 1, 2000, other than refunding bonds shall be issued by the Division of Bond Finance at the request of the Department of Transportation pursuant to the State Bond Act.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law except subsections (1), (2), and (3), $10 million shall be deposited annually into the State Transportation Trust Fund solely for the purposes of funding the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program as provided in chapter 311 and for funding seaport intermodal access projects of statewide significance as provided in s. 341.053. Such revenues shall be distributed to any port listed in s. 311.09(1), to be used for funding projects as follows:
(a) For any seaport intermodal access projects that are identified in the 1997-1998 Tentative Work Program of the Department of Transportation, up to the amounts needed to offset the funding requirements of this section.
(b) For seaport intermodal access projects as described in s. 341.053(6) which are identified in the 5-year Florida Seaport Mission Plan as provided in s. 311.09(3). Funding for such projects shall be on a matching basis as mutually determined by the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council and the Department of Transportation if a minimum of 25 percent of total project funds come from any port funds, local funds, private funds, or specifically earmarked federal funds.
(c) On a 50-50 matching basis for projects as described in s. 311.07(3)(b).
(d) For seaport intermodal access projects that involve the dredging or deepening of channels, turning basins, or harbors; or the rehabilitation of wharves, docks, or similar structures. Funding for such projects requires a 25 percent match of the funds received pursuant to this subsection. Matching funds must come from port funds, federal funds, local funds, or private funds.

Such revenues may be assigned, pledged, or set aside as a trust for the payment of principal or interest on bonds, tax anticipation certificates, or other form of indebtedness issued by an individual port or appropriate local government having jurisdiction thereof, or collectively by interlocal agreement among any of the ports, or used to purchase credit support to permit such borrowings. However, such debt is not a general obligation of the state. This state covenants with holders of such revenue bonds or other instruments of indebtedness issued hereunder that it will not repeal, impair, or amend this subsection in a manner that will materially and adversely affect the rights of holders while bonds authorized by this subsection remain outstanding. Revenues that are not pledged to the repayment of bonds as authorized by this section may be used for purposes authorized under the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program. This revenue source is in addition to any amounts provided for and appropriated in accordance with s. 311.07 and subsection (3). The Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council shall approve distribution of funds to ports for projects that have been approved pursuant to s. 311.09(5)-(8), or for seaport intermodal access projects identified in the 5-year Florida Seaport Mission Plan as provided in s. 311.09(3) and mutually agreed upon by the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council and the Department of Transportation. All contracts for actual construction of projects authorized by this subsection must include a provision encouraging employment of participants in the welfare transition program. The goal for such employment is 25 percent of all new employees employed specifically for the project, unless the Department of Transportation and the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council demonstrate that such a requirement would severely hamper the successful completion of the project. In such an instance, CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall establish an appropriate percentage of employees who are participants in the welfare transition program. The council and the Department of Transportation may perform such acts as are required to facilitate and implement the provisions of this subsection. To better enable the ports to cooperate to their mutual advantage, the governing body of each port may exercise powers provided to municipalities or counties in s. 163.01(7)(d) subject to the provisions of chapter 311 and special acts, if any, pertaining to a port. The use of funds provided pursuant to this subsection is limited to eligible projects listed in this subsection. The revenues available under this subsection may not be pledged to the payment of any bonds other than the Florida Ports Financing Commission Series 1996 and Series 1999 Bonds currently outstanding; however, such revenues may be pledged to secure payment of refunding bonds to refinance the Florida Ports Financing Commission Series 1996 and Series 1999 Bonds. Refunding bonds secured by revenues available under this subsection may not be issued with a final maturity later than the final maturity of the Florida Ports Financing Commission Series 1996 and Series 1999 Bonds and may not provide for higher debt service in any year than is currently payable on such bonds. Any revenue bonds or other indebtedness issued after July 1, 2000, other than refunding bonds shall be issued by the Division of Bond Finance at the request of the Department of Transportation pursuant to the State Bond Act.

(5)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c), the remainder of such revenues must be deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund.
(b) The Chief Financial Officer each month shall deposit in the State Transportation Trust Fund an amount, drawn from other funds in the State Treasury which are not immediately needed or are otherwise in excess of the amount necessary to meet the requirements of the State Treasury, which when added to such remaining revenues each month will equal one-twelfth of the amount of the anticipated annual revenues to be deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund under paragraph (a) as determined by the Chief Financial Officer after consultation with the Revenue Estimating Conference held pursuant to s. 216.136(3). The transfers required hereunder may be suspended by action of the Legislative Budget Commission in the event of a significant shortfall of state revenues.
(c) In any month in which the remaining revenues derived from the registration of motor vehicles exceed one-twelfth of those anticipated annual remaining revenues as determined by the Chief Financial Officer after consultation with the Revenue Estimating Conference, the excess shall be credited to those state funds in the State Treasury from which the amount was originally drawn, up to the amount which was deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund under paragraph (b). A final adjustment must be made in the last months of a fiscal year so that the total revenue deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund each year equals the amount derived from the registration of motor vehicles, less the amount distributed under subsection (1). For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (b), the term “remaining revenues” means all revenues deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund under paragraph (a) and subsections (2) and (3). In order that interest earnings continue to accrue to the General Revenue Fund, the Department of Transportation may not invest an amount equal to the cumulative amount of funds deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund under paragraph (b) less funds credited under this paragraph as computed on a monthly basis. The amounts to be credited under this and the preceding paragraph must be calculated and certified to the Chief Financial Officer by the Executive Office of the Governor.
History.—s. 27, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1031; s. 12, ch. 8410, 1921; CGL 1304; s. 4, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 44, ch. 26869, 1951; s. 1, ch. 65-514; s. 31, ch. 69-216; s. 1, ch. 69-300; s. 1, ch. 77-416; s. 1, ch. 81-222; s. 53, ch. 83-3; s. 14, ch. 83-138; s. 44, ch. 83-318; s. 7, ch. 85-81; s. 68, ch. 85-180; s. 20, ch. 89-301; ss. 61, 62, ch. 90-136; s. 30, ch. 95-143; s. 136, ch. 96-320; s. 50, ch. 97-278; s. 10, ch. 97-280; s. 104, ch. 99-13; s. 274, ch. 99-248; s. 14, ch. 99-385; s. 84, ch. 2000-165; s. 5, ch. 2000-266; s. 54, ch. 2000-371; s. 68, ch. 2001-61; s. 965, ch. 2002-387; s. 360, ch. 2003-261; s. 45, ch. 2005-152; s. 13, ch. 2012-128; s. 87, ch. 2012-174; s. 45, ch. 2013-15; s. 11, ch. 2015-98.
320.203 Disposition of biennial license tax moneys.—
(1) Notwithstanding ss. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11), 320.08058, and 328.76 and pursuant to s. 216.351, after the provisions of s. 320.20(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) are fulfilled, an amount equal to 50 percent of revenues collected from the biennial registrations created in s. 320.07 shall be retained in the Motor Vehicle License Clearing Trust Fund, authorized in s. 215.32(2)(b)2.f., until July 1. After July 1 of the subsequent fiscal year, an amount equal to 50 percent of revenues collected from the biennial registrations created in s. 320.07 shall be distributed according to ss. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11), 320.08058, 328.76, and 320.20(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5).
(2) A tax collector may escrow an amount necessary to annualize revenues collected from the biennial registration service charges, branch charges, or tax collector fees created in s. 320.07 until October 1 of the following fiscal year and then account for that amount as revenue for that fiscal year.
History.—s. 6, ch. 2007-242; s. 26, ch. 2009-71.
320.23 Taxes declared compensatory.—Taxes prescribed by this chapter are declared to be compensatory for the use of the public roads of this state by operators of motor vehicles taxed under the provisions of this chapter and are further declared to be a fair contribution to the cost of constructing and maintaining the public roads of this state. The administration and enforcement of this chapter and all regulations and restrictions imposed hereby and authorized to be imposed by this chapter are declared to be for the purpose of conservation of the property of the state and in the interest of safety in the use of its roads.
History.—s. 5, ch. 15625, 1931; CGL 1936 Supp. 1304(1); s. 2, ch. 63-496; s. 45, ch. 83-318.
320.26 Counterfeiting license plates, validation stickers, mobile home stickers, cab cards, trip permits, or special temporary operational permits prohibited; penalty.—
(1)(a) No person shall counterfeit registration license plates, validation stickers, or mobile home stickers, or have in his or her possession any such plates or stickers; nor shall any person manufacture, sell, or dispose of registration license plates, validation stickers, or mobile home stickers in the state without first having obtained the permission and authority of the department in writing.
(b) No person shall counterfeit, alter, or manufacture International Registration Plan cab cards, trip permits, special temporary permits, or temporary operational permits; nor shall any person sell or dispose of International Registration Plan cab cards, trip permits, special temporary permits, or temporary operational permits without first having obtained the permission and authority of the department in writing.
(2) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a felony of the third degree.
(a) If the violator is a natural person, he or she is punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(b) If the violator is an association or corporation, it is punishable as provided in s. 775.083, and the official of the association or corporation under whose direction or with whose knowledge, consent, or acquiescence such violation occurred may be punished as provided in s. 775.082, in addition to the fine which may be imposed upon such association or corporation.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 16086, 1933; CGL 1936 Supp. 7792(5); s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 7, ch. 69-178; s. 198, ch. 71-136; s. 6, ch. 72-79; s. 5, ch. 78-412; s. 46, ch. 83-318; s. 6, ch. 84-155; s. 21, ch. 86-243; s. 360, ch. 95-148.
320.261 Attaching registration license plate not assigned unlawful; penalty.—Any person who knowingly attaches to any motor vehicle or mobile home any registration license plate, or who knowingly attaches any validation sticker or mobile home sticker to a registration license plate, which plate or sticker was not issued and assigned or lawfully transferred to such vehicle, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 1, ch. 59-478; s. 199, ch. 71-136; s. 7, ch. 72-79; s. 47, ch. 83-318.
320.27 Motor vehicle dealers.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—The following words, terms, and phrases when used in this section have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) “Department” means the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
(b) “Motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle of the type and kind required to be registered and titled under chapter 319 and this chapter, except a recreational vehicle, moped, motorcycle powered by a motor with a displacement of 50 cubic centimeters or less, or mobile home.
(c) “Motor vehicle dealer” means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in motor vehicles or offering or displaying motor vehicles for sale at wholesale or retail, or who may service and repair motor vehicles pursuant to an agreement as defined in s. 320.60(1). Any person who buys, sells, or deals in three or more motor vehicles in any 12-month period or who offers or displays for sale three or more motor vehicles in any 12-month period shall be prima facie presumed to be engaged in such business. The terms “selling” and “sale” include lease-purchase transactions. A motor vehicle dealer may, at retail or wholesale, sell a recreational vehicle as described in s. 320.01(1)(b)1.-6. and 8., acquired in exchange for the sale of a motor vehicle, provided such acquisition is incidental to the principal business of being a motor vehicle dealer. However, a motor vehicle dealer may not buy a recreational vehicle for the purpose of resale unless licensed as a recreational vehicle dealer pursuant to s. 320.771. A motor vehicle dealer may apply for a certificate of title to a motor vehicle required to be registered under s. 320.08(2)(b), (c), and (d), using a manufacturer’s statement of origin as permitted by s. 319.23(1), only if such dealer is authorized by a franchised agreement as defined in s. 320.60(1), to buy, sell, or deal in such vehicle and is authorized by such agreement to perform delivery and preparation obligations and warranty defect adjustments on the motor vehicle; provided this limitation shall not apply to recreational vehicles, van conversions, or any other motor vehicle manufactured on a truck chassis. The transfer of a motor vehicle by a dealer not meeting these qualifications shall be titled as a used vehicle. The classifications of motor vehicle dealers are defined as follows:
1. “Franchised motor vehicle dealer” means any person who engages in the business of repairing, servicing, buying, selling, or dealing in motor vehicles pursuant to an agreement as defined in s. 320.60(1).
2. “Independent motor vehicle dealer” means any person other than a franchised or wholesale motor vehicle dealer who engages in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in motor vehicles, and who may service and repair motor vehicles.
3. “Wholesale motor vehicle dealer” means any person who engages exclusively in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in motor vehicles at wholesale or with motor vehicle auctions. Such person shall be licensed to do business in this state, shall not sell or auction a vehicle to any person who is not a licensed dealer, and shall not have the privilege of the use of dealer license plates. Any person who buys, sells, or deals in motor vehicles at wholesale or with motor vehicle auctions on behalf of a licensed motor vehicle dealer and as a bona fide employee of such licensed motor vehicle dealer is not required to be licensed as a wholesale motor vehicle dealer. In such cases it shall be prima facie presumed that a bona fide employer-employee relationship exists. A wholesale motor vehicle dealer shall be exempt from the display provisions of this section but shall maintain an office wherein records are kept in order that those records may be inspected.
4. “Motor vehicle auction” means any person offering motor vehicles or recreational vehicles for sale to the highest bidder where buyers are licensed motor vehicle dealers. Such person shall not sell a vehicle to anyone other than a licensed motor vehicle dealer.
5. “Salvage motor vehicle dealer” means any person who engages in the business of acquiring salvaged or wrecked motor vehicles for the purpose of reselling them and their parts.

The term “motor vehicle dealer” does not include persons not engaged in the purchase or sale of motor vehicles as a business who are disposing of vehicles acquired for their own use or for use in their business or acquired by foreclosure or by operation of law, provided such vehicles are acquired and sold in good faith and not for the purpose of avoiding the provisions of this law; persons engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, or offering or displaying for sale at wholesale or retail no more than 25 trailers in a 12-month period; public officers while performing their official duties; receivers; trustees, administrators, executors, guardians, or other persons appointed by, or acting under the judgment or order of, any court; banks, finance companies, or other loan agencies that acquire motor vehicles as an incident to their regular business; motor vehicle brokers; and motor vehicle rental and leasing companies that sell motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers licensed under this section. Vehicles owned under circumstances described in this paragraph may be disposed of at retail, wholesale, or auction, unless otherwise restricted. A manufacturer of fire trucks, ambulances, or school buses may sell such vehicles directly to governmental agencies or to persons who contract to perform or provide firefighting, ambulance, or school transportation services exclusively to governmental agencies without processing such sales through dealers if such fire trucks, ambulances, school buses, or similar vehicles are not presently available through motor vehicle dealers licensed by the department.

(d) “Motor vehicle broker” means any person engaged in the business of offering to procure or procuring motor vehicles for the general public, or who holds himself or herself out through solicitation, advertisement, or otherwise as one who offers to procure or procures motor vehicles for the general public, and who does not store, display, or take ownership of any vehicles for the purpose of selling such vehicles.
(e) “Person” means any natural person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation.
(f) “Bona fide employee” means a person who is employed by a licensed motor vehicle dealer and receives annually an Internal Revenue Service Form W-2, or an independent contractor who has a written contract with a licensed motor vehicle dealer and receives annually an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099, for the purpose of acting in the capacity of or conducting motor vehicle sales transactions as a motor vehicle dealer.
(2) LICENSE REQUIRED.—No person shall engage in business as, serve in the capacity of, or act as a motor vehicle dealer in this state without first obtaining a license therefor in the appropriate classification as provided in this section. With the exception of transactions with motor vehicle auctions, no person other than a licensed motor vehicle dealer may advertise for sale any motor vehicle belonging to another party unless as a direct result of a bona fide legal proceeding, court order, settlement of an estate, or by operation of law. However, owners of motor vehicles titled in their names may advertise and offer vehicles for sale on their own behalf. It shall be unlawful for a licensed motor vehicle dealer to allow any person other than a bona fide employee to use the motor vehicle dealer license for the purpose of acting in the capacity of or conducting motor vehicle sales transactions as a motor vehicle dealer. Any person selling or offering a motor vehicle for sale in violation of the licensing requirements of this subsection, or who misrepresents to any person its relationship with any manufacturer, importer, or distributor, in addition to the penalties provided herein, shall be deemed guilty of an unfair and deceptive trade practice as defined in part II of chapter 501 and shall be subject to the provisions of subsections (8) and (9).
(3) APPLICATION AND FEE.—The application for the license shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the department and shall be subject to such rules with respect thereto as may be so prescribed by it. Such application shall be verified by oath or affirmation and shall contain a full statement of the name and birth date of the person or persons applying therefor; the name of the firm or copartnership, with the names and places of residence of all members thereof, if such applicant is a firm or copartnership; the names and places of residence of the principal officers, if the applicant is a body corporate or other artificial body; the name of the state under whose laws the corporation is organized; the present and former place or places of residence of the applicant; and prior business in which the applicant has been engaged and the location thereof. Such application shall describe the exact location of the place of business and shall state whether the place of business is owned by the applicant and when acquired, or, if leased, a true copy of the lease shall be attached to the application. The applicant shall certify that the location provides an adequately equipped office and is not a residence; that the location affords sufficient unoccupied space upon and within which adequately to store all motor vehicles offered and displayed for sale; and that the location is a suitable place where the applicant can in good faith carry on such business and keep and maintain books, records, and files necessary to conduct such business, which shall be available at all reasonable hours to inspection by the department or any of its inspectors or other employees. The applicant shall certify that the business of a motor vehicle dealer is the principal business which shall be conducted at that location. The application shall contain a statement that the applicant is either franchised by a manufacturer of motor vehicles, in which case the name of each motor vehicle that the applicant is franchised to sell shall be included, or an independent (nonfranchised) motor vehicle dealer. The application shall contain other relevant information as may be required by the department, including evidence that the applicant is insured under a garage liability insurance policy or a general liability insurance policy coupled with a business automobile policy, which shall include, at a minimum, $25,000 combined single-limit liability coverage including bodily injury and property damage protection and $10,000 personal injury protection. However, a salvage motor vehicle dealer as defined in subparagraph (1)(c)5. is exempt from the requirements for garage liability insurance and personal injury protection insurance on those vehicles that cannot be legally operated on roads, highways, or streets in this state. Franchise dealers must submit a garage liability insurance policy, and all other dealers must submit a garage liability insurance policy or a general liability insurance policy coupled with a business automobile policy. Such policy shall be for the license period, and evidence of a new or continued policy shall be delivered to the department at the beginning of each license period. Upon making initial application, the applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 in addition to any other fees required by law. Applicants may choose to extend the licensure period for 1 additional year for a total of 2 years. An initial applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 for the first year and $75 for the second year, in addition to any other fees required by law. An applicant for renewal shall pay to the department $75 for a 1-year renewal or $150 for a 2-year renewal, in addition to any other fees required by law. Upon making an application for a change of location, the person shall pay a fee of $50 in addition to any other fees now required by law. The department shall, in the case of every application for initial licensure, verify whether certain facts set forth in the application are true. Each applicant, general partner in the case of a partnership, or corporate officer and director in the case of a corporate applicant, must file a set of fingerprints with the department for the purpose of determining any prior criminal record or any outstanding warrants. The department shall submit the fingerprints to the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and forwarding to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal processing. The actual cost of state and federal processing shall be borne by the applicant and is in addition to the fee for licensure. The department may issue a license to an applicant pending the results of the fingerprint investigation, which license is fully revocable if the department subsequently determines that any facts set forth in the application are not true or correctly represented.
(4) LICENSE CERTIFICATE.—
(a) A license certificate shall be issued by the department in accordance with such application when the application is regular in form and in compliance with the provisions of this section. The license certificate may be in the form of a document or a computerized card as determined by the department. The actual cost of each original, additional, or replacement computerized card shall be borne by the licensee and is in addition to the fee for licensure. Such license, when so issued, entitles the licensee to carry on and conduct the business of a motor vehicle dealer. Each license issued to a franchise motor vehicle dealer expires on December 31 of the year of its expiration unless revoked or suspended prior to that date. Each license issued to an independent or wholesale dealer or auction expires on April 30 of the year of its expiration unless revoked or suspended prior to that date. At least 60 days before the license expiration date, the department shall deliver or mail to each licensee the necessary renewal forms. Each independent dealer shall certify that the dealer (owner, partner, officer, or director of the licensee, or a full-time employee of the licensee that holds a responsible management-level position) has completed 8 hours of continuing education prior to filing the renewal forms with the department. Such certification shall be filed once every 2 years. The continuing education shall include at least 2 hours of legal or legislative issues, 1 hour of department issues, and 5 hours of relevant motor vehicle industry topics. Continuing education shall be provided by dealer schools licensed under paragraph (b) either in a classroom setting or by correspondence. Such schools shall provide certificates of completion to the department and the customer which shall be filed with the license renewal form, and such schools may charge a fee for providing continuing education. Any licensee who does not file his or her application and fees and any other requisite documents, as required by law, with the department at least 30 days prior to the license expiration date shall cease to engage in business as a motor vehicle dealer on the license expiration date. A renewal filed with the department within 45 days after the expiration date shall be accompanied by a delinquent fee of $100. Thereafter, a new application is required, accompanied by the initial license fee. A license certificate duly issued by the department may be modified by endorsement to show a change in the name of the licensee, provided, as shown by affidavit of the licensee, the majority ownership interest of the licensee has not changed or the name of the person appearing as franchisee on the sales and service agreement has not changed. Modification of a license certificate to show any name change as herein provided shall not require initial licensure or reissuance of dealer tags; however, any dealer obtaining a name change shall transact all business in and be properly identified by that name. All documents relative to licensure shall reflect the new name. In the case of a franchise dealer, the name change shall be approved by the manufacturer, distributor, or importer. A licensee applying for a name change endorsement shall pay a fee of $25 which fee shall apply to the change in the name of a main location and all additional locations licensed under the provisions of subsection (5). Each initial license application received by the department shall be accompanied by verification that, within the preceding 6 months, the applicant, or one or more of his or her designated employees, has attended a training and information seminar conducted by a licensed motor vehicle dealer training school. Any applicant for a new franchised motor vehicle dealer license who has held a valid franchised motor vehicle dealer license continuously for the past 2 years and who remains in good standing with the department is exempt from the prelicensing training requirement. Such seminar shall include, but is not limited to, statutory dealer requirements, which requirements include required bookkeeping and recordkeeping procedures, requirements for the collection of sales and use taxes, and such other information that in the opinion of the department will promote good business practices. No seminar may exceed 8 hours in length.
(b) Each initial license application received by the department for licensure under subparagraph (1)(c)2. shall be accompanied by verification that, within the preceding 6 months, the applicant (owner, partner, officer, or director of the applicant, or a full-time employee of the applicant that holds a responsible management-level position) has successfully completed training conducted by a licensed motor vehicle dealer training school. Such training must include training in titling and registration of motor vehicles, laws relating to unfair and deceptive trade practices, laws relating to financing with regard to buy-here, pay-here operations, and such other information that in the opinion of the department will promote good business practices. Successful completion of this training shall be determined by examination administered at the end of the course and attendance of no less than 90 percent of the total hours required by such school. Any applicant who had held a valid motor vehicle dealer’s license continuously within the past 2 years and who remains in good standing with the department is exempt from the prelicensing requirements of this section. The department shall have the authority to adopt any rule necessary for establishing the training curriculum; length of training, which shall not exceed 8 hours for required department topics and shall not exceed an additional 24 hours for topics related to other regulatory agencies’ instructor qualifications; and any other requirements under this section. The curriculum for other subjects shall be approved by any and all other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over specific subject matters; however, the overall administration of the licensing of these dealer schools and their instructors shall remain with the department. Such schools are authorized to charge a fee.
(5) SUPPLEMENTAL LICENSE.—Any person licensed under this section shall obtain a supplemental license for each permanent additional place or places of business not contiguous to the premises for which the original license is issued, on a form to be furnished by the department, and upon payment of a fee of $50 for each such additional location. Applicants may choose to extend the licensure period for 1 additional year for a total of 2 years. The applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $50 for the first year and $50 for the second year for each such additional location. Thereafter, the applicant shall pay $50 for a 1-year renewal or $100 for a 2-year renewal for each such additional location. A supplemental license authorizing off-premises sales shall be issued, at no charge to the dealer, for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive calendar days. To obtain such a temporary supplemental license for off-premises sales, the applicant must be a licensed dealer; must notify the applicable local department office of the specific dates and location for which such license is requested, display a sign at the licensed location clearly identifying the dealer, and provide staff to work at the temporary location for the duration of the off-premises sale; must meet any local government permitting requirements; and must have permission of the property owner to sell at that location. In the case of an off-premises sale by a motor vehicle dealer licensed under subparagraph (1)(c)1. for the sale of new motor vehicles, the applicant must also include documentation notifying the applicable licensee licensed under s. 320.61 of the intent to engage in an off-premises sale 5 working days prior to the date of the off-premises sale. The licensee shall either approve or disapprove of the off-premises sale within 2 working days after receiving notice; otherwise, it will be deemed approved. This section does not apply to a nonselling motor vehicle show or public display of new motor vehicles.
(6) RECORDS TO BE KEPT BY LICENSEE.—Every licensee shall keep a book or record in either paper or electronic form as prescribed or approved by the department for a period of 5 years, in which the licensee shall keep a record of the purchase, sale, or exchange, or receipt for the purpose of sale, of any motor vehicle, the date upon which any temporary tag was issued, the date of title transfer, and a description of such motor vehicle together with the name and address of the seller, the purchaser, and the alleged owner or other person from whom such motor vehicle was purchased or received or to whom it was sold or delivered, as the case may be. Such description shall include the identification or engine number, maker’s number, if any, chassis number, if any, and such other numbers or identification marks as may be thereon and shall also include a statement that a number has been obliterated, defaced, or changed, if such is the fact. When a licensee chooses to maintain electronic records, the original paper documents may be destroyed after the licensee successfully transfers title and registration to the purchaser as required by chapter 319 for any purchaser who titles and registers the motor vehicle in this state. In the case of a sale to a purchaser who will title and register the motor vehicle in another state or country, the licensee may destroy the original paper documents after successfully delivering a lawfully reassigned title or manufacturer’s certificate or statement of origin to the purchaser and after producing electronic images of all documents related to the sale.
(7) CERTIFICATE OF TITLE REQUIRED.—For each used motor vehicle in the possession of a licensee and offered for sale by him or her, the licensee either shall have in his or her possession or control a duly assigned certificate of title from the owner in accordance with the provisions of chapter 319, from the time when the motor vehicle is delivered to the licensee and offered for sale by him or her until it has been disposed of by the licensee, or shall have reasonable indicia of ownership or right of possession, or shall have made proper application for a certificate of title or duplicate certificate of title in accordance with the provisions of chapter 319. A motor vehicle dealer may not sell or offer for sale a vehicle in his or her possession unless the dealer satisfies the requirements of this subsection. Reasonable indicia of ownership shall include a duly assigned certificate of title; in the case of a new motor vehicle, a manufacturer’s certificate of origin issued to or reassigned to the dealer; a consignment contract between the owner and the dealer along with a secure power of attorney from the owner to the dealer authorizing the dealer to apply for a duplicate certificate of title and assign the title on behalf of the owner; a court order awarding title to the vehicle to the dealer; a salvage certificate of title; a photocopy of a duly assigned certificate of title being held by a financial institution as collateral for a business loan of money to the dealer (“floor plan”); a copy of a canceled check or other documentation evidencing that an outstanding lien on a vehicle taken in trade by a licensed dealer has been satisfied and that the certificate of title will be, but has not yet been, received by the dealer; a vehicle purchase order or installment contract for a specific vehicle identifying that vehicle as a trade-in on a replacement vehicle; or a duly executed odometer disclosure statement as required by Title IV of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1972 (Pub. L. No. 92-513, as amended by Pub. L. No. 94-364 and Pub. L. No. 100-561) and by 49 C.F.R. part 580 bearing the signatures of the titled owners of a traded-in vehicle.
(8) PENALTY.—Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(9) DENIAL, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION.—
(a) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke any license issued hereunder or under the provisions of s. 320.77 or s. 320.771 upon proof that an applicant or a licensee has:
1. Committed fraud or willful misrepresentation in application for or in obtaining a license.
2. Been convicted of a felony.
3. Failed to honor a bank draft or check given to a motor vehicle dealer for the purchase of a motor vehicle by another motor vehicle dealer within 10 days after notification that the bank draft or check has been dishonored. If the transaction is disputed, the maker of the bank draft or check shall post a bond in accordance with the provisions of s. 559.917, and no proceeding for revocation or suspension shall be commenced until the dispute is resolved.
4.a. Failed to provide payment within 10 business days to the department for a check payable to the department that was dishonored due to insufficient funds in the amount due plus any statutorily authorized fee for uttering a worthless check. The department shall notify an applicant or licensee when the applicant or licensee makes payment to the department by a check that is subsequently dishonored by the bank due to insufficient funds. The applicant or licensee shall, within 10 business days after receiving the notice, provide payment to the department in the form of cash in the amount due plus any statutorily authorized fee. If the applicant or licensee fails to make such payment within 10 business days, the department may deny, suspend, or revoke the applicant’s or licensee’s motor vehicle dealer license.
b. Stopped payment on a check payable to the department, issued a check payable to the department from an account that has been closed, or charged back a credit card transaction to the department. If an applicant or licensee commits any such act, the department may deny, suspend, or revoke the applicant’s or licensee’s motor vehicle dealer license.
(b) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke any license issued hereunder or under the provisions of s. 320.77 or s. 320.771 upon proof that a licensee has committed, with sufficient frequency so as to establish a pattern of wrongdoing on the part of a licensee, violations of one or more of the following activities:
1. Representation that a demonstrator is a new motor vehicle, or the attempt to sell or the sale of a demonstrator as a new motor vehicle without written notice to the purchaser that the vehicle is a demonstrator. For the purposes of this section, a “demonstrator,” a “new motor vehicle,” and a “used motor vehicle” shall be defined as under s. 320.60.
2. Unjustifiable refusal to comply with a licensee’s responsibility under the terms of the new motor vehicle warranty issued by its respective manufacturer, distributor, or importer. However, if such refusal is at the direction of the manufacturer, distributor, or importer, such refusal shall not be a ground under this section.
3. Misrepresentation or false, deceptive, or misleading statements with regard to the sale or financing of motor vehicles which any motor vehicle dealer has, or causes to have, advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast, televised, or made in any manner with regard to the sale or financing of motor vehicles.
4. Failure by any motor vehicle dealer to provide a customer or purchaser with an odometer disclosure statement and a copy of any bona fide written, executed sales contract or agreement of purchase connected with the purchase of the motor vehicle purchased by the customer or purchaser.
5. Failure of any motor vehicle dealer to comply with the terms of any bona fide written, executed agreement, pursuant to the sale of a motor vehicle.
6. Failure to apply for transfer of a title as prescribed in s. 319.23(6).
7. Use of the dealer license identification number by any person other than the licensed dealer or his or her designee.
8. Failure to continually meet the requirements of the licensure law.
9. Representation to a customer or any advertisement to the public representing or suggesting that a motor vehicle is a new motor vehicle if such vehicle lawfully cannot be titled in the name of the customer or other member of the public by the seller using a manufacturer’s statement of origin as permitted in s. 319.23(1).
10. Requirement by any motor vehicle dealer that a customer or purchaser accept equipment on his or her motor vehicle which was not ordered by the customer or purchaser.
11. Requirement by any motor vehicle dealer that any customer or purchaser finance a motor vehicle with a specific financial institution or company.
12. Requirement by any motor vehicle dealer that the purchaser of a motor vehicle contract with the dealer for physical damage insurance.
13. Perpetration of a fraud upon any person as a result of dealing in motor vehicles, including, without limitation, the misrepresentation to any person by the licensee of the licensee’s relationship to any manufacturer, importer, or distributor.
14. Violation of any of the provisions of s. 319.35 by any motor vehicle dealer.
15. Sale by a motor vehicle dealer of a vehicle offered in trade by a customer prior to consummation of the sale, exchange, or transfer of a newly acquired vehicle to the customer, unless the customer provides written authorization for the sale of the trade-in vehicle prior to delivery of the newly acquired vehicle.
16. Willful failure to comply with any administrative rule adopted by the department or the provisions of s. 320.131(8).
17. Violation of chapter 319, this chapter, or ss. 559.901-559.9221, which has to do with dealing in or repairing motor vehicles or mobile homes. Additionally, in the case of used motor vehicles, the willful violation of the federal law and rule in 15 U.S.C. s. 2304, 16 C.F.R. part 455, pertaining to the consumer sales window form.
18. Failure to maintain evidence of notification to the owner or coowner of a vehicle regarding registration or titling fees owed as required in s. 320.02(16).
19. Failure to register a mobile home salesperson with the department as required by this section.
(c) When a motor vehicle dealer is convicted of a crime which results in his or her being prohibited from continuing in that capacity, the dealer may not continue in any capacity within the industry. The offender shall have no financial interest, management, sales, or other role in the operation of a dealership. Further, the offender may not derive income from the dealership beyond reasonable compensation for the sale of his or her ownership interest in the business.
(10) SURETY BOND OR IRREVOCABLE LETTER OF CREDIT REQUIRED.—
(a) Annually, before any license shall be issued to a motor vehicle dealer, the applicant-dealer of new or used motor vehicles shall deliver to the department a good and sufficient surety bond or irrevocable letter of credit, executed by the applicant-dealer as principal, in the sum of $25,000.
(b) Surety bonds and irrevocable letters of credit shall be in a form to be approved by the department and shall be conditioned that the motor vehicle dealer shall comply with the conditions of any written contract made by such dealer in connection with the sale or exchange of any motor vehicle and shall not violate any of the provisions of chapter 319 and this chapter in the conduct of the business for which the dealer is licensed. Such bonds and letters of credit shall be to the department and in favor of any person in a retail or wholesale transaction who shall suffer any loss as a result of any violation of the conditions hereinabove contained. When the department determines that a person has incurred a loss as a result of a violation of chapter 319 or this chapter, it shall notify the person in writing of the existence of the bond or letter of credit. Such bonds and letters of credit shall be for the license period, and a new bond or letter of credit or a proper continuation certificate shall be delivered to the department at the beginning of each license period. However, the aggregate liability of the surety in any one year shall in no event exceed the sum of the bond or, in the case of a letter of credit, the aggregate liability of the issuing bank shall not exceed the sum of the credit.
(c) Surety bonds shall be executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the state as surety, and irrevocable letters of credit shall be issued by a bank authorized to do business in the state as a bank.
(d) Irrevocable letters of credit shall be engaged by a bank as an agreement to honor demands for payment as specified in this section.
(e) The department shall, upon denial, suspension, or revocation of any license, notify the surety company of the licensee, or bank issuing an irrevocable letter of credit for the licensee, in writing, that the license has been denied, suspended, or revoked and shall state the reason for such denial, suspension, or revocation.
(f) Any surety company which pays any claim against the bond of any licensee or any bank which honors a demand for payment as a condition specified in a letter of credit of a licensee shall notify the department in writing that such action has been taken and shall state the amount of the claim or payment.
(g) Any surety company which cancels the bond of any licensee or any bank which cancels an irrevocable letter of credit shall notify the department in writing of such cancellation, giving reason for the cancellation.
(11) INJUNCTION.—In addition to the remedies provided in this chapter and notwithstanding the existence of any adequate remedy at law, the department is authorized to make application to any circuit court of the state, and such circuit court shall have jurisdiction, upon a hearing and for cause shown, to grant a temporary or permanent injunction, or both, restraining any person from acting as a motor vehicle dealer under the terms of this section without being properly licensed hereunder, from violating or continuing to violate any of the provisions of chapter 319, this chapter, or ss. 559.901-559.9221, or for failing or refusing to comply with the requirements of chapter 319, this chapter, or ss. 559.901-559.9221, or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder, such injunction to be issued without bond. A single act in violation of the provisions of chapter 319, this chapter, or chapter 559 shall be sufficient to authorize the issuance of an injunction.
(12) CIVIL FINES; PROCEDURE.—In addition to the exercise of other powers provided in this section, the department may levy and collect a civil fine, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation, against any licensee if it finds that the licensee has violated any provision of this section or has violated any other law of this state or the federal law and administrative rule set forth in paragraph (9)(a) related to dealing in motor vehicles. Any licensee shall be entitled to a hearing pursuant to chapter 120 if the licensee contests the fine levied, or about to be levied, upon him or her.
(13) DEPOSIT AND USE OF FEES.—The fees charged applicants for both the required background investigation and the computerized card as provided in this section shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund and shall be used to cover the cost of such service.
(14) EXEMPTION.—The provisions of this section do not apply to persons who sell or deliver motorized disability access vehicles as defined in s. 320.01.
History.—s. 11, ch. 9157, 1923; CGL 1060, 7452; ss. 1, 2, ch. 23660, 1947; ss. 10, 11, ch. 28186, 1953; s. 1, ch. 57-404; s. 1, ch. 59-238; ss. 1, 2, ch. 63-349; s. 6, ch. 65-190; s. 1, ch. 65-235; s. 1, ch. 67-93; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 200, ch. 71-136; s. 94, ch. 71-377; s. 1, ch. 75-203; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 21, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 20, ch. 78-95; s. 2, ch. 78-183; ss. 2, 15, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 3, ch. 82-129; s. 24, ch. 82-134; s. 16, ch. 83-218; s. 7, ch. 84-155; s. 4, ch. 85-176; ss. 8, 9, ch. 86-185; s. 22, ch. 86-243; s. 14, ch. 87-161; ss. 2, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 9, ch. 89-333; s. 3, ch. 90-163; s. 246, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 68, ch. 93-120; s. 16, ch. 93-219; s. 64, ch. 94-306; s. 916, ch. 95-148; ss. 18, 24, 65, ch. 95-333; s. 43, ch. 96-413; s. 52, ch. 97-100; s. 35, ch. 99-248; ss. 30, 31, ch. 2000-313; s. 69, ch. 2001-61; ss. 31, 40, ch. 2001-196; s. 44, ch. 2002-1; s. 14, ch. 2002-235; ss. 15, 66, ch. 2005-164; s. 32, ch. 2006-1; s. 1, ch. 2006-183; s. 35, ch. 2006-290; s. 24, ch. 2008-176; s. 11, ch. 2010-198; s. 1, ch. 2012-151; s. 42, ch. 2012-181; s. 42, ch. 2013-160.
320.271 Used cars; removal of registration license plates.—Each person, upon the sale and delivery of any used or secondhand motor vehicle, shall remove any registration license plate from such motor vehicle before transferring ownership and delivering the motor vehicle to the purchaser.
History.—s. 1, ch. 57-182; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 8, ch. 72-79; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 22, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 15, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.273 Reinstatement of license of motor vehicle dealers.—When the license of a motor vehicle dealer has been revoked or suspended by the department pursuant to the provisions of s. 320.27, the department may for good cause reinstate the license of any former licensee under this law if it determines that said former licensee is rehabilitated, meets the requirements of s. 320.27, files an application for license pursuant to s. 320.27(3), and complies with said section.
History.—s. 2, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 20, ch. 78-95; ss. 15, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.275 Automobile Dealers Industry Advisory Board.—
(1) AUTOMOBILE DEALERS INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD.—The Automobile Dealers Industry Advisory Board is created within the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The board shall make recommendations on proposed legislation, make recommendations on proposed rules and procedures, present licensed motor vehicle dealer industry issues to the department for its consideration, consider any matters relating to the motor vehicle dealer industry presented to it by the department, and submit an annual report to the executive director of the department and file copies with the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2) MEMBERSHIP, TERMS, MEETINGS.—
(a) The board shall be composed of 12 members. The executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall appoint the members from names submitted by the entities for the designated categories the member will represent. The executive director shall appoint one representative of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; two representatives of the independent motor vehicle industry as recommended by the Florida Independent Automobile Dealers Association; two representatives of the franchise motor vehicle industry as recommended by the Florida Automobile Dealers Association; one representative of the auction motor vehicle industry who is from an auction chain and is recommended by a group affiliated with the National Auto Auction Association; one representative of the auction motor vehicle industry who is from an independent auction and is recommended by a group affiliated with the National Auto Auction Association; one representative from the Department of Revenue; a Florida tax collector representative recommended by the Florida Tax Collectors Association; one representative from the Better Business Bureau; one representative from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, who must represent the Division of Consumer Services; and one representative of the insurance industry who writes motor vehicle dealer surety bonds.
(b)1. The executive director shall appoint the following initial members to 1-year terms: one representative from the motor vehicle auction industry who represents an auction chain, one representative from the independent motor vehicle industry, one representative from the franchise motor vehicle industry, one representative from the Department of Revenue, one Florida tax collector, and one representative from the Better Business Bureau.
2. The executive director shall appoint the following initial members to 2-year terms: one representative from the motor vehicle auction industry who represents an independent auction, one representative from the independent motor vehicle industry, one representative from the franchise motor vehicle industry, one representative from the Division of Consumer Services, one representative from the insurance industry, and one representative from the department.
3. As the initial terms expire, the executive director shall appoint successors from the same designated category for terms of 2 years. If renominated, a member may succeed himself or herself.
4. The board shall appoint a chair and vice chair at its initial meeting and every 2 years thereafter.
(c) The board shall meet at least two times per year. Meetings may be called by the chair of the board or by the executive director of the department. One meeting shall be held in the fall of the year to review legislative proposals. The board shall conduct all meetings in accordance with applicable Florida Statutes and shall keep minutes of all meetings. Meetings may be held in locations around the state in department facilities or in other appropriate locations.
(3) PER DIEM, TRAVEL, AND STAFFING.—Members of the board from the private sector are not entitled to per diem or reimbursement for travel expenses. However, members of the board from the public sector are entitled to reimbursement, if any, from their respective agency. Members of the board may request assistance from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as necessary.
History.—s. 27, ch. 2001-196; s. 19, ch. 2011-66.
320.28 Nonresident dealers in secondhand motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, or mobile homes.—Every dealer in used or secondhand motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, or mobile homes who is a nonresident of the state, does not have a permanent place of business in this state, and has not qualified as a dealer under the provisions of ss. 320.27, 320.77, and 320.771, and any person other than a dealer qualified under the provisions of said ss. 320.27, 320.77, and 320.771, who brings any used or secondhand motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or mobile home into the state for the purpose of sale, except to a dealer licensed under the provisions of ss. 320.27, 320.77, and 320.771, shall, at least 10 days prior to the sale of said vehicle, the offering of said vehicle for sale, or the advertising of said vehicle for sale, make and file with the department the official application for a certificate of title for said vehicle as provided by law. Any person who has had one or more transactions involving the sale of three or more used or secondhand motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, or mobile homes in Florida during any 12-month period shall be deemed to be a secondhand dealer in motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, or mobile homes.
History.—ss. 1, 6, ch. 17113, 1935; s. 1, ch. 18032, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 1317(1), (6); s. 1, ch. 24192, 1947; s. 1, ch. 25140, 1949; s. 1, ch. 57-388; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 24, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 15, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 25, ch. 95-333.
320.30 Penalty for violating s. 320.28.—No action or right of action to recover any such motor vehicle, or any part of the selling price thereof, shall be maintained in the courts of this state by any such dealer or vendor or his or her successors or assigns in any case wherein such vendor or dealer shall have failed to comply with the terms and provisions of s. 320.28, and in addition thereto, such vendor or dealer, upon conviction for the violation of any of the provisions of said sections, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083 and by confiscation of the vehicle or vehicles offered for sale. Any municipal or county law enforcement agency that enforces, or assists the department in enforcing, the provisions of this section which enforcement results in a forfeiture of property as provided in this section is entitled to receive all or a share of any such property based upon its participation in such enforcement. Any property seized by any municipal or county law enforcement agency may be retained or sold by the law enforcement agency in accordance with the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. Any funds received by a municipal or county law enforcement agency pursuant to this section constitute supplemental funds and may not be used as replacement funds by the municipality or county. However, this section shall not apply to:
(1) The holder of a note or notes representing a portion of the purchase price of such motor vehicle when the owner thereof was and is a bona fide purchaser of said note or notes, before maturity, for value and without knowledge that the vendor of such vehicle had not complied with said sections; or
(2) The bona fide purchaser of such motor vehicle for value and without knowledge that the vendor or dealer of such vehicle had not complied with said sections.
History.—s. 3, ch. 17113, 1935; s. 3, ch. 18032, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 1317(3), (8), 8132(1), (2); s. 201, ch. 71-136; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 25, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 15, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 361, ch. 95-148; s. 36, ch. 99-248.
320.31 Definitions covering ss. 320.28 and 320.30.—The terms “dealer” and “vendor,” used in ss. 320.28 and 320.30, shall be construed to include every individual, partnership, corporation or trust whose business in whole or in part, is that of selling new or used motor vehicles and likewise shall be construed to include every agent, representative, or consignee of any such dealer as defined above, as fully as if same had been herein expressly set out.
History.—s. 4, ch. 17113, 1935; s. 4, ch. 18032, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 1317(4), (9); s. 7, ch. 24337, 1947; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 15, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.3201 Legislative intent.—
(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the state by regulating the relationship between recreational vehicle dealers and manufacturers, maintaining competition, and providing consumer protection and fair trade.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of ss. 320.3201-320.3211 be applied to manufacturer/dealer agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2007.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2007-258.
320.3202 Definitions.—As used in ss. 320.3201-320.3211, the term:
(1) “Area of sales responsibility” means the geographical area agreed to by the dealer and the manufacturer in the manufacturer/dealer agreement within which the dealer has the exclusive right to display or sell the manufacturer’s new recreational vehicles of a particular line-make.
(2) “Dealer” means any person, firm, corporation, or business entity licensed or required to be licensed under s. 320.771.
(3) “Distributor” means any person, firm, corporation, or business entity that purchases new recreational vehicles for resale to dealers.
(4) “Factory campaign” means an effort on the part of a warrantor to contact recreational vehicle owners or dealers in order to address a part or equipment issue.
(5) “Family member” means a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, sibling, niece, or nephew, or the spouse thereof.
(6) “Line-make” means a specific series of recreational vehicle products that:
(a) Are identified by a common series trade name or trademark;
(b) Are targeted to a particular market segment, as determined by their decor, features, equipment, size, weight, and price range;
(c) Have lengths and interior floor plans that distinguish the recreational vehicles from other recreational vehicles with substantially the same decor, equipment, features, price, and weight;
(d) Belong to a single, distinct classification of recreational vehicle product type having a substantial degree of commonality in the construction of the chassis, frame, and body; and
(e) The manufacturer/dealer agreement authorizes a dealer to sell.
(7) “Manufacturer” means any person, firm, corporation, or business entity that engages in the manufacturing of recreational vehicles.
(8) “Manufacturer/dealer agreement” means a written agreement or contract entered into between a manufacturer and a dealer that fixes the rights and responsibilities of the parties and pursuant to which the dealer sells new recreational vehicles.
(9) “Proprietary part” means any part manufactured by or for and sold exclusively by the manufacturer.
(10) “Recreational vehicle” means the category of motor vehicle described in s. 320.01(1)(b).
(11) “Transient customer” means a customer who is temporarily traveling through a dealer’s area of sales responsibility.
(12) “Warrantor” means any person, firm, corporation, or business entity that gives a warranty in connection with a new recreational vehicle or parts, accessories, or components thereof. The term does not include service contracts, mechanical or other insurance, or extended warranties sold for separate consideration by a dealer or other person not controlled by a manufacturer.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2007-258.
320.3203 Requirement for a written manufacturer/dealer agreement; area of sales responsibility.—
(1) A manufacturer or distributor may not sell a recreational vehicle in this state to or through a dealer without having first entered into a manufacturer/dealer agreement with a dealer which has been signed by both parties.
(2) The manufacturer shall designate the area of sales responsibility exclusively assigned to a dealer in the manufacturer/dealer agreement and may not change such area or contract with another dealer for sale of the same line-make in the designated area during the duration of the agreement.
(3) The area of sales responsibility may not be reviewed or changed until 1 year after the execution of the manufacturer/dealer agreement.
(4) A motor vehicle dealer may not sell a new recreational vehicle in this state without having first entered into a manufacturer/dealer agreement with a manufacturer or distributor and may not sell outside of the area of sales responsibility designated in the agreement.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), a dealer may sell outside of its designated area of sales responsibility if the dealer obtains an offsite/supplemental license pursuant to s. 320.771(7) and meets any one of the following conditions:
(a) For sales of the same line-make within another dealer’s designated area of sales responsibility, the dealer must obtain in advance of the off-premise sale a written agreement signed by the dealer, the manufacturer of the recreational vehicles to be sold at the off-premise sale, and the dealer in whose designated area of sales responsibility the off-premise sale will occur which:
1. Designates the line-make of the recreational vehicles to be sold;
2. Sets forth the time period for the off-premise sale; and
3. Affirmatively authorizes the sale of the same line-make of the recreational vehicles.
(b) The off-premise sale is not located within any dealer’s designated area of sales responsibility and is in conjunction with a public vehicle show.
(c) The off-premise sale is in conjunction with a public vehicle show in which more than 35 dealers are participating and the show is predominantly funded by manufacturers. For the purposes of this subsection, the term “public vehicle show” means an event sponsored by an organization approved under s. 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code which has the purpose of promoting the welfare of the recreational vehicle industry and is located at a site that:
1. Will be used to display and sell recreational vehicles;
2. Is not used for off-premise sales for more than 10 days in a calendar year; and
3. Is not the location set forth on any dealer’s license as its place of business.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2007-258.
320.3205 Termination, cancellation, and nonrenewal of a manufacturer/dealer agreement.—
(1) A manufacturer or distributor, directly or through any officer, agent, or employee, may not terminate, cancel, or fail to renew a manufacturer/dealer agreement without good cause, and, upon renewal, may not require additional inventory stocking requirements or increased retail sales targets in excess of the market growth in the dealer’s area of sales responsibility.
(a) The manufacturer or distributor has the burden of showing good cause for terminating, canceling, or failing to renew a manufacturer/dealer agreement with a dealer. For purposes of determining whether there is good cause for the proposed action, any of the following factors may be considered:
1. The extent of the affected dealer’s penetration in the relevant market area.
2. The nature and extent of the dealer’s investment in its business.
3. The adequacy of the dealer’s service facilities, equipment, parts, supplies, and personnel.
4. The effect of the proposed action on the community.
5. The extent and quality of the dealer’s service under recreational vehicle warranties.
6. The failure to follow agreed-upon procedures or standards related to the overall operation of the dealership.
7. The dealer’s performance under the terms of its manufacturer/dealer agreement.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a manufacturer or distributor shall provide a dealer with at least 120 days’ prior written notice of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of the manufacturer/dealer agreement.
1. The notice must state all reasons for the proposed termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal and must further state that if, within 30 days following receipt of the notice, the dealer provides to the manufacturer or distributor a written notice of intent to cure all claimed deficiencies, the dealer will then have 120 days following receipt of the notice to rectify the deficiencies. If the deficiencies are rectified within 120 days, the manufacturer’s or distributor’s notice is voided. If the dealer fails to provide the notice of intent to cure the deficiencies in the prescribed time period, the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal takes effect 30 days after the dealer’s receipt of the notice unless the dealer has new and untitled inventory on hand that may be disposed of pursuant to subsection (3).
2. The notice period may be reduced to 30 days if the grounds for termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal are due to:
a. A dealer or one of its owners being convicted of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony;
b. The abandonment or closing of the business operations of the dealer for 10 consecutive business days unless the closing is due to an act of God, strike, labor difficulty, or other cause over which the dealer has no control;
c. A significant misrepresentation by the dealer materially affecting the business relationship; or
d. A suspension or revocation of the dealer’s license, or refusal to renew the dealer’s license, by the department.
3. The notice provisions of this paragraph do not apply if the reason for termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal is insolvency, the occurrence of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or bankruptcy.
(2) A dealer may terminate, cancel, or not renew its manufacturer/dealer agreement with a manufacturer or distributor with or without cause at any time by giving 30 days’ written notice to the manufacturer. If the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal is for cause, the dealer has the burden of showing good cause. Any of the following items shall be deemed good cause for the proposed action by a dealer:
(a) A manufacturer being convicted of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony.
(b) The business operations of the manufacturer have been abandoned or closed for 10 consecutive business days, unless the closing is due to an act of God, strike, labor difficulty, or other cause over which the manufacturer has no control.
(c) A significant misrepresentation by the manufacturer materially affecting the business relationship.
(d) A material violation of ss. 320.3201-320.3211 which is not cured within 30 days after written notice by the dealer.
(e) A declaration by the manufacturer of bankruptcy, insolvency, or the occurrence of an assignment for the benefit of creditors or bankruptcy.
(3) If the manufacturer/dealer agreement is terminated, canceled, or not renewed by the manufacturer or distributor without cause or by the dealer for cause, the manufacturer shall, at the election of the dealer and within 45 days after termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, repurchase:
(a) All new, untitled recreational vehicles that were acquired from the manufacturer or distributor within 18 months before the date of the notice of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal that have not been used, except for demonstration purposes, and that have not been altered or damaged, at 100 percent of the net invoice cost, including transportation, less applicable rebates and discounts to the dealer. If any of the vehicles repurchased is damaged, the amount due to the dealer shall be reduced by the cost to repair the damaged vehicle. Damage prior to delivery to the dealer will not disqualify repurchase under this subsection;
(b) All undamaged accessories and proprietary parts sold to the dealer for resale within the 12 months prior to termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, if accompanied by the original invoice, at 105 percent of the original net price paid to the manufacturer or distributor to compensate the dealer for handling, packing, and shipping the parts; and
(c) Any properly functioning diagnostic equipment, special tools, current signage, and other equipment and machinery at 100 percent of the dealer’s net cost plus freight, destination, delivery, and distribution charges and sales taxes, if any, if it was purchased by the dealer within 5 years before termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal and upon the manufacturer’s or distributor’s request and can no longer be used in the normal course of the dealer’s ongoing business.

The manufacturer or distributor shall pay the dealer within 30 days after receipt of the returned items.

(4) When taking on an additional line-make of recreational vehicle, a dealer shall notify in writing any manufacturer with whom the dealer has a manufacturer/dealer agreement of the same line-make at least 30 days prior to entering into a manufacturer/dealer agreement with the manufacturer of the additional line-make.
History.—s. 4, ch. 2007-258.
320.3206 Transfer of ownership; family succession.—
(1) If a dealer desires to make a change in ownership by the sale of the business assets, stock transfer, or otherwise, the dealer shall give the manufacturer or distributor written notice at least 10 business days before the closing, including all supporting documentation as may be reasonably required by the manufacturer or distributor to determine if an objection to the sale may be made. In the absence of a breach by the selling dealer of its dealer agreement or this chapter, the manufacturer or distributor shall not object to the proposed change in ownership unless the prospective transferee:
(a) Has previously been terminated by the manufacturer for breach of its dealer agreement;
(b) Has been convicted of a felony or any crime of fraud, deceit, or moral turpitude;
(c) Lacks any license required by law;
(d) Does not have an active line of credit sufficient to purchase a manufacturer’s product; or
(e) Has undergone in the last 10 years bankruptcy, insolvency, a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, or conservator to take possession of the transferee’s business or property.
(2) If the manufacturer or distributor objects to a proposed change of ownership, the manufacturer or distributor shall give written notice of its reasons to the dealer within 7 business days after receipt of the dealer’s notification and complete documentation. The manufacturer or distributor has the burden of proof with regard to its objection. If the manufacturer or distributor does not give timely notice of its objection, the change or sale shall be deemed approved.
(3)(a) It is unlawful for a manufacturer or distributor to fail to provide a dealer an opportunity to designate, in writing, a family member as a successor to the dealership in the event of the death, incapacity, or retirement of the dealer. It is unlawful to prevent or refuse to honor the succession to a dealership by a family member of the deceased, incapacitated, or retired dealer unless the manufacturer or distributor has provided to the dealer written notice of its objections within 10 days after receipt of the dealer’s modification of the dealer’s succession plan. In the absence of a breach of the dealer agreement, the manufacturer may object to the succession for the following reasons only:
1. Conviction of the successor of a felony or any crime of fraud, deceit, or moral turpitude;
2. Bankruptcy or insolvency of the successor during the past 10 years;
3. Prior termination by the manufacturer of the successor for breach of a dealer agreement;
4. The lack of an active line of credit for the successor sufficient to purchase the manufacturer’s product; or
5. The lack of any license for the successor required by law.
(b) The manufacturer or distributor has the burden of proof regarding its objection. However, a family member may not succeed to a dealership if the succession involves, without the manufacturer’s or distributor’s consent, a relocation of the business or an alteration of the terms and conditions of the manufacturer/dealer agreement.
History.—s. 5, ch. 2007-258.
320.3207 Warranty obligations.—
(1) Each warrantor shall:
(a) Specify in writing to each of its dealer obligations, if any, for preparation, delivery, and warranty service on its products;
(b) Compensate the dealer for warranty service required of the dealer by the warrantor; and
(c) Provide the dealer the schedule of compensation to be paid and the time allowances for the performance of any work and service.

The schedule of compensation must include reasonable compensation for diagnostic work as well as warranty labor.

(2) Time allowances for the diagnosis and performance of warranty labor must be reasonable for the work to be performed. The compensation of a dealer for warranty labor may not be less than the lowest retail labor rates actually charged by the dealer for like nonwarranty labor as long as such rates are reasonable.
(3) The warrantor shall reimburse the dealer for warranty parts at actual wholesale cost plus a minimum 30-percent handling charge and the cost, if any, of freight to return warranty parts to the warrantor.
(4) Warranty audits of dealer records may be conducted by the warrantor on a reasonable basis, and dealer claims for warranty compensation may not be denied except for cause, such as performance of nonwarranty repairs, material noncompliance with the warrantor’s published policies and procedures, lack of material documentation, fraud, or misrepresentation.
(5) The dealer shall submit warranty claims within 45 days after completing work.
(6) The dealer shall notify the warrantor verbally or in writing if the dealer is unable to perform material or repetitive warranty repairs as soon as is reasonably possible.
(7) The warrantor shall disapprove warranty claims in writing within 45 days after the date of submission by the dealer in the manner and form prescribed by the warrantor. Claims not specifically disapproved in writing within 45 days shall be construed to be approved and must be paid within 60 days.
(8) It is a violation of ss. 320.3201-320.3211 for any warrantor to:
(a) Fail to perform any of its warranty obligations with respect to its warranted products;
(b) Fail to include, in written notices of factory campaigns to recreational vehicle owners and dealers, the expected date by which necessary parts and equipment, including tires and chassis or chassis parts, will be available to dealers to perform the campaign work. The warrantor may ship parts to the dealer to effect the campaign work, and, if such parts are in excess of the dealer’s requirements, the dealer may return unused parts to the warrantor for credit after completion of the campaign;
(c) Fail to compensate any of its dealers for authorized repairs effected by the dealer of merchandise damaged in manufacture or transit to the dealer, if the carrier is designated by the warrantor, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch;
(d) Fail to compensate any of its dealers for authorized warranty service in accordance with the schedule of compensation provided to the dealer pursuant to this section if performed in a timely and competent manner;
(e) Intentionally misrepresent in any way to purchasers of recreational vehicles that warranties with respect to the manufacture, performance, or design of the vehicle are made by the dealer as warrantor or cowarrantor; or
(f) Require the dealer to make warranties to customers in any manner related to the manufacture of the recreational vehicle.
(9) It is a violation of ss. 320.3201-320.3211 for any dealer to:
(a) Fail to perform predelivery inspection functions, as specified by the warrantor, in a competent and timely manner;
(b) Fail to perform warranty service work authorized by the warrantor in a reasonably competent and timely manner on any transient customer’s vehicle of the same line-make; or
(c) Misrepresent the terms of any warranty.
(10) Notwithstanding the terms of any manufacturer/dealer agreement, it is a violation of ss. 320.3201-320.3211 for:
(a) A warrantor to fail to indemnify and hold harmless its dealer against any losses or damages to the extent such losses or damages are caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the warrantor. The dealer may not be denied indemnification for failing to discover, disclose, or remedy a defect in the design or manufacturing of the recreational vehicle. The dealer shall provide to the warrantor a copy of any suit in which allegations are made that come within this subsection within 10 days after receiving such suit.
(b) A dealer to fail to indemnify and hold harmless its warrantor against any losses or damages to the extent such losses or damages are caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the dealer. The warrantor shall provide to the dealer a copy of any suit in which allegations are made that come within this subsection within 10 days after receiving such suit.
History.—s. 6, ch. 2007-258.
320.3208 Inspection and rejection by the dealer.—
(1) Whenever a new recreational vehicle is damaged prior to transit to the dealer or is damaged in transit to the dealer when the carrier or means of transportation has been selected by the manufacturer or distributor, the dealer shall notify the manufacturer or distributor of the damage within the timeframe specified in the manufacturer/dealer agreement and:
(a) Request from the manufacturer or distributor authorization to replace the components, parts, and accessories damaged or otherwise correct the damage; or
(b) Reject the vehicle within the timeframe set forth in subsection (3).

If the manufacturer or distributor refuses or fails to authorize repair of such damage within 10 days after receipt of notification or if the dealer rejects the recreational vehicle because of damage, ownership of the new recreational vehicle reverts to the manufacturer or distributor.

(2) The dealer shall exercise due care in custody of the damaged recreational vehicle, but the dealer shall have no other obligations, financial or otherwise, with respect to that recreational vehicle.
(3) The timeframe for inspection and rejection by the dealer must be part of the manufacturer/dealer agreement and may not be less than 2 business days after the physical delivery of the recreational vehicle.
(4) Any recreational vehicle that has, at the time of delivery to the dealer, an unreasonable amount of miles on its odometer, as determined by the dealer, may be subject to rejection by the dealer and reversion of the vehicle to the manufacturer or distributor. In no instance shall a dealer deem an amount less than the distance between the dealer and the manufacturer’s factory or a distributor’s point of distribution, plus 100 miles, as unreasonable.
History.—s. 7, ch. 2007-258.
320.3209 Coercion of dealer prohibited.—
(1) A manufacturer or distributor may not coerce or attempt to coerce a dealer to:
(a) Purchase a product that the dealer did not order;
(b) Enter into an agreement with the manufacturer or distributor;
(c) Take any action that is unfair or unreasonable to the dealer; or
(d) Enter into an agreement that requires the dealer to submit its disputes to binding arbitration or otherwise waive rights or responsibilities provided under ss. 320.3201-320.3211.
(2) As used in this section, the term “coerce” includes, but is not limited to, threatening to terminate, cancel, or not renew a manufacturer/dealer agreement without good cause or threatening to withhold product lines or delay product delivery as an inducement to amending the manufacturer/dealer agreement.
History.—s. 8, ch. 2007-258.
320.3210 Civil dispute resolution; mediation; relief.—
(1) A dealer, manufacturer, distributor, or warrantor injured by another party’s violation of ss. 320.3201-320.3211 may bring a civil action in circuit court to recover actual damages. The court shall award attorney’s fees and costs to the prevailing party in such action. Venue for any civil action authorized by this section must exclusively be in the county in which the dealership is located. In an action involving more than one dealer, venue may be in any county in which a dealer who is party to the action is located.
(2) Before bringing suit under this section, the party bringing suit for an alleged violation shall serve a written demand for mediation upon the offending party.
(a) The demand for mediation shall be served upon the offending party via certified mail at the address stated within the agreement between the parties. In the event of a civil action between two dealers, the demand must be mailed to the address on the dealer’s license filed with the department.
(b) The demand for mediation must contain a brief statement of the dispute and the relief sought by the party filing the demand.
(c) Within 20 days after the date a demand for mediation is served, the parties shall mutually select an independent certified mediator and meet with the mediator for the purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. The meeting place must be in this state in a location selected by the mediator. The mediator may extend the date of the meeting for good cause shown by either party or upon stipulation of both parties.
(d) The service of a demand for mediation under this subsection stays the time for the filing of any complaint, petition, protest, or action under ss. 320.3201-320.3211 until representatives of both parties have met with a mutually selected mediator for the purpose of attempting to resolve the dispute. If a complaint, petition, protest, or action is filed before that meeting, the court shall enter an order suspending the proceeding or action until the meeting has occurred and may, upon written stipulation of all parties to the proceeding or action that they wish to continue to mediate under this subsection, enter an order suspending the proceeding or action for as long a period as the court considers appropriate. A suspension order issued under this paragraph may be revoked by the court.
(e) The parties to the mediation shall bear their own costs for attorney’s fees and divide equally the cost of the mediator.
(3) In addition to the remedies provided in this section and notwithstanding the existence of any additional remedy at law, a dealer or manufacturer may apply to a circuit court for the grant, upon a hearing and for cause shown, of a temporary or permanent injunction, or both, restraining any person from acting as a dealer, manufacturer, distributor, or importer without being properly licensed pursuant to this chapter, from violating or continuing to violate any of the provisions of ss. 320.3201-320.3211, or from failing or refusing to comply with the requirements of ss. 320.3201-320.3211. Such injunction shall be issued without bond. A single act in violation of s. 320.3203 is sufficient to authorize the issuance of an injunction.
History.—s. 9, ch. 2007-258.
320.3211 Penalties.—
(1) The department may suspend or revoke any license issued under s. 320.771 upon a finding that the dealer, manufacturer, distributor, or importer violated any provision of ss. 320.3201-320.3211. The department may impose, levy, and collect by legal process fines, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation, against any person if it finds that such person has violated any provision of ss. 320.3201-320.3211. Such person is entitled to an administrative hearing pursuant to chapter 120 to contest the action or fine levied, or about to be levied, against the person.
(2) In addition to the civil and administrative remedies, a person who violates any provision of ss. 320.3201-320.3211 commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 10, ch. 2007-258.
320.37 Registration not to apply to nonresidents.—
(1) The provisions of this chapter relative to the requirement for registration of motor vehicles and display of license number plates do not apply to a motor vehicle owned by a nonresident of this state if the owner thereof has complied with the provisions of the motor vehicle registration or licensing law of the foreign country, state, territory, or federal district of the owner’s residence and conspicuously displays his or her registration number as required thereby.
(2) The exemption granted by this section does not apply to:
(a) A foreign corporation doing business in this state;
(b) Motor vehicles operated for hire, including any motor vehicle used in transporting agricultural or horticultural products or supplies if such vehicle otherwise meets the definition of a “for-hire vehicle”;
(c) Recreational vehicles or mobile homes located in this state for at least 6 consecutive months; or
(d) Commercial vehicles as defined in s. 316.003.
History.—s. 15, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 1020; s. 1, ch. 9155, 1923; s. 6, ch. 10182, 1925; ss. 1, 2, ch. 10187, 1925; s. 1, ch. 12096, 1927; CGL 1293; s. 8, ch. 78-207; s. 49, ch. 83-318; s. 23, ch. 86-243; s. 362, ch. 95-148.
320.371 Registration not to apply to certain manufacturers and others.—The provisions of this chapter which relate to registration and display of license number plates do not apply to any new automobile or truck, the equitable or legal title to which is vested in a manufacturer, distributor, importer, or exporter and which has never been transferred to an ultimate purchaser, if the vehicle is in the care, custody, and control of a vehicle servicing, processing, and handling agency or organization for the performance of such services and the export of such vehicle from the state or its distribution in the state, provided such agency or organization conspicuously displays on the vehicle its name and address on a temporary 5-inch by 12-inch sign that includes the legend “has custody of this vehicle.” Nothing in this section may be construed to relieve such vehicle servicing, processing, and handling agency or organization which has such custody and control of such vehicle from complying with and abiding by all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations relating to safety of operation of motor vehicles and the preservation of the highways of this state.
History.—s. 50, ch. 83-318.
320.38 When nonresident exemption not allowed.—The provisions of s. 320.37 authorizing the operation of motor vehicles over the roads of this state by nonresidents of this state when such vehicles are duly registered or licensed under the laws of some other state or foreign country do not apply to any nonresident who accepts employment or engages in any trade, profession, or occupation in this state, except a nonresident migrant or seasonal farm worker as defined in s. 316.003. In every case in which a nonresident, except a nonresident migrant or seasonal farm worker as defined in s. 316.003, accepts employment or engages in any trade, profession, or occupation in this state or enters his or her children to be educated in the public schools of this state, such nonresident shall, within 10 days after the commencement of such employment or education, register his or her motor vehicles in this state if such motor vehicles are proposed to be operated on the roads of this state. Any person who is enrolled as a student in a college or university and who is a nonresident but who is in this state for a period of up to 6 months engaged in a work-study program for which academic credits are earned from a college whose credits or degrees are accepted for credit by at least three accredited institutions of higher learning, as defined in s. 1005.02, is not required to have a Florida registration for the duration of the work-study program if the person’s vehicle is properly registered in another jurisdiction. Any nonresident who is enrolled as a full-time student in such institution of higher learning is also exempt for the duration of such enrollment.
History.—s. 6, ch. 7275, 1917; s. 1, ch. 7737, 1918; RGS 1011; s. 5, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 3, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1285; s. 3, ch. 15625, 1931; s. 3, ch. 16085, 1933; s. 1, ch. 19252, 1939; s. 1, ch. 69-153; s. 1, ch. 69-156; s. 2, ch. 82-112; s. 51, ch. 83-318; s. 28, ch. 91-221; s. 363, ch. 95-148; s. 6, ch. 97-218; s. 966, ch. 2002-387; s. 5, ch. 2006-81; s. 75, ch. 2016-239.
320.39 Reciprocal agreements for nonresident exemption.—
(1) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may negotiate and consummate with the proper authorities of the several states of the United States or any foreign country reciprocal agreements whereby residents of such other states or foreign country operating motor vehicles properly licensed and registered in their respective states or foreign country may have such privileges and exemption in the operation of their motor vehicles in this state as residents of this state whose vehicles are properly registered in this state may have and enjoy in the operation of their motor vehicles in such other states or foreign country. However, nothing herein may be construed to relieve any motor vehicle owner or operator from complying with and abiding by all other applicable laws and rules relating to safety of operation of motor vehicles and the preservation of the highways of this state. In the making of such reciprocal agreements, such departments shall have due regard for the benefits to be achieved for and the convenience of motor vehicle owners and the citizens of this state.
(2) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is authorized to continue membership in the International Registration Plan, a reciprocal agreement among the states and the provinces of Canada which provides for proportional payment of license fees.
(3) No such reciprocal agreement consummated by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may become effective until approved by the Governor; and all such reciprocal agreements shall be made subject to cancellation at any time by the Legislature.
(4) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall give proper publicity to the terms of every such reciprocal agreement.
History.—ss. 1-3, ch. 19479, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 1326(2)-(4); s. 1, ch. 24095, 1947; s. 1, ch. 63-279; s. 2, ch. 63-496; s. 1, ch. 65-52; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 23, 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 73-326; s. 26, ch. 77-357; s. 4, ch. 82-129; s. 52, ch. 83-318; s. 12, ch. 84-260; s. 54, ch. 85-180.
320.405 International Registration Plan; inspection of records; hearings.—
(1) The department or any authorized agent thereof is authorized to examine the records, books, papers, and equipment of any motor carrier that are deemed necessary to verify the truth and accuracy of any statement or report and ascertain whether the tax imposed by s. 320.08(4) and (5) has been paid.
(2) The department or any of its duly authorized agents shall have the power in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter to hold hearings, to administer oaths to witnesses, and to take the sworn testimony of any person and cause it to be transcribed into writing; for such purposes, the department shall be authorized to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum and conduct such investigations as it deems necessary.
(3) If any person unreasonably refuses access to such records, books, papers, other documents, or equipment, or if any person fails or refuses to obey such subpoenas duces tecum or to testify, except for lawful reasons, before the department or any of its authorized agents, the department shall certify the names and facts to the clerk of the circuit court of any county, and the circuit court shall enter such order against such person in the premises as the enforcement of this chapter requires.
(4) In any action or proceeding for the collection of the tax and penalties or interest imposed in connection therewith, an assessment by the department of the amount of the tax, penalties, or interest due shall be prima facie evidence of the claim of the state, and the burden of proof shall be upon the person charged to show that the assessment was incorrect and contrary to law.
(5) The department may enter into an agreement for scheduling the payment of taxes or penalties owed to the department as a result of an audit assessment issued under this section.
History.—s. 32, ch. 87-198; s. 36, ch. 2006-290.
320.406 Estimate of amount of tax due and unpaid.—
(1) Whenever any motor carrier neglects or refuses to make and file any report for any reporting period as required by this chapter or files an incorrect or fraudulent report, or is in default in the payment of any taxes and penalties thereon payable under this chapter, the department, after giving at least 10 days’ notice to the motor carrier, shall, from any information it may be able to obtain from its office or elsewhere, estimate the number of miles driven with respect to which the motor carrier has become liable for taxes due under this chapter including taxes due to the applicable International Registration Plan member jurisdiction and the amount of taxes due and payable thereon, to which sum shall be added the penalties and interest required under this chapter.
(2) In any action or proceeding for the collection of the tax and any penalties or interest imposed in connection therewith, an assessment by the department in the amount of the tax due and the interest or penalties due to the state shall constitute prima facie evidence of the claim of the state, and the burden of proof shall be upon the motor carrier to show that the assessment was incorrect or contrary to law.
History.—s. 33, ch. 87-198.
320.407 Suits for collection of unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest.—Upon demand of the department, the Department of Legal Affairs or the state attorney for a judicial circuit shall bring appropriate actions, in the name of the state or in the name of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in the capacity of its office, for the recovery of taxes, penalties, and interest due from any motor carrier under this chapter, and judgment shall be rendered for the amount so found to be due together with costs. However, if it shall be found as a fact that a violation of this chapter was willful on the part of any motor carrier, judgment shall be rendered for double the amount of the tax found to be due with costs. The department may employ an attorney at law to institute and prosecute proper proceedings to enforce payment of the taxes, penalties, and interest provided for by this chapter and may fix the compensation for the services of such attorney at law.
History.—s. 34, ch. 87-198.
320.408 Departmental warrant for collection of unpaid taxes and penalties due from motor carriers.—
(1) Upon the determination of the amount of unpaid taxes and penalties due from a motor carrier, the department may issue a warrant, under its official seal, directed to the sheriff of any county of the state, commanding the sheriff to levy upon and sell the goods and chattels of such motor carrier found within the sheriff’s jurisdiction for the payment of the amount of such delinquency, with the added penalties and interest and the cost of executing the warrant and conducting the sale, and to return such warrant to the department and pay the department the money collected by virtue thereof. However, any surplus resulting from such sale after all payments of costs, penalties, and delinquent taxes have been made shall be returned to the defaulting motor carrier.
(2) The sheriff to whom any such warrant is directed shall proceed upon the same in the same manner as prescribed by law in respect to executions issued against goods and chattels upon judgment by the several circuit courts, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(3) In the event there is a contest or claim of any kind with reference to the property levied upon or the amount of taxes, costs, or penalties due, such contest or claim shall be tried in the circuit court in and for the county in which the warrant was executed, as nearly as may be in the same manner and means as such contest or claim would have been tried in such court had the warrant originally issued upon a judgment rendered by such court. The warrant issued as provided in this section shall constitute prima facie evidence of the amount of taxes, interest, and penalties due to the state by the motor carrier, and the burden of proof shall be upon the motor carrier to show that the amounts or penalties were incorrect.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as forfeiting or waiving any rights to collect such taxes or penalties by an action upon any bonds that may be filed with the department under the provisions of this chapter or by suit or otherwise; in case such suit, action, or other proceeding is instituted for the collection of the tax, such suit, action, or other proceeding shall not be construed as waiving any other right herein provided. Any civil proceeding under this chapter shall not be construed as a waiver or as an estoppel in any criminal proceeding against a motor carrier under this chapter.
History.—s. 35, ch. 87-198; s. 364, ch. 95-148.
320.409 Tax lien on property.—If any motor carrier liable for the tax imposed by this chapter neglects or refuses to pay it, the amount of the tax, including any interest, penalty, or addition to the tax, with any cost that may accrue in addition thereto, shall be a lien in favor of the state upon all franchises, property, and rights to property, whether real or personal, then belonging to or thereafter acquired by the motor carrier, whether the property is employed by the motor carrier in the prosecution of business or is in the hands of an assignee, trustee, or receiver for the benefit of creditors, from the date the taxes are due and payable. The lien shall have priority over any lien or encumbrance whatsoever, except the lien of other state taxes having priority by law, and except that the lien shall not be valid as against any bona fide mortgagee, pledgee, judgment creditor, or purchaser whose rights attached before the time when the department filed claim of lien, for which no filing fee shall be required, in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the principal place of business of the motor carrier is located or, if the motor carrier has no principal place of business in the state, in the office of the Department of State. The lien shall continue until the amount of the tax, with any penalties and interest subsequently accruing, is paid or until the tax is barred under chapter 95. The department may issue a certificate of release of lien when the amount of the tax, with any penalties and interest subsequently accruing thereon, has been satisfied by the motor carrier, and the motor carrier may record it with the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the claim of lien was filed.
History.—s. 36, ch. 87-198.
320.411 Officer’s sale of property or franchise.—
(1) No sheriff, receiver, assignee, general or special magistrate, or other officer shall sell the property or franchise of any motor carrier for failure to pay taxes, penalties, or interest without first filing with the department a statement containing the following information:
(a) The name of the plaintiff or party at whose instance or upon whose account the sale is made.
(b) The name of the motor carrier whose property or franchise is to be sold.
(c) The time and place of sale.
(d) The nature of the property and the location of the same.
(2) The department, after receiving notice as provided in subsection (1), shall furnish to the sheriff, receiver, trustee, assignee, general or special magistrate, or other officer having charge of the sale a certified copy of all taxes, penalties, and interest on file in the office of the department as liens against such motor carrier and, in the event there are no such liens, a certificate showing that fact, which certified copy or copies of certificate shall be publicly read by such officer at and immediately before the sale of the property or franchise of such motor carrier.
History.—s. 37, ch. 87-198; s. 75, ch. 2004-11.
320.412 Department to furnish certificate of liens.—The department shall furnish to any person applying therefor a certificate showing the amount of all liens for tax, penalties, and interest that may be of record in the files of the department against any motor carrier under the provisions of this chapter.
History.—s. 38, ch. 87-198.
320.413 Discontinuance or transfer of business; change of address.—
(1) Whenever a person ceases to engage in business as a motor carrier by reason of the discontinuance, sale, or transfer of the business of such person, he or she shall notify the department in writing at least 10 days prior to the time the discontinuance, sale, or transfer takes effect. Such notice shall give the date of discontinuance and, in the event of a sale or transfer of the business, the date thereof and the name and address of the purchaser or transferee. All taxes shall become due and payable concurrently with such discontinuance, sale, or transfer, and any such person shall, concurrently with such discontinuance, sale, or transfer, make a report, pay all such taxes, interest, and penalties, and surrender to the department the motor vehicle registration or registrations issued to such person.
(2) Unless notice has been given to the department as provided in subsection (1), such purchaser or transferee is liable to the state for the amount of all taxes, penalties, and interest under the laws of this state accrued against the person selling or transferring his or her business on the date of such sale or transfer, but only to the extent of the value of the property and business thereby acquired from such motor carrier.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as releasing the motor carrier so transferring or discontinuing his or her business from liability for any taxes or for any interest or penalty due under the provisions of this chapter.
(4) Every motor carrier shall submit in writing to the department any change in address of his or her principal place of business within 10 days after such change becomes effective.
History.—s. 39, ch. 87-198; s. 365, ch. 95-148.
320.414 Restraining and enjoining violation.—In a suit or other proceeding instituted in any court of competent jurisdiction in the name of the state by the Department of Legal Affairs or by a state attorney at the direction of the department, any motor carrier who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or who fails to pay the taxes and all interest and penalties due by the motor carrier to the state or the International Registration Plan under the provisions of this chapter may be restrained and enjoined from operating any commercial motor vehicle within this state until such motor carrier has paid all of such taxes, interest, and penalties due the state and has complied with the provisions of this chapter. Any proceeding instituted under this section shall not operate as a bar to the prosecution of any person guilty of violating any of the criminal laws of the state.
History.—s. 40, ch. 87-198; s. 366, ch. 95-148.
320.415 Authority to inspect vehicles and seize property.—
(1) As a part of their responsibilities when inspecting commercial motor vehicles, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Department of Transportation shall ensure that all vehicles are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Commercial motor vehicles owned or operated by any motor carrier who refuses to comply with this chapter may be seized by authorized agents or employees of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or the Department of Transportation.
History.—s. 41, ch. 87-198.
320.416 Cooperation of other state agencies in administration of law.—The department is empowered to call on any state agency, department, bureau, or board for any and all information which, in its judgment, may be of assistance in administering or preparing for the administration of this chapter, and such state agency, department, bureau, or board is authorized, directed, and required to furnish such information.
History.—s. 42, ch. 87-198.
320.417 Foreclosure of liens.—The department may file an action in the name of the state to foreclose the liens provided for in this chapter. The procedure shall be the same as the procedure for foreclosure of mortgages on real estate. A certificate of the department setting forth the amount of taxes due shall be prima facie evidence of the matter therein contained. The action may be instituted at any time after the lien becomes effective and before it is barred under chapter 95. The title to the land conveyed by such deed shall be indefeasible as to all parties defendant in the action.
History.—s. 43, ch. 87-198.
320.51 Farm tractors and farm trailers exempt.—The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter which require the registration of motor vehicles, the payment of license taxes, and the display of license plates:
(1) A motor vehicle which is operated principally on a farm, grove, or orchard in agricultural or horticultural pursuits and which is operated on the roads of this state only incidentally in going from the owner’s or operator’s headquarters to such farm, grove, or orchard and returning therefrom or in going from one farm, grove, or orchard to another.
(2) A vehicle without motive power which is used principally for the purpose of transporting plows, harrows, fertilizer distributors, spray machines, and other farm or grove equipment and which uses the roads of this state only incidentally.
(3) A vehicle as described in subsection (1) or subsection (2) that is operated on the roads of this state for up to 3 days while moving from an auction site or other place of purchase to the purchaser’s property if the operator has in his or her possession a bill of sale.

This section does not exempt such farm tractors and farm trailers from laws relating to the tires to be used when operating on the roads of this state.

History.—s. 2, ch. 20911, 1941; s. 53, ch. 83-318; s. 2, ch. 2016-88.
320.525 Port vehicles and equipment; definition; exemption.—
(1) As used in this section, the term “port vehicles and equipment” means trucks, tractors, trailers, truck cranes, top loaders, fork lifts, hostling tractors, chassis, or other vehicles or equipment used for transporting cargo, containers, or other equipment. The term includes motor vehicles being relocated within a port facility or via designated port district roads.
(2) Port vehicles and equipment shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter which require the registration of motor vehicles, the payment of license taxes, and the display of license plates when operated or used within the port facility of any deepwater port of this state, as listed in s. 403.021(9)(b), for the purpose of transporting cargo, containers, or other equipment:
(a) From wharves to storage areas or terminals and return to wharves within the port;
(b) From such storage areas or terminals to other storage areas or terminals within the port; and
(c) On public roads connecting port facilities of a single deepwater port, as listed in s. 403.021(9)(b), which are designated as port district roads for the purpose of transporting cargo, containers, and other equipment. The Department of Transportation shall designate port district roads with appropriate signage.
(3) The incidental operation of port vehicles or equipment on the roads of this state within the port facility of any deepwater port of this state, as listed in s. 403.021(9)(b), while being operated for the purposes described in subsection (2) shall not deprive such vehicle of the exemption otherwise provided for in this section.
History.—s. 1, ch. 92-197; s. 25, ch. 2014-216; s. 16, ch. 2016-239.
320.535 Airport vehicles and equipment; definition; exemption.—
(1) As used in this section, the term “airport fuel trucks and equipment” means trucks, trailers, containers, and other vehicles or equipment used for transporting aviation fuel.
(2) Airport fuel trucks and equipment shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter which require the registration of motor vehicles, the payment of license taxes, and the display of license plates when operated or used for the purpose of transporting aviation fuel within the airport facility of any public-use airport of this state.
(3) The incidental operation of airport fuel trucks or equipment on the roads of this state within the airport facility while being operated for the purposes described in subsection (2) shall not deprive such vehicles of the exemption otherwise provided for in this section.
History.—s. 48, ch. 97-300.
320.57 Penalties for violations of this chapter.—
(1) Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this chapter is, unless otherwise provided herein, guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2) The owner of a truck tractor and semitrailer combination or commercial truck and trailer combination, the actual gross vehicle weight of which exceeds the declared weight for registration purposes, is required to pay to the department the difference between the license tax amount paid and the required license tax due for the proper gross vehicle weight prescribed by s. 320.08(4), plus a civil penalty of $50.
History.—s. 26, ch. 7275, 1917; RGS 5605; s. 14, ch. 8410, 1921; s. 7, ch. 10186, 1925; CGL 7792, 7793; s. 202, ch. 71-136; s. 54, ch. 83-318; s. 44, ch. 87-198.
320.571 Failure of person charged with misdemeanor under this chapter to comply with court-ordered directives; suspension of license.—Any person who has been charged with the commission of an offense which constitutes a misdemeanor under this chapter and who fails to comply with all of the directives of the court is subject to the provisions of s. 322.245.
History.—s. 21, ch. 84-359.
320.58 License inspectors; powers, appointment.—
(1)(a) The department shall appoint as many license inspectors and supervisors as it deems necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter and chapters 319, 322, and 324. In order to enforce the provisions of these laws, the inspectors are empowered to enter on both publicly owned and privately owned property and to issue uniform traffic citations to persons found in violation thereof. The department is further empowered to delegate the power to issue uniform traffic citations to persons acting as its agents for the purpose of enforcing the registration provisions of this chapter, which may include, but not be limited to, personnel employed by district school boards as agreed to by the school board and the county tax collector.
(b) License inspectors appointed pursuant to this section and agents delegated by the department are not to be considered for membership in the state high-risk retirement program.
(2) Any person who fails or refuses to surrender his or her driver license, registration certificate, and license plate upon lawful demand of an inspector, supervisor, or authorized agent of the department is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 7, ch. 10182, 1925; CGL 1305; s. 46, ch. 26869, 1951; s. 19, ch. 63-400; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 73-305; s. 27, ch. 77-357; s. 55, ch. 83-318; s. 3, ch. 88-253; s. 39, ch. 91-224; s. 367, ch. 95-148; ss. 50, 51, ch. 2000-171.
320.60 Definitions for ss. 320.61-320.70.—Whenever used in ss. 320.61-320.70, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Agreement” or “franchise agreement” means a contract, franchise, new motor vehicle franchise, sales and service agreement, or dealer agreement or any other terminology used to describe the contractual relationship between a manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or importer, and a motor vehicle dealer, pursuant to which the motor vehicle dealer is authorized to transact business pertaining to motor vehicles of a particular line-make.
(2) “Common entity” means a person:
(a) Who is either controlled or owned, beneficially or of record, by one or more persons who also control or own more than 40 percent of the voting equity interests of a manufacturer; or
(b) Who shares directors or officers or partners with a manufacturer.
(3) “Demonstrator” means any new motor vehicle that is carried on the records of the dealer as a demonstrator and is used by, being inspected or driven by the dealer or his or her employees, or driven by prospective customers for the purpose of demonstrating vehicle characteristics in the sale or display of motor vehicles sold by the dealer.
(4) “Department” means the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
(5) “Distributor” means a person, resident or nonresident, who, in whole or in part, sells or distributes motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers or who maintains distributor representatives.
(6) “Factory branch” means a branch office maintained by a manufacturer, distributor, or importer for the sale of motor vehicles to distributors or to motor vehicle dealers, or for directing or supervising, in whole or in part, its representatives in this state.
(7) “Importer” means any person who imports vehicles from a foreign country into the United States or into this state for the purpose of sale or lease.
(8) “Licensee” means any person licensed or required to be licensed under s. 320.61.
(9) “Manufacturer” means any person, whether a resident or nonresident of this state, who manufactures or assembles motor vehicles or who manufactures or installs on previously assembled truck chassis special bodies or equipment which, when installed, form an integral part of the motor vehicle and which constitute a major manufacturing alteration. The term “manufacturer” includes a central or principal sales corporation or other entity through which, by contractual agreement or otherwise, it distributes its products.
(10) “Motor vehicle” means any new automobile, motorcycle, or truck, including all trucks, regardless of weight, including “heavy truck” as defined in s. 320.01(10) and “truck” as defined in s. 320.01(9), the equitable or legal title to which has never been transferred by a manufacturer, distributor, importer, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser; however, when legal title is not transferred but possession of a motor vehicle is transferred pursuant to a conditional sales contract or lease and the conditions are not satisfied and the vehicle is returned to the motor vehicle dealer, the motor vehicle may be resold by the motor vehicle dealer as a new motor vehicle, provided the selling motor vehicle dealer gives the following written notice to the purchaser: “THIS VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO A PREVIOUS PURCHASER.” The purchaser shall sign an acknowledgment, a copy of which is kept in the selling dealer’s file.
(11)(a) “Motor vehicle dealer” means any person, firm, company, corporation, or other entity, who,
1. Is licensed pursuant to s. 320.27 as a “franchised motor vehicle dealer” and, for commission, money, or other things of value, repairs or services motor vehicles or used motor vehicles pursuant to an agreement as defined in subsection (1), or
2. Who sells, exchanges, buys, leases or rents, or offers, or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of any interest in, motor vehicles, or
3. Who is engaged wholly or in part in the business of selling motor vehicles, whether or not such motor vehicles are owned by such person, firm, company, or corporation.
(b) Any person who repairs or services three or more motor vehicles or used motor vehicles as set forth in paragraph (a), or who buys, sells, or deals in three or more motor vehicles in any 12-month period or who offers or displays for sale three or more motor vehicles in any 12-month period shall be prima facie presumed to be a motor vehicle dealer. The terms “selling” and “sale” include lease-purchase transactions.
(c) The term “motor vehicle dealer” does not include:
1. Public officers while performing their official duties;
2. Receivers, trustees, administrators, executors, guardians, or other persons appointed by, or acting under the judgment or order of, any court;
3. Banks, finance companies, or other loan agencies that acquire motor vehicles as an incident to their regular business; or
4. Motor vehicle rental and leasing companies that sell motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers licensed under s. 320.27.
(12) “Person” means any natural person, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, trust, or other legal entity.
(13) “Used motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle the title to which has been transferred, at least once, by a manufacturer, distributor, importer, or dealer to an ultimate purchaser.
(14) “Line-make vehicles” are those motor vehicles which are offered for sale, lease, or distribution under a common name, trademark, service mark, or brand name of the manufacturer of same. However, motor vehicles sold or leased under multiple brand names or marks shall constitute a single line-make when they are included in a single franchise agreement and every motor vehicle dealer in this state authorized to sell or lease any such vehicles has been offered the right to sell or lease all of the multiple brand names or marks covered by the single franchise agreement. Except, such multiple brand names or marks shall be considered individual franchises for purposes of s. 320.64(36).
(15) “Sell,” “selling,” “sold,” “exchange,” “retail sales,” and “leases” includes any transaction where the title of motor vehicle or used motor vehicle is transferred to a retail consumer, and also any retail lease transaction where a retail customer leases a vehicle for a period of at least 12 months. Establishing a price for sale pursuant to s. 320.64(24) does not constitute a sale or lease.
(16) “Service” means any maintenance or repair of any motor vehicle or used motor vehicle that is sold or provided to an owner, operator, or user pursuant to a motor vehicle warranty, or any extension thereof, issued by the licensee.
History.—s. 1, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 7, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 4, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 95, ch. 71-377; s. 1, ch. 72-112; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 28, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 129, ch. 79-400; ss. 16, 17, 18, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 84-69; ss. 3, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 17, ch. 93-219; s. 368, ch. 95-148; s. 32, ch. 2000-313; s. 19, ch. 2001-196; s. 1, ch. 2003-269; s. 2, ch. 2006-183; s. 1, ch. 2011-230; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.605 Legislative intent.—It is the intent of the Legislature to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state by regulating the licensing of motor vehicle dealers and manufacturers, maintaining competition, providing consumer protection and fair trade and providing minorities with opportunities for full participation as motor vehicle dealers.
History.—ss. 4, 22, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.61 Licenses required of motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, importers, etc.—
(1) No manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or importer (all sometimes referred to hereinafter as “licensee”) shall engage in business in this state without a license therefor as provided in ss. 320.60-320.70. No motor vehicle, foreign or domestic, may be sold, leased, or offered for sale or lease in this state unless the manufacturer, importer, or distributor of such motor vehicle, which issues an agreement to a motor vehicle dealer in this state, is licensed under ss. 320.60-320.70.
(2) The department may prescribe an abbreviated application for renewal of a license if the licensee had previously filed an initial application pursuant to s. 320.63. The application for renewal shall include any information necessary to bring current the information required in the initial application.
(3) All licenses shall be granted or refused within 30 days after application.
(4) When a complaint of unfair or prohibited cancellation or nonrenewal of a dealer agreement is made by a motor vehicle dealer against a licensee and such complaint is pending pursuant to ss. 320.60-320.70, no replacement application for such agreement shall be granted and no license shall be issued by the department under s. 320.27 to any replacement dealer until a final decision is rendered on the complaint of unfair cancellation, so long as the dealer agreement of the complaining dealer is in effect as provided under s. 320.641(7).
(5) Any manufacturer, distributor, or importer, who obtains a license under this section, is engaged in business in this state and is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state pursuant to chapter 48. Any manufacturer not licensed under this section, who is a manufacturer of motor vehicles of a recognized line-make which are sold or leased in this state pursuant to a plan, system, or channel of distribution established, approved, authorized or known to the manufacturer, shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state in any action seeking relief under or to enforce any of the remedies or penalties provided in ss. 320.60-320.70.
History.—s. 2, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 5, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 20, ch. 78-95; ss. 4, 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 2, ch. 84-69; ss. 5, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 20, ch. 2001-196; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.615 Agent for service of process.—The acceptance by any person of a license under ss. 320.60-320.70 shall be deemed equivalent to an appointment by such person of the Secretary of State as the agent of such person upon whom may be served all lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding against such person arising out of any transaction or operation connected with or incidental to any activities of such person carried on under such license, and the acceptance of such license shall be signification of the agreement of such person that any process against him or her which is so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served personally on the person. Service of such process shall be in accordance with and in the same manner as now provided for service of process upon nonresidents under the provisions of chapter 48.
History.—s. 6, ch. 70-424; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 369, ch. 95-148; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.62 Licenses; amount; disposition of proceeds.—The initial license for each manufacturer, distributor, or importer shall be $300 and shall be in addition to all other licenses or taxes levied, assessed, or required of the applicant or licensee. Applicants may choose to extend the licensure period for 1 additional year for a total of 2 years. An initial applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 for the first year and $100 for the second year. An applicant for a renewal license shall pay $100 to the department for a 1-year renewal or $200 for a 2-year renewal. The proceeds from all licenses under ss. 320.60-320.70 shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. All licenses shall be payable on or before October 1 of the year and shall expire, unless sooner revoked or suspended, on September 30 of the year of its expiration.
History.—s. 3, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 47, ch. 26869, 1951; s. 7, ch. 70-424; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 5, 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 5, ch. 85-176; ss. 6, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 43, ch. 2013-160; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.63 Application for license; contents.—Any person desiring to be licensed pursuant to ss. 320.60-320.70 shall make application therefor to the department upon a form containing such information as the department requires. The department shall require, with such application or otherwise and from time to time, all of the following, which information may be considered by the department in determining the fitness of the applicant or licensee to engage in the business for which the applicant or licensee desires to be licensed:
(1) Information relating to the applicant’s or licensee’s solvency and financial standing.
(2) A certified copy of the applicant’s or licensee’s new motor vehicle warranty or warranties in any way connected with a motor vehicle or any component thereof, accompanied by a detailed explanation thereof.
(3) From each manufacturer, distributor, or importer which utilizes an identical blanket basic agreement for its dealers or distributors in this state, which agreement comprises all or any part of the applicant’s or licensee’s agreements with motor vehicle dealers in this state, a copy of the written agreement and all supplements thereto, together with a list of the applicant’s or licensee’s authorized dealers or distributors and their addresses. The applicant or licensee shall further notify the department immediately of the appointment of any additional dealer or distributor. The applicant or licensee shall annually report to the department on its efforts to add new minority dealer points, including difficulties encountered under ss. 320.61-320.70. For purposes of this section “minority” shall have the same meaning as that given it in the definition of “minority person” in s. 288.703. Not later than 60 days before the date a revision or modification to a franchise agreement is offered uniformly to a licensee’s motor vehicle dealers in this state, the licensee shall notify the department of such revision, modification, or addition to the franchise agreement on file with the department. In no event may a franchise agreement, or any addendum or supplement thereto, be offered to a motor vehicle dealer in this state until the applicant or licensee files an affidavit with the department acknowledging that the terms or provisions of the agreement, or any related document, are not inconsistent with, prohibited by, or contrary to the provisions contained in ss. 320.60-320.70. Any franchise agreement offered to a motor vehicle dealer in this state shall provide that all terms and conditions in such agreement inconsistent with the law and rules of this state are of no force and effect.
(4) A certified copy of the delivery and preparation obligations of its motor vehicle dealers.
(5) An affidavit stating the rates which the applicant or licensee pays or agrees to pay any authorized motor vehicle dealer licensed in this state for the parts and labor advanced or incurred by such authorized motor vehicle dealer for or on account of any delivery and preparation obligations imposed by the applicant or the licensee on its dealers or relating to warranty obligations which the applicant or licensee or its principle is obligated to perform.
(6) The fee for the annual license.
(7) Any other pertinent matter commensurate with the safeguarding of the public interest which the department, by rule, prescribes.
History.—s. 4, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 8, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 3, ch. 84-69; ss. 7, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 370, ch. 95-148; s. 234, ch. 2011-142; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.64 Denial, suspension, or revocation of license; grounds.—A license of a licensee under s. 320.61 may be denied, suspended, or revoked within the entire state or at any specific location or locations within the state at which the applicant or licensee engages or proposes to engage in business, upon proof that the section was violated with sufficient frequency to establish a pattern of wrongdoing, and a licensee or applicant shall be liable for claims and remedies provided in ss. 320.695 and 320.697 for any violation of any of the following provisions. A licensee is prohibited from committing the following acts:
(1) The applicant or licensee is determined to be unable to carry out contractual obligations with its motor vehicle dealers.
(2) The applicant or licensee has knowingly made a material misstatement in its application for a license.
(3) The applicant or licensee willfully has failed to comply with significant provisions of ss. 320.60-320.70 or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or promulgated by the department.
(4) The applicant or licensee has indulged in any illegal act relating to his or her business.
(5) The applicant or licensee has coerced or attempted to coerce any motor vehicle dealer into accepting delivery of any motor vehicle or vehicles or parts or accessories therefor or any other commodities which have not been ordered by the dealer.
(6) The applicant or licensee has coerced or attempted to coerce any motor vehicle dealer to enter into any agreement with the licensee.
(7) The applicant or licensee has threatened to discontinue, cancel, or not to renew a franchise agreement of a licensed motor vehicle dealer, where the threatened discontinuation, cancellation, or nonrenewal, if implemented, would be in violation of any of the provisions of s. 320.641.
(8) The applicant or licensee discontinued, canceled, or failed to renew, a franchise agreement of a licensed motor vehicle dealer in violation of any of the provisions of s. 320.641.
(9) The applicant or licensee has threatened to modify or replace, or has modified or replaced, a franchise agreement with a succeeding franchise agreement which would adversely alter the rights or obligations of a motor vehicle dealer under an existing franchise agreement or which substantially impairs the sales, service obligations, or investment of the motor vehicle dealer.
(10)(a) The applicant or licensee has attempted to enter, or has entered, into a franchise agreement with a motor vehicle dealer who does not, at the time of the franchise agreement, have proper facilities to provide the services to his or her purchasers of new motor vehicles which are covered by the new motor vehicle warranty issued by the applicant or licensee.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of a franchise, a licensee may not require a motor vehicle dealer, by agreement, program, policy, standard, or otherwise, to make substantial changes, alterations, or remodeling to, or to replace a motor vehicle dealer’s sales or service facilities unless the licensee’s requirements are reasonable and justifiable in light of the current and reasonably foreseeable projections of economic conditions, financial expectations, and the motor vehicle dealer’s market for the licensee’s motor vehicles.
(c) A licensee may, however, consistent with the licensee’s allocation obligations at law and to its other same line-make motor vehicle dealers, provide to a motor vehicle dealer a commitment to supply additional vehicles or provide a loan or grant of money as an inducement for the motor vehicle dealer to expand, improve, remodel, alter, or renovate its facilities if the provisions of the commitment are contained in a writing voluntarily agreed to by the dealer and are made available, on substantially similar terms, to any of the licensee’s other same line-make dealers in this state who voluntarily agree to make a substantially similar facility expansion, improvement, remodeling, alteration, or renovation.
(d) Except as provided in paragraph (c), subsection (36), or as otherwise provided by law, this subsection does not require a licensee to provide financial support for, or contribution to, the purchase or sale of the assets of or equity in a motor vehicle dealer or a relocation of a motor vehicle dealer because such support has been provided to other purchases, sales, or relocations.
(e) A licensee or its common entity may not take or threaten to take any action that is unfair or adverse to a dealer who does not enter into an agreement with the licensee pursuant to paragraph (c).
(f) This subsection does not affect any contract between a licensee and any of its dealers regarding relocation, expansion, improvement, remodeling, renovation, or alteration which exists on the effective date of this act.
(g) A licensee may set and uniformly apply reasonable standards for a motor vehicle dealer’s sales and service facilities which are related to upkeep, repair, and cleanliness.
(h) A violation of paragraphs (b) through (g) is not a violation of s. 320.70 and does not subject any licensee to any criminal penalty under s. 320.70.
(i)1. If an applicant or licensee establishes a program, standard, or policy or in any manner offers a bonus, incentive, rebate, or other benefit to a motor vehicle dealer which is based, in whole or in part, on the construction of new sales or service facilities or the remodeling, improvement, renovation, expansion, replacement, or other alteration of the motor vehicle dealer’s existing sales or service facilities, including installation of signs or other image elements, a motor vehicle dealer who completes such construction, alteration, or installation in reliance upon such program, standard, policy, bonus, incentive, rebate, or other benefit is deemed to be in full compliance with the applicant’s or licensee’s requirements related to the new, remodeled, improved, renovated, expanded, replaced, or altered facilities, signs, and image elements for 10 years after such completion.
2. If, during such 10-year period, the applicant or licensee revises an existing, or establishes a new, program, standard, policy, bonus, incentive, rebate, or other benefit described in subparagraph 1., a motor vehicle dealer who completed a facility in reliance upon a prior program, standard, policy, bonus, incentive, rebate, or other benefit and elects not to comply with the applicant’s or licensee’s requirements for facilities, signs, or image elements under the revised or new program, standard, policy, bonus, incentive, rebate, or other benefit will not be eligible for any benefit under the revised or new program but shall remain entitled to all benefits under the prior program, plus any increase in benefits between the prior and revised or new programs, during the remainder of the 10-year period.

This paragraph does not obviate, affect, alter, or diminish the provisions of subsection (38).

(11) The applicant or licensee has coerced a motor vehicle dealer to provide installment financing for the motor vehicle dealer’s purchasers with a specified financial institution.
(12) The applicant or licensee has advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast, or televised, or caused or permitted to be advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast, or televised, in any manner whatsoever, any statement or representation with regard to the sale or financing of motor vehicles which is false, deceptive, or misleading.
(13) The applicant or licensee has sold, exchanged, or rented a motorcycle which produces in excess of 5 brake horsepower, knowing the use thereof to be by, or intended for, the holder of a restricted Florida driver license.
(14) The applicant or licensee has engaged in previous conduct which would have been a ground for revocation or suspension of a license if the applicant or licensee had been licensed.
(15) The applicant or licensee, directly or indirectly, through the actions of any parent of the licensee, subsidiary of the licensee, or common entity causes a termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of a franchise agreement by a present or previous distributor or importer unless, by the effective date of such action, the applicant or licensee offers the motor vehicle dealer whose franchise agreement is terminated, canceled, or not renewed a franchise agreement containing substantially the same provisions contained in the previous franchise agreement or files an affidavit with the department acknowledging its undertaking to assume and fulfill the rights, duties, and obligations of its predecessor distributor or importer under the terminated, canceled, or nonrenewed franchise agreement and the same is reinstated.
(16) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, the applicant or licensee prevents or refuses to accept the succession to any interest in a franchise agreement by any legal heir or devisee under the will of a motor vehicle dealer or under the laws of descent and distribution of this state; provided, the applicant or licensee is not required to accept a succession where such heir or devisee does not meet licensee’s written, reasonable, and uniformly applied minimal standard qualifications for dealer applicants or which, after notice and administrative hearing pursuant to chapter 120, is demonstrated to be detrimental to the public interest or to the representation of the applicant or licensee. Nothing contained herein, however, shall prevent a motor vehicle dealer, during his or her lifetime, from designating any person as his or her successor in interest by written instrument filed with and accepted by the applicant or licensee. A licensee who rejects the successor transferee under this subsection shall have the burden of establishing in any proceeding where such rejection is in issue that the rejection of the successor transferee complies with this subsection.
(17) The applicant or licensee has included in any franchise agreement with a motor vehicle dealer terms or provisions that are contrary to, prohibited by, or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions contained in ss. 320.60-320.70, or has failed to include in such franchise agreement a provision conforming to the requirements of s. 320.63(3).
(18) The applicant or licensee has established a system of motor vehicle allocation or distribution or has implemented a system of allocation or distribution of motor vehicles to one or more of its franchised motor vehicle dealers which reduces or alters allocations or supplies of new motor vehicles to the dealer to achieve, directly or indirectly, a purpose that is prohibited by ss. 320.60-320.70, or which otherwise is unfair, inequitable, unreasonably discriminatory, or not supportable by reason and good cause after considering the equities of the affected motor vehicles dealer or dealers. An applicant or licensee shall maintain for 3 years records that describe its methods or formula of allocation and distribution of its motor vehicles and records of its actual allocation and distribution of motor vehicles to its motor vehicle dealers in this state. As used in this subsection, “unfair” includes, without limitation, the refusal or failure to offer to any dealer an equitable supply of new vehicles under its franchise, by model, mix, or colors as the licensee offers or allocates to its other same line-make dealers in the state.
(19) The applicant or licensee, without good and fair cause, has delayed, refused, or failed to provide a supply of motor vehicles by series in reasonable quantities, including the models publicly advertised by the applicant or licensee as being available, or has delayed, refused, or failed to deliver motor vehicle parts and accessories within a reasonable time after receipt of an order by a franchised dealer. However, this subsection is not violated if such failure is caused by acts or causes beyond the control of the applicant or licensee.
(20) The applicant or licensee has required, or threatened to require, a motor vehicle dealer to prospectively assent to a release, assignment, novation, waiver, or estoppel, which instrument or document operates, or is intended by the applicant or licensee to operate, to relieve any person from any liability or obligation under the provisions of ss. 320.60-320.70.
(21) The applicant or licensee has threatened or coerced a motor vehicle dealer toward conduct or action whereby the dealer would waive or forego its right to protest the establishment or relocation of a motor vehicle dealer in the community or territory serviced by the threatened or coerced dealer.
(22) The applicant or licensee has refused to deliver, in reasonable quantities and within a reasonable time, to any duly licensed motor vehicle dealer who has an agreement with such applicant or licensee for the retail sale of new motor vehicles and parts for motor vehicles sold or distributed by the applicant or licensee, any such motor vehicles or parts as are covered by such agreement. Such refusal includes the failure to offer to its same line-make franchised motor vehicle dealers all models manufactured for that line-make, or requiring a dealer to pay any extra fee, require a dealer to execute a separate franchise agreement, purchase unreasonable advertising displays or other materials, or relocate, expand, improve, remodel, renovate, recondition, or alter the dealer’s existing facilities, or provide exclusive facilities as a prerequisite to receiving a model or series of vehicles. However, the failure to deliver any motor vehicle or part will not be considered a violation of this section if the failure is due to an act of God, work stoppage, or delay due to a strike or labor difficulty, a freight embargo, product shortage, or other cause over which the applicant or licensee has no control. An applicant or licensee may impose reasonable requirements on the motor vehicle dealer, other than the items listed above, including, but not limited to, the purchase of special tools required to properly service a motor vehicle and the undertaking of sales person or service person training related to the motor vehicle.
(23) The applicant or licensee has competed or is competing with respect to any activity covered by the franchise agreement with a motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make located in this state with whom the applicant or licensee has entered into a franchise agreement, except as permitted in s. 320.645.
(24) The applicant or licensee has sold a motor vehicle to any retail consumer in the state except through a motor vehicle dealer holding a franchise agreement for the line-make that includes the motor vehicle. This section does not apply to sales by the applicant or licensee of motor vehicles to its current employees, employees of companies affiliated by common ownership, charitable not-for-profit organizations, and the federal government.
(25) The applicant or licensee has undertaken or engaged in an audit of warranty, maintenance, and other service-related payments or incentive payments, including payments to a motor vehicle dealer under any licensee-issued program, policy, or other benefit, which were previously paid to a motor vehicle dealer in violation of this section or has failed to comply with any of its obligations under s. 320.696. An applicant or licensee may reasonably and periodically audit a motor vehicle dealer to determine the validity of paid claims as provided in s. 320.696. Audits of warranty, maintenance, and other service-related payments shall be performed by an applicant or licensee only during the 12-month period immediately following the date the claim was paid. Audits of incentive payments shall be performed only during the 12-month period immediately following the date the incentive was paid. As used in this section, the term “incentive” includes any bonus, incentive, or other monetary or nonmonetary consideration. After such time periods have elapsed, all warranty, maintenance, and other service-related payments and incentive payments shall be deemed final and incontrovertible for any reason notwithstanding any otherwise applicable law, and the motor vehicle dealer shall not be subject to any chargeback or repayment. An applicant or licensee may deny a claim or, as a result of a timely conducted audit, impose a chargeback against a motor vehicle dealer for warranty, maintenance, or other service-related payments or incentive payments only if the applicant or licensee can show that the warranty, maintenance, or other service-related claim or incentive claim was false or fraudulent or that the motor vehicle dealer failed to substantially comply with the reasonable written and uniformly applied procedures of the applicant or licensee for such repairs or incentives, but only for that portion of the claim so shown. Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, guideline, program, policy, or procedure, an applicant or licensee may deny or charge back only that portion of a warranty, maintenance, or other service-related claim or incentive claim which the applicant or licensee has proven to be false or fraudulent or for which the dealer failed to substantially comply with the reasonable written and uniformly applied procedures of the applicant or licensee for such repairs or incentives, as set forth in this subsection. An applicant or licensee may not charge back a motor vehicle dealer subsequent to the payment of a warranty, maintenance, or service-related claim or incentive claim unless, within 30 days after a timely conducted audit, a representative of the applicant or licensee first meets in person, by telephone, or by video teleconference with an officer or employee of the dealer designated by the motor vehicle dealer. At such meeting the applicant or licensee must provide a detailed explanation, with supporting documentation, as to the basis for each of the claims for which the applicant or licensee proposed a chargeback to the dealer and a written statement containing the basis upon which the motor vehicle dealer was selected for audit or review. Thereafter, the applicant or licensee must provide the motor vehicle dealer’s representative a reasonable period after the meeting within which to respond to the proposed chargebacks, with such period to be commensurate with the volume of claims under consideration, but in no case less than 45 days after the meeting. The applicant or licensee is prohibited from changing or altering the basis for each of the proposed chargebacks as presented to the motor vehicle dealer’s representative following the conclusion of the audit unless the applicant or licensee receives new information affecting the basis for one or more chargebacks and that new information is received within 30 days after the conclusion of the timely conducted audit. If the applicant or licensee claims the existence of new information, the dealer must be given the same right to a meeting and right to respond as when the chargeback was originally presented. After all internal dispute resolution processes provided through the applicant or licensee have been completed, the applicant or licensee shall give written notice to the motor vehicle dealer of the final amount of its proposed chargeback. If the dealer disputes that amount, the dealer may file a protest with the department within 30 days after receipt of the notice. If a protest is timely filed, the department shall notify the applicant or licensee of the filing of the protest, and the applicant or licensee may not take any action to recover the amount of the proposed chargeback until the department renders a final determination, which is not subject to further appeal, that the chargeback is in compliance with the provisions of this section. In any hearing pursuant to this subsection, the applicant or licensee has the burden of proof that its audit and resulting chargeback are in compliance with this subsection.
(26) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, including any licensee’s program, policy, or procedure, the applicant or licensee has refused to allocate, sell, or deliver motor vehicles; charged back or withheld payments or other things of value for which the dealer is otherwise eligible under a sales promotion, program, or contest; prevented a motor vehicle dealer from participating in any promotion, program, or contest; or has taken or threatened to take any adverse action against a dealer, including chargebacks, reducing vehicle allocations, or terminating or threatening to terminate a franchise because the dealer sold or leased a motor vehicle to a customer who exported the vehicle to a foreign country or who resold the vehicle, unless the licensee proves that the dealer knew or reasonably should have known that the customer intended to export or resell the motor vehicle. There is a rebuttable presumption that the dealer neither knew nor reasonably should have known of its customer’s intent to export or resell the vehicle if the vehicle is titled or registered in any state in this country. A licensee may not take any action against a motor vehicle dealer, including reducing its allocations or supply of motor vehicles to the dealer or charging back to a dealer any incentive payment previously paid, unless the licensee first meets in person, by telephone, or video conference with an officer or other designated employee of the dealer. At such meeting, the licensee must provide a detailed explanation, with supporting documentation, as to the basis for its claim that the dealer knew or reasonably should have known of the customer’s intent to export or resell the motor vehicle. Thereafter, the motor vehicle dealer shall have a reasonable period, commensurate with the number of motor vehicles at issue, but not less than 15 days, to respond to the licensee’s claims. If, following the dealer’s response and completion of all internal dispute resolution processes provided through the applicant or licensee, the dispute remains unresolved, the dealer may file a protest with the department within 30 days after receipt of a written notice from the licensee that it still intends to take adverse action against the dealer with respect to the motor vehicles still at issue. If a protest is timely filed, the department shall notify the applicant or licensee of the filing of the protest, and the applicant or licensee may not take any action adverse to the dealer until the department renders a final determination, which is not subject to further appeal, that the licensee’s proposed action is in compliance with the provisions of this subsection. In any hearing pursuant to this subsection, the applicant or licensee has the burden of proof on all issues raised by this subsection. An applicant or licensee may not take any adverse action against a motor vehicle dealer because the dealer sold or leased a motor vehicle to a customer who exported the vehicle to a foreign country or who resold the vehicle unless the applicant or licensee provides written notification to the motor vehicle dealer of such resale or export within 12 months after the date the dealer sold or leased the vehicle to the customer.
(27) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, the applicant or licensee has failed or refused to indemnify and hold harmless any motor vehicle dealer against any judgment for damages, or settlements agreed to by the applicant or licensee, including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorney fees, arising out of complaints, claims, or lawsuits, including, without limitation, strict liability, negligence, misrepresentation, express or implied warranty, or revocation or rescission of acceptance of the sale of a motor vehicle, to the extent the judgment or settlement relates to the alleged negligent manufacture, design, or assembly of motor vehicles, parts, or accessories. Nothing herein shall obviate the licensee’s obligations pursuant to chapter 681.
(28) The applicant or licensee has published, disclosed, or otherwise made available in any form information provided by a motor vehicle dealer with respect to sales prices of motor vehicles or profit per motor vehicle sold. Other confidential financial information provided by motor vehicle dealers shall not be published, disclosed, or otherwise made publicly available except in composite form. However, this information may be disclosed with the written consent of the dealer or in response to a subpoena or order of the department, a court or a lawful tribunal, or introduced into evidence in such a proceeding, after timely notice to an affected dealer.
(29) The applicant or licensee has failed to reimburse a motor vehicle dealer in full for the reasonable cost of providing a loaner vehicle to any customer who is having a vehicle serviced at the motor vehicle dealer, if a loaner is required by the applicant or licensee, or a loaner is expressly part of an applicant or licensee’s customer satisfaction index or computation.
(30) The applicant or licensee has conducted or threatened to conduct any audit of a motor vehicle dealer in order to coerce or attempt to coerce the dealer to forego any rights granted to the dealer under ss. 320.60-320.70 or under the agreement between the licensee and the motor vehicle dealer. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an applicant or licensee from reasonably and periodically auditing a dealer to determine the validity of paid claims, as permitted under this chapter, if the licensee complies with the provisions of ss. 320.60-320.70 applicable to such audits.
(31) From and after the effective date of enactment of this provision, the applicant or licensee has offered to any motor vehicle dealer a franchise agreement that:
(a) Requires that a motor vehicle dealer bring an administrative or legal action in a venue outside of this state;
(b) Requires that any arbitration, mediation, or other legal proceeding be conducted outside of this state; or
(c) Requires that a law of a state other than Florida be applied to any legal proceeding between a motor vehicle dealer and a licensee.
(32) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, the applicant or licensee has rejected or withheld approval of any proposed transfer in violation of s. 320.643 or a proposed change of executive management in violation of s. 320.644.
(33) The applicant or licensee has attempted to sell or lease, or has sold or leased, used motor vehicles at retail of a line-make that is the subject of any franchise agreement with a motor vehicle dealer in this state, other than trucks with a net weight of more than 8,000 pounds.
(34) The applicant or licensee, after the effective date of this subsection, has included in any franchise agreement with a motor vehicle dealer a mandatory obligation or requirement of the motor vehicle dealer to purchase, sell, or lease, or offer for purchase, sale, or lease, any quantity of used motor vehicles.
(35) The applicant or licensee has refused to assign allocation earned by a motor vehicle dealer, or has refused to sell motor vehicles to a motor vehicle dealer, because the motor vehicle dealer has failed or refused to purchase, sell, lease, or certify a certain quantity of used motor vehicles prescribed by the licensee.
(36)(a) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, in addition to any other statutory or contractual rights of recovery after the voluntary or involuntary termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of a franchise, failing to pay the motor vehicle dealer, as provided in paragraph (d), the following amounts:
1. The net cost paid by the dealer for each new car or truck in the dealer’s inventory with mileage of 2,000 miles or less, or a motorcycle with mileage of 100 miles or less, exclusive of mileage placed on the vehicle before it was delivered to the dealer.
2. The current price charged for each new, unused, undamaged, or unsold part or accessory that:
a. Is in the current parts catalogue and is still in the original, resalable merchandising package and in an unbroken lot, except that sheet metal may be in a comparable substitute for the original package; and
b. Was purchased by the dealer directly from the manufacturer or distributor or from an outgoing authorized dealer as a part of the dealer’s initial inventory.
3. The fair market value of each undamaged sign owned by the dealer which bears a trademark or trade name used or claimed by the applicant or licensee or its representative which was purchased from or at the request of the applicant or licensee or its representative.
4. The fair market value of all special tools, data processing equipment, and automotive service equipment owned by the dealer which:
a. Were recommended in writing by the applicant or licensee or its representative and designated as special tools and equipment;
b. Were purchased from or at the request of the applicant or licensee or its representative; and
c. Are in usable and good condition except for reasonable wear and tear.
5. The cost of transporting, handling, packing, storing, and loading any property subject to repurchase under this section.
(b) If the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of the dealer’s franchise is the result of the bankruptcy or reorganization of a licensee or its common entity, or the result of a licensee’s plan, scheme, or policy, whether or not publicly declared, which is intended to or has the effect of decreasing the number of, or eliminating, the licensee’s franchised motor vehicle dealers of a line-make in this state, or the result of a termination, elimination, or cessation of manufacture or reorganization of a licensee or its common entity, or the result of a termination, elimination, or cessation of manufacture or distribution of a line-make, in addition to the above payments to the dealer, the licensee or its common entity, shall be liable to and shall pay the motor vehicle dealer for an amount at least equal to the fair market value of the franchise for the line-make, which shall be the greater of the value determined as of the day the licensee announces the action that results in the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal, or the value determined on the day that is 12 months before that date. Fair market value of the franchise for the line-make includes only the goodwill value of the dealer’s franchise for that line-make in the dealer’s community or territory.
(c) This subsection does not apply to a termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal that is implemented as a result of the sale of the assets or corporate stock or other ownership interests of the dealer.
(d) The dealer shall return the property listed in this subsection to the licensee within 90 days after the effective date of the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal. The licensee shall supply the dealer with reasonable instructions regarding the method by which the dealer must return the property. Absent shipping instructions and prepayment of shipping costs from the licensee or its common entity, the dealer shall tender the inventory and other items to be returned at the dealer’s facility. The compensation for the property shall be paid by the licensee or its common entity simultaneously with the tender of inventory and other items, provided that, if the dealer does not have clear title to the inventory and other items and is not in a position to convey that title to the licensee, payment for the property being returned may be made jointly to the dealer and the holder of any security interest.
(37) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, the applicant or licensee has refused to allow or has limited or restricted a motor vehicle dealer from acquiring or adding a sales or service operation for another line-make of motor vehicles at the same or expanded facility at which the motor vehicle dealer currently operates a dealership unless the applicant or licensee can demonstrate that such refusal, limitation, or restriction is justified by consideration of reasonable facility and financial requirements and the dealer’s performance for the existing line-make.
(38) The applicant or licensee has failed or refused to offer a bonus, incentive, or other benefit program, in whole or in part, to a dealer or dealers in this state which it offers to all of its other same line-make dealers nationally or to all of its other same line-make dealers in the licensee’s designated zone, region, or other licensee-designated area of which this state is a part, unless the failure or refusal to offer the program in this state is reasonably supported by substantially different economic or marketing considerations than are applicable to the licensee’s same line-make dealers in this state. For purposes of this chapter, a licensee may not establish this state alone as a designated zone, region, or area or any other designation for a specified territory. A licensee may offer a bonus, rebate, incentive, or other benefit program to its dealers in this state which is calculated or paid on a per vehicle basis and is related in part to a dealer’s facility or the expansion, improvement, remodeling, alteration, or renovation of a dealer’s facility. Any dealer who does not comply with the facility criteria or eligibility requirements of such program is entitled to receive a reasonable percentage of the bonus, incentive, rebate, or other benefit offered by the licensee under that program by complying with the criteria or eligibility requirements unrelated to the dealer’s facility under that program. For purposes of the previous sentence, the percentage unrelated to the facility criteria or requirements is presumed to be “reasonable” if it is not less than 80 percent of the total of the per vehicle bonus, incentive, rebate, or other benefits offered under the program.
(39) Notwithstanding any agreement, program, incentive, bonus, policy, or rule, an applicant or licensee may not fail to make any payment pursuant to any agreement, program, incentive, bonus, policy, or rule for any temporary replacement motor vehicle loaned, rented, or provided by a motor vehicle dealer to or for its service or repair customers, even if the temporary replacement motor vehicle has been leased, rented, titled, or registered to the motor vehicle dealer’s rental or leasing division or an entity that is owned or controlled by the motor vehicle dealer, provided that the motor vehicle dealer or its rental or leasing division or entity complies with the written and uniformly enforced vehicle eligibility, use, and reporting requirements specified by the applicant or licensee in its agreement, program, policy, bonus, incentive, or rule relating to loaner vehicles.
(40) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, the applicant or licensee may not require or coerce, or attempt to require or coerce, a motor vehicle dealer to purchase goods or services from a vendor selected, identified, or designated by the applicant or licensee, or one of its parents, subsidiaries, divisions, or affiliates, by agreement, standard, policy, program, incentive provision, or otherwise, without making available to the motor vehicle dealer the option to obtain the goods or services of substantially similar design and quality from a vendor chosen by the motor vehicle dealer. If the motor vehicle dealer exercises such option, the dealer must provide written notice of its desire to use the alternative goods or services to the applicant or licensee, along with samples or clear descriptions of the alternative goods or services that the dealer desires to use. The licensee or applicant shall have the opportunity to evaluate the alternative goods or services for up to 30 days to determine whether it will provide a written approval to the motor vehicle dealer to use said alternative goods or services. Approval may not be unreasonably withheld by the applicant or licensee. If the motor vehicle dealer does not receive a response from the applicant or licensee within 30 days, approval to use the alternative goods or services is deemed granted. If a dealer using alternative goods or services complies with this subsection and has received approval from the licensee or applicant, the dealer is not ineligible for all benefits described in the agreement, standard, policy, program, incentive provision, or otherwise solely for having used such alternative goods or services. As used in this subsection, the term “goods or services” is limited to such goods and services used to construct or renovate dealership facilities or furniture and fixtures at the dealership facilities. The term does not include:
(a) Any materials subject to the applicant’s or licensee’s intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademark, or trade dress rights;
(b) Any special tool and training as required by the applicant or licensee;
(c) Any part to be used in repairs under warranty obligations of an applicant or licensee;
(d) Any good or service paid for entirely by the applicant or licensee; or
(e) Any applicant’s or licensee’s design or architectural review service.
(41) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, and except as authorized under subsection (25), a licensee may not deny a claim of a motor vehicle dealer, reduce the amount of compensation to a motor vehicle dealer, or process a chargeback to a motor vehicle dealer for performing covered warranty repairs or required recall repairs on a used motor vehicle due to either of the following circumstances:
(a) Discovery by the motor vehicle dealer of the need for warranty or recall repairs during the course of a separate repair requested by the consumer.
(b) Notification by the motor vehicle dealer to the consumer of the need for recall repairs after the licensee or an authorized governmental agency issues a notice of an outstanding recall for a safety-related defect.
(42)(a) The applicant or licensee has established, implemented, or enforced criteria for measuring the sales or service performance of any of its franchised motor vehicle dealers in this state which have a material or adverse effect on any motor vehicle dealer and which:
1. Are unfair, unreasonable, arbitrary, or inequitable; or
2. Do not include all relevant and material local and regional criteria, data, and facts. Relevant and material criteria, data, or facts include, but are not limited to, those of motor vehicle dealerships of comparable size in comparable markets. If such performance measurement criteria are based, in whole or in part, on a survey, such survey must be based on a statistically significant and valid random sample.
(b) An applicant, licensee, or common entity, or an affiliate thereof, which enforces against any motor vehicle dealer any such performance measurement criteria shall, upon the request of the motor vehicle dealer, describe in writing to the motor vehicle dealer, in detail, how the performance measurement criteria were designed, calculated, established, and uniformly applied.

A motor vehicle dealer who can demonstrate that a violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the preceding provisions by an applicant or licensee will or may adversely and pecuniarily affect the complaining dealer, shall be entitled to pursue all of the remedies, procedures, and rights of recovery available under ss. 320.695 and 320.697.

History.—s. 5, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 4, ch. 59-351; s. 9, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 83-105; s. 5, ch. 84-69; s. 15, ch. 87-161; ss. 8, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 371, ch. 95-148; s. 21, ch. 2001-196; s. 45, ch. 2002-1; s. 2, ch. 2003-269; s. 3, ch. 2006-183; s. 1, ch. 2007-195; s. 1, ch. 2008-62; s. 1, ch. 2009-93; s. 1, ch. 2016-77; s. 1, ch. 2017-141; s. 1, ch. 2017-187.
320.6403 Distributor agreements; obligations of manufacturer and importer.—Notwithstanding the terms of any agreement to the contrary, no manufacturer or importer subject to the jurisdiction of this state shall:
(1) Prevent or refuse to accept the succession to any interest in any distributor’s agreement with the manufacturer or importer by any legal heir, beneficiary, devisee, or distributee who has duly established his or her right to the decedent’s interest in any distribution agreement; provided, the manufacturer or importer is not required to accept a succession which is demonstrated to be significantly detrimental to the public interest or to the interest of the manufacturer or importer.
(2) Refuse to honor any duly qualified designated successor to a distributor’s agreement with the manufacturer or importer, who has been designated as such by the distributor during his or her lifetime and accepted in writing by the manufacturer or importer. Any such designation shall be binding upon the heirs, successors, assigns, and personal and legal representatives of the distributor, unless expressly revoked in writing, executed, and delivered by the distributor to the manufacturer or importer prior to his or her death.

A manufacturer or importer who rejects a successor transferee under this section shall have the burden of establishing in any proceeding where such rejection is in issue that the rejection of the successor transferee was reasonable.

History.—ss. 9, 22, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 372, ch. 95-148; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.6405 Franchise agreements; obligations of manufacturer and its agent.—Any parent, subsidiary, or common entity of a manufacturer; distributor; importer; or other entity, which by contractual arrangement or otherwise pursuant to the direction of the manufacturer, engages in the distribution in this state of line-make motor vehicles manufactured or substantially manufactured by such manufacturer, shall be deemed to be the agent of the manufacturer for the purposes of any franchise agreement entered into between such agent and a motor vehicle dealer engaged in business in this state and shall be bound by the terms and provisions of such franchise agreement as if it were the principal. A manufacturer of line-make motor vehicles which are offered for sale or lease in this state under any franchise agreement executed by an agent of such manufacturer is bound by the terms and provisions of such franchise agreement as if it and not the agent had executed the franchise agreement and, notwithstanding whether it is licensed pursuant to s. 320.61, said manufacturer shall be subject to all of the restrictions, limitations, remedies, and penalties of ss. 320.60-320.70 related to such franchise agreement, the performance thereof, or any cause of action pertaining thereto. The agency relationship established in this section is not intended to apply to a person or entity that engages in the distribution of motor vehicles in this state under its own brand name which are substantially manufactured by another person or entity, provided the distributing person or entity is substantially engaged in the manufacture of other line-make motor vehicles and is licensed in this state as a manufacturer.
History.—ss. 4, 13, ch. 84-69; ss. 10, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.6407 Recall notices under franchise agreements; compensation.—
(1) As provided in subsection (3), a licensee that has entered into a franchise agreement with a motor vehicle dealer must compensate the motor vehicle dealer for a used motor vehicle:
(a) That is of the same make and model manufactured, imported, or distributed by the licensee;
(b) That is subject to a recall notice issued by the licensee or an authorized governmental agency, including a recall notice issued before July 1, 2017, regardless of whether the vehicle is identified by its vehicle identification number;
(c) That is held by the motor vehicle dealer in the dealer’s inventory at the time the recall notice is issued or that is taken by the motor vehicle dealer into the dealer’s inventory after the recall notice as a result of a retail consumer trade-in or a lease return to the dealer inventory in accordance with an applicable lease contract;
(d) That cannot be repaired due to the unavailability, within 30 days after issuance of the recall notice, of a remedy or parts necessary for the motor vehicle dealer to make the recall repair; and
(e) For which the licensee has not issued a written statement to the motor vehicle dealer indicating that the used motor vehicle may be sold or delivered to a retail customer before completion of the recall repair. The purpose of such written statement is to provide notice to the motor vehicle dealer that the vehicle may be sold or delivered based solely on the specific recall notice and is not intended to address any other aspect of the vehicle unrelated to the recall notice.
(2) The licensee shall pay the required compensation within 30 days after the motor vehicle dealer’s application for payment. Applications for payment must be submitted monthly, as necessary, through the licensee’s existing warranty application system or another system or process established by the licensee which is not unduly burdensome or which does not require information unnecessary for the payment.
(3) Compensation under this section must be the greater of:
(a) Payment at a rate of at least 1.5 percent per month of the motor vehicle value, as determined by the average Black Book value of the corresponding model year vehicle of average condition, of each eligible used motor vehicle in the motor vehicle dealer’s inventory for each month that the dealer does not receive a remedy and parts to complete the required recall repair. Such payment must be prorated for any period less than 1 month based on the number of days during the month each eligible used motor vehicle is in the motor vehicle dealer’s inventory. Payment shall be calculated from the 31st day after the recall was issued, the 31st day after the vehicle was acquired, or July 1, 2017, whichever is latest.
(b) Payment under a national program applicable to all motor vehicle dealers holding a franchise agreement with the licensee for the motor vehicle dealer’s costs associated with holding the eligible used motor vehicles.
(4) For purposes of this section, a licensee does not include a motorcycle manufacturer, distributor, or importer.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2017-141.
320.641 Discontinuations, cancellations, nonrenewals, modifications, and replacement of franchise agreements.—
(1)(a) An applicant or licensee shall give written notice to the motor vehicle dealer and the department of the licensee’s intention to discontinue, cancel, or fail to renew a franchise agreement or of the licensee’s intention to modify a franchise or replace a franchise with a succeeding franchise, which modification or replacement will adversely alter the rights or obligations of a motor vehicle dealer under an existing franchise agreement or will substantially impair the sales, service obligations, or investment of the motor vehicle dealer, at least 90 days before the effective date thereof, together with the specific grounds for such action.
(b) The failure by the licensee to comply with the 90-day notice period and procedure prescribed herein shall render voidable, at the option of the motor vehicle dealer, any discontinuation, cancellation, nonrenewal, modification, or replacement of any franchise agreement. Designation of a franchise agreement at a specific location as a “nondesignated point” shall be deemed an evasion of this section and constitutes an unfair cancellation.
(2) Franchise agreements are deemed to be continuing unless the applicant or licensee has notified the department of the discontinuation of, cancellation of, failure to renew, modification of, or replacement of the agreement of any of its motor vehicle dealers; and annual renewal of the license provided for under ss. 320.60-320.70 is not necessary for any cause of action against the licensee.
(3) Any motor vehicle dealer who receives a notice of intent to discontinue, cancel, not renew, modify, or replace may, within the 90-day notice period, file a petition or complaint for a determination of whether such action is an unfair or prohibited discontinuation, cancellation, nonrenewal, modification, or replacement. Agreements and certificates of appointment shall continue in effect until final determination of the issues raised in such petition or complaint by the motor vehicle dealer. A discontinuation, cancellation, or nonrenewal of a franchise agreement is unfair if it is not clearly permitted by the franchise agreement; is not undertaken in good faith; is not undertaken for good cause; or is based on an alleged breach of the franchise agreement which is not in fact a material and substantial breach; or, if the grounds relied upon for termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal have not been applied in a uniform and consistent manner by the licensee. If the notice of discontinuation, cancellation, or nonrenewal relates to an alleged failure of the new motor vehicle dealer’s sales or service performance obligations under the franchise agreement, the new motor vehicle dealer must first be provided with at least 180 days to correct the alleged failure before a licensee may send the notice of discontinuation, cancellation, or nonrenewal. A modification or replacement is unfair if it is not clearly permitted by the franchise agreement; is not undertaken in good faith; or is not undertaken for good cause. The applicant or licensee shall have the burden of proof that such action is fair and not prohibited.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the failure of a motor vehicle dealer to be engaged in business with the public for 10 consecutive business days constitutes abandonment by the dealer of his or her franchise agreement. If any motor vehicle dealer abandons his or her franchise agreement, he or she has no cause of action under this section. For the purpose of this section, a dealer shall be considered to be engaged in business with the public if a sales and service facility is open and is performing such services 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, excluding holidays. However, it will not be considered abandonment if such failure to engage in business is due to an act of God, a work stoppage, or a delay due to a strike or labor difficulty, a freight embargo, or other cause over which the motor vehicle dealer has no control, including any violation of ss. 320.60-320.70.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a motor vehicle dealer has abandoned his or her franchise agreement as provided in subsection (4), the licensee may give written notice to the dealer and the department of the licensee’s intention to discontinue, cancel, or fail to renew the franchise agreement with the dealer at least 15 days before the effective date thereof, specifying the grounds for such action. A motor vehicle dealer receiving such notice may file a petition or complaint for determination of whether in fact there has been an abandonment of the franchise.
(6) If the complainant motor vehicle dealer prevails, he or she shall have a cause of action against the licensee for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by him or her in such proceeding, and he or she shall have a cause of action under s. 320.697.
(7) Except as provided in s. 320.643, no replacement motor vehicle dealer shall be named for this point or location to engage in business and the franchise agreement shall remain in effect until a final judgment is entered after all appeals are exhausted, provided that, when a motor vehicle dealer appeals a decision upholding a discontinuation, cancellation, or nonrenewal based upon abandonment or revocation of the dealer’s license pursuant to s. 320.27, as lawful reasons for such discontinuation, cancellation, or nonrenewal, the franchise agreement shall remain in effect pending exhaustion of all appeals only if the motor vehicle dealer establishes a likelihood of success on appeal and that the public interest will not be harmed by keeping the franchise agreement in effect pending entry of final judgment after such appeal.
(8) If a transfer is proposed pursuant to s. 320.643(1) or (2) after a notice of intent to discontinue, cancel, or not renew a franchise agreement is received but, prior to the final determination, including exhaustion of all appellate remedies of a motor vehicle dealer’s complaint or petition contesting such action, the termination proceedings shall be stayed, without bond, during the period that the transfer is being reviewed by the licensee pursuant to s. 320.643. During the period that the transfer is being reviewed by the licensee, pursuant to s. 320.643, the franchise agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the motor vehicle dealer shall retain all rights and remedies pursuant to the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement and applicable law, including all rights of transfer until such time as the licensee has accepted or rejected the proposed transfer. If the proposed transfer is rejected, the motor vehicle dealer shall retain all of its rights pursuant to s. 320.643 to an administrative determination as to whether the licensee’s rejection is in compliance with the provisions of s. 320.643, and during the pendency of any such administrative proceeding, and any related appellate proceedings, the termination proceedings shall remain stayed without bond, the franchise agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the motor vehicle dealer shall retain all rights and remedies pursuant to the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement and applicable law, including all rights of transfer. If a transfer is approved by the licensee or mandated by law, the termination proceedings shall be dismissed with prejudice as moot. This subsection applies only to the first two proposed transfers pursuant to s. 320.643(1) or (2) after notice of intent to discontinue, cancel, or not renew is received.
History.—s. 9, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 6, 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 6, ch. 84-69; ss. 11, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 373, ch. 95-148; s. 22, ch. 2001-196; s. 2, ch. 2007-195; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.6412 Franchise termination based on fraud; standard of proof.—Notwithstanding the provisions of any franchise agreement, a franchise agreement of a motor vehicle dealer may not be terminated, canceled, discontinued, or not renewed by a licensee on the basis of misrepresentation or fraud, or the filing of any false or fraudulent statements or claims with the licensee, unless the licensee proves by a preponderance of the evidence before a trier of fact either that the majority owner, or if there is no majority owner, the person designated as the dealer-principal in the franchise agreement, knew of such acts at the time they allegedly were committed, or that the licensee provided written notice detailing such alleged acts to the majority owner or dealer-principal who, within a reasonable time after receipt of such written notice, failed to take actions reasonably calculated to prevent such acts from continuing or recurring.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2008-62; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.6415 Changes in plan or system of distribution.—
(1) A motor vehicle dealer franchise agreement shall continue in full force and operation notwithstanding a change, in whole or in part, of an established plan or system of distribution of the motor vehicles offered for sale under such franchise agreement. The appointment of a new importer or distributor for motor vehicles offered for sale under such franchise agreement shall be deemed to be a change of an established plan or system of distribution.
(2) Upon the occurrence of such change, the department shall deny an application:
(a) For any license filed pursuant to ss. 320.60-320.70 unless the applicant offers to each motor vehicle dealer who is a party to the franchise agreement a new franchise agreement containing substantially the same provisions which were contained in the previous franchise agreement or files an affidavit with the department acknowledging its undertaking to assume and fulfill the rights, duties, and obligations of its predecessor under the previous franchise agreement.
(b) For any license filed pursuant to s. 320.27 in any community or territory in which such franchise or selling agreement is continuing in full force and operation hereunder, until this section has been complied with.
History.—ss. 7, 13, ch. 84-69; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.642 Dealer licenses in areas previously served; procedure.—
(1) Any licensee who proposes to establish an additional motor vehicle dealership or permit the relocation of an existing dealer to a location within a community or territory where the same line-make vehicle is presently represented by a franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers shall give written notice of its intention to the department. The notice must state:
(a) The specific location at which the additional or relocated motor vehicle dealership will be established.
(b) The date on or after which the licensee intends to be engaged in business with the additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer at the proposed location.
(c) The identity of all motor vehicle dealers who are franchised to sell the same line-make vehicle with licensed locations in the county and any contiguous county to the county where the additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is proposed to be located.
(d) The names and addresses of the dealer-operator and principal investors in the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealership.

Immediately upon receipt of the notice the department shall cause a notice to be published in the Florida Administrative Register. The published notice must state that a petition or complaint by any dealer with standing to protest pursuant to subsection (3) must be filed within 30 days following the date of publication of the notice in the Florida Administrative Register. The published notice must describe and identify the proposed dealership sought to be licensed, and the department shall cause a copy of the notice to be mailed to those dealers identified in the licensee’s notice under paragraph (c). The licensee shall pay a fee of $75 and a service charge of $2.50 for each publication. Proceeds from the fee and service charge shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.

(2)(a) An application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory shall be denied when:
1. A timely protest is filed by a presently existing franchised motor vehicle dealer with standing to protest as defined in subsection (3); and
2. The licensee fails to show that the existing franchised dealer or dealers who register new motor vehicle retail sales or retail leases of the same line-make in the community or territory of the proposed dealership are not providing adequate representation of such line-make motor vehicles in such community or territory. The burden of proof in establishing inadequate representation shall be on the licensee.
(b) In determining whether the existing franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers are providing adequate representation in the community or territory for the line-make, the department may consider evidence which may include, but is not limited to:
1. The impact of the establishment of the proposed or relocated dealer on the consumers, public interest, existing dealers, and the licensee; provided, however, that financial impact may only be considered with respect to the protesting dealer or dealers.
2. The size and permanency of investment reasonably made and reasonable obligations incurred by the existing dealer or dealers to perform their obligations under the dealer agreement.
3. The reasonably expected market penetration of the line-make motor vehicle for the community or territory involved, after consideration of all factors which may affect said penetration, including, but not limited to, demographic factors such as age, income, education, size class preference, product popularity, retail lease transactions, or other factors affecting sales to consumers of the community or territory.
4. Any actions by the licensees in denying its existing dealer or dealers of the same line-make the opportunity for reasonable growth, market expansion, or relocation, including the availability of line-make vehicles in keeping with the reasonable expectations of the licensee in providing an adequate number of dealers in the community or territory.
5. Any attempts by the licensee to coerce the existing dealer or dealers into consenting to additional or relocated franchises of the same line-make in the community or territory.
6. Distance, travel time, traffic patterns, and accessibility between the existing dealer or dealers of the same line-make and the location of the proposed additional or relocated dealer.
7. Whether benefits to consumers will likely occur from the establishment or relocation of the dealership which cannot be obtained by other geographic or demographic changes or expected changes in the community or territory.
8. Whether the protesting dealer or dealers are in substantial compliance with their dealer agreement.
9. Whether there is adequate interbrand and intrabrand competition with respect to said line-make in the community or territory and adequately convenient consumer care for the motor vehicles of the line-make, including the adequacy of sales and service facilities.
10. Whether the establishment or relocation of the proposed dealership appears to be warranted and justified based on economic and marketing conditions pertinent to dealers competing in the community or territory, including anticipated future changes.
11. The volume of registrations and service business transacted by the existing dealer or dealers of the same line-make in the relevant community or territory of the proposed dealership.
(3) An existing franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers shall have standing to protest a proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer when the existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers have a franchise agreement for the same line-make vehicle to be sold or serviced by the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer and are physically located so as to meet or satisfy any of the following requirements or conditions:
(a) If the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is to be located in a county with a population of less than 300,000 according to the most recent data of the United States Census Bureau or the data of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research of the University of Florida:
1. The proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is to be located in the area designated or described as the area of responsibility, or such similarly designated area, including the entire area designated as a multiple-point area, in the franchise agreement or in any related document or commitment with the existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make as such agreement existed upon October 1, 1988;
2. The existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make have a licensed franchise location within a radius of 20 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; or
3. Any existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make can establish that during any 12-month period of the 36-month period preceding the filing of the licensee’s application for the proposed dealership, the dealer or its predecessor made 25 percent of its retail sales of new motor vehicles to persons whose registered household addresses were located within a radius of 20 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; provided the existing dealer is located in the same county or any county contiguous to the county where the additional or relocated dealer is proposed to be located.
(b) If the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer is to be located in a county with a population of more than 300,000 according to the most recent data of the United States Census Bureau or the data of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research of the University of Florida:
1. Any existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make have a licensed franchise location within a radius of 12.5 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; or
2. Any existing motor vehicle dealer or dealers of the same line-make can establish that during any 12-month period of the 36-month period preceding the filing of the licensee’s application for the proposed dealership, such dealer or its predecessor made 25 percent of its retail sales of new motor vehicles to persons whose registered household addresses were located within a radius of 12.5 miles of the location of the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer; provided such existing dealer is located in the same county or any county contiguous to the county where the additional or relocated dealer is proposed to be located.
(4) The department’s decision to deny issuance of a license under this section shall remain in effect for a period of 12 months. The department shall not issue a license for the proposed additional or relocated motor vehicle dealer until a final decision by the department is rendered determining that the application for the motor vehicle dealer’s license should be granted.
(5)(a) The opening or reopening of the same or a successor motor vehicle dealer within 12 months is not considered an additional motor vehicle dealer subject to protest within the meaning of this section, if:
1. The opening or reopening is within the same or an adjacent county and is within 2 miles of the former motor vehicle dealer location;
2. There is no dealer within 25 miles of the proposed location or the proposed location is further from each existing dealer of the same line-make than the prior location is from each dealer of the same line-make within 25 miles of the new location;
3. The opening or reopening is within 6 miles of the prior location and, if any existing motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make is located within 15 miles of the former location, the proposed location is no closer to any existing dealer of the same line-make within 15 miles of the proposed location; or
4. The opening or reopening is within 6 miles of the prior location and, if all existing motor vehicle dealers of the same line-make are beyond 15 miles of the former location, the proposed location is further than 15 miles from any existing motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make.
(b) Any other such opening or reopening shall constitute an additional motor vehicle dealer within the meaning of this section.
(c) If a motor vehicle dealer has been opened or reopened pursuant to this subsection, the licensee may not propose a motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make to be located within 4 miles of the previous location of such dealer for 2 years after the date the relocated dealership opens.
(6) When a proposed addition or relocation concerns a dealership that performs or is to perform only service, as defined in s. 320.60(16), and will not or does not sell or lease new motor vehicles, as defined in s. 320.60(15), the proposal shall be subject to notice and protest pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(a) Standing to protest the addition or relocation of a service-only dealership shall be limited to those instances in which the applicable mileage requirement established in subparagraphs (3)(a)2. and (3)(b)1. is met.
(b) The addition or relocation of a service-only dealership shall not be subject to protest if:
1. The applicant for the service-only dealership location is an existing motor vehicle dealer of the same line-make as the proposed additional or relocated service-only dealership;
2. There is no existing dealer of the same line-make closer than the applicant to the proposed location of the additional or relocated service-only dealership; and
3. The proposed location of the additional or relocated service-only dealership is at least 7 miles from all existing motor vehicle dealerships of the same line-make, other than motor vehicle dealerships owned by the applicant.
(c) In determining whether existing franchised motor vehicle dealers are providing adequate representations in the community or territory for the line-make in question in a protest of the proposed addition or relocation of a service-only dealership, the department may consider the elements set forth in paragraph (2)(b), provided:
1. With respect to subparagraph (2)(b)1., only the impact as it relates to service may be considered;
2. Subparagraph (2)(b)3. shall not be considered;
3. With respect to subparagraph (2)(b)9., only service facilities shall be considered; and
4. With respect to subparagraph (2)(b)11., only the volume of service business transacted shall be considered.
(d) If an application for a service-only dealership is granted, the department shall issue a license which permits only service, as defined in s. 320.60(16), and does not permit the selling or leasing of new motor vehicles, as defined in s. 320.60(15). If a service-only dealership subsequently seeks to sell new motor vehicles at its location, the notice and protest provisions of this section shall apply.
(7) Measurements of the distance between proposed or existing dealer locations required by this section shall be taken from the geometric centroid of the property that encompasses all of the existing or proposed motor vehicle dealer operations.
(8) The department shall not be obligated to determine the accuracy of any distance asserted by any party in a notice submitted to it. Any dispute concerning a distance measurement asserted by a party shall be resolved by a hearing conducted in accordance with ss. 120.569 and 120.57.
History.—s. 9, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 12, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2003-269; s. 4, ch. 2006-183; s. 28, ch. 2009-71; s. 2, ch. 2009-93; s. 24, ch. 2013-14; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.643 Transfer, assignment, or sale of franchise agreements.—
(1)(a) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, a licensee shall not, by contract or otherwise, fail or refuse to give effect to, prevent, prohibit, or penalize or attempt to refuse to give effect to, prohibit, or penalize any motor vehicle dealer from selling, assigning, transferring, alienating, or otherwise disposing of its franchise agreement to any other person or persons, including a corporation established or existing for the purpose of owning or holding a franchise agreement, unless the licensee proves at a hearing pursuant to a complaint filed by a motor vehicle dealer under this section that the sale, transfer, alienation, or other disposition is to a person who is not, or whose controlling executive management is not, of good moral character or does not meet the written, reasonable, and uniformly applied standards or qualifications of the licensee relating to financial qualifications of the transferee and business experience of the transferee or the transferee’s executive management. A motor vehicle dealer who desires to sell, assign, transfer, alienate, or otherwise dispose of a franchise shall notify, or cause the proposed transferee to notify, the licensee, in writing, setting forth the prospective transferee’s name, address, financial qualifications, and business experience during the previous 5 years. A licensee who receives such notice may, within 60 days following such receipt, notify the motor vehicle dealer, in writing, that the proposed transferee is not a person qualified to be a transferee under this section and setting forth the material reasons for such rejection. Failure of the licensee to notify the motor vehicle dealer within the 60-day period of such rejection shall be deemed an approval of the transfer. No such transfer, assignment, or sale shall be valid unless the transferee agrees in writing to comply with all requirements of the franchise then in effect, but with the ownership changed to the transferee.
(b) A motor vehicle dealer whose proposed sale is rejected may, within 60 days following such receipt of such rejection, file with the department a complaint for a determination that the proposed transferee has been rejected in violation of this section. The licensee has the burden of proof with respect to all issues raised by the complaint. The department shall determine, and enter an order providing, that the proposed transferee is either qualified or is not and cannot be qualified for specified reasons, or the order may provide the conditions under which a proposed transferee would be qualified. If the licensee fails to file such a response to the motor vehicle dealer’s complaint within 30 days after receipt of the complaint, unless the parties agree in writing to an extension, or if the department, after a hearing, renders a decision other than one disqualifying the proposed transferee, the franchise agreement between the motor vehicle dealer and the licensee is deemed amended to incorporate such transfer or amended in accordance with the determination and order rendered, effective upon compliance by the proposed transferee with any conditions set forth in the determination or order.
(2)(a) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, a licensee shall not, by contract or otherwise, fail or refuse to give effect to, prevent, prohibit, or penalize, or attempt to refuse to give effect to, prevent, prohibit, or penalize, any motor vehicle dealer or any proprietor, partner, stockholder, owner, or other person who holds or otherwise owns an interest therein from selling, assigning, transferring, alienating, or otherwise disposing of, in whole or in part, the equity interest of any of them in such motor vehicle dealer to any other person or persons, including a corporation established or existing for the purpose of owning or holding the stock or ownership interests of other entities, unless the licensee proves at a hearing pursuant to a complaint filed by a motor vehicle dealer under this section that the sale, transfer, alienation, or other disposition is to a person who is not, or whose controlling executive management is not, of good moral character. A motor vehicle dealer, or any proprietor, partner, stockholder, owner, or other person who holds or otherwise owns an interest in the motor vehicle dealer, who desires to sell, assign, transfer, alienate, or otherwise dispose of any interest in such motor vehicle dealer shall notify, or cause the proposed transferee to so notify, the licensee, in writing, of the identity and address of the proposed transferee. A licensee who receives such notice may, within 60 days following such receipt, notify the motor vehicle dealer in writing that the proposed transferee is not a person qualified to be a transferee under this section and setting forth the material reasons for such rejection. Failure of the licensee to notify the motor vehicle dealer within the 60-day period of such rejection shall be deemed an approval of the transfer. Any person whose proposed sale of stock is rejected may file within 60 days of receipt of such rejection a complaint with the department alleging that the rejection was in violation of the law or the franchise agreement. The licensee has the burden of proof with respect to all issues raised by such complaint. The department shall determine, and enter an order providing, that the proposed transferee either is qualified or is not and cannot be qualified for specified reasons; or the order may provide the conditions under which a proposed transferee would be qualified. If the licensee fails to file a response to the motor vehicle dealer’s complaint within 30 days of receipt of the complaint, unless the parties agree in writing to an extension, or if the department, after a hearing, renders a decision on the complaint other than one disqualifying the proposed transferee, the transfer shall be deemed approved in accordance with the determination and order rendered, effective upon compliance by the proposed transferee with any conditions set forth in the determination or order.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a licensee may not reject a proposed transfer of a legal, equitable, or beneficial interest in a motor vehicle dealer to a trust or other entity, or to any beneficiary thereof, which is established by an owner of any interest in a motor vehicle dealer for purposes of estate planning, if the controlling person of the trust or entity, or the beneficiary, is of good moral character.
(3) A licensee may not condition any proposed transfer under this section upon a relocation of a dealer, construction of any addition or modification to, or any refurbishing or remodeling of any dealership structure, facility, or building of the existing motor vehicle dealer, or upon any modification of the existing franchise agreement, except for the change of ownership.
(4) During the pendency of any such hearing, the franchise agreement of the motor vehicle dealer shall continue in effect in accordance with its terms. The department shall expedite any determination requested under this section.
(5) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, the acceptance by the licensee of the proposed transferee shall not be unreasonably withheld. For the purposes of this section, the refusal by the licensee to accept, in a timely manner, a proposed transferee who satisfies the criteria set forth in subsection (1) or subsection (2) is presumed to be unreasonable.
(6) It shall be a violation of this section for the licensee to reject or withhold approval of a proposed transfer unless the licensee can prove in any court of competent jurisdiction in defense of any claim brought pursuant to s. 320.697 that, in fact, the rejection or withholding of approval of the proposed transfer was not in violation of or precluded by this section and was reasonable. The determination of whether such rejection or withholding was not in violation of or precluded by this section and was reasonable shall be based on an objective standard. Alleging the permitted statutory grounds by the licensee in the written rejection of the proposed transfer shall not protect the licensee from liability for violating this section.
History.—s. 7, ch. 80-217; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 8, ch. 84-69; ss. 13, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 374, ch. 95-148; s. 23, ch. 2001-196; s. 4, ch. 2003-269; s. 3, ch. 2009-93; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.644 Change of executive management control; objection by licensee; procedure.—
(1) Notwithstanding the terms of any franchise agreement, a licensee shall not, by contract or otherwise, fail or refuse to give effect to, prevent, prohibit, or penalize, or attempt to refuse to give effect to, prevent, prohibit, or penalize any motor vehicle dealer from changing its executive management control unless the licensee proves at a hearing pursuant to a complaint filed by a motor vehicle dealer under this section that such change is to a person who is not of good moral character or who does not meet the written, reasonable, and uniformly applied standards of the licensee relating to the business experience of executive management required by the licensee of its motor vehicle dealers. A motor vehicle dealer who desires to change its executive management control shall notify the licensee by written notice, setting forth the name, address, and business experience of the proposed executive management. A licensee who receives such notice shall, in writing, within 60 days following such receipt, inform the motor vehicle dealer either of the approval of the proposed change in executive management or the unacceptability of the proposed change. If the licensee does not so inform the motor vehicle dealer within the 60-day period, its approval of the proposed change is deemed granted. A motor vehicle dealer whose proposed change is rejected may, within 60 days following receipt of such rejection, file with the department a complaint for a determination that the proposed change of executive management has been rejected in violation of this section. The licensee has the burden of proof with respect to all issues raised by such complaint. The department shall determine, and enter an order providing, that the person proposed for the change is either qualified or is not and cannot be qualified for specific reasons, or the order may provide the conditions under which a proposed executive manager would be qualified. If the licensee fails to file a response to the motor vehicle dealer’s complaint within 30 days after receipt of the complaint, unless the parties agree in writing to an extension, or if the department after a hearing renders a decision other than one disqualifying the person proposed for the change, the franchise agreement between the motor vehicle dealer and the licensee shall be deemed amended to incorporate such change or amended in accordance with the determination or order rendered, effective upon compliance by the person proposed for the change with any conditions set forth in the determination or order.
(2) For the purpose of this section, the mere termination of employment of executive management shall not be deemed to be a change in executive management or a transfer of the franchise; however, the proposal of replacement executive management shall be subject to this section.
(3) For the purpose of this section, the term “executive management” means, and is limited to, the person or persons designated under the franchise agreement as the dealer-operator, executive manager, or similarly designated persons who are responsible for the overall day-to-day operation of the dealership. A motor vehicle dealer may change all other dealership personnel without seeking approval from the licensee.
(4) During the pendency of any such hearing, the franchise agreement of the motor vehicle dealer shall continue in effect in accordance with its terms. The department shall expedite any determination requested under this section.
(5) It shall be a violation of this section for the licensee to reject or withhold approval of a proposed transfer unless the licensee can prove in any court of competent jurisdiction in defense of any claim brought pursuant to s. 320.697 that, in fact, the rejection or withholding of approval of the proposed transfer was reasonable. The determination of whether such rejection or withholding was reasonable shall be based on an objective standard. Alleging the permitted statutory grounds by the licensee in the written rejection of the proposed transfer shall not protect the licensee from liability for violating this section.
History.—ss. 9, 13, ch. 84-69; ss. 14, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 5, ch. 2003-269; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.645 Restriction upon ownership of dealership by licensee.—
(1) No licensee, distributor, manufacturer, or agent of a manufacturer or distributor, or any parent, subsidiary, common entity, or officer or representative of the licensee shall own or operate, either directly or indirectly, a motor vehicle dealership in this state for the sale or service of motor vehicles which have been or are offered for sale under a franchise agreement with a motor vehicle dealer in this state. A licensee may not be issued a motor vehicle dealer license pursuant to s. 320.27. However, no such licensee will be deemed to be in violation of this section:
(a) When operating a motor vehicle dealership for a temporary period, not to exceed 1 year, during the transition from one owner of the motor vehicle dealership to another;
(b) When operating a motor vehicle dealership temporarily for a reasonable period for the exclusive purpose of broadening the diversity of its dealer body and enhancing opportunities for qualified persons who are part of a group that has historically been underrepresented in its dealer body, or for other qualified persons who the licensee deems lack the resources to purchase or capitalize the dealership outright, in a bona fide relationship with an independent person, other than a licensee or its agent or affiliate, who has made a significant investment that is subject to loss in the dealership within the dealership’s first year of operation and who can reasonably expect to acquire full ownership of the dealership on reasonable terms and conditions; or
(c) If the department determines, after a hearing on the matter, pursuant to chapter 120, at the request of any person, that there is no independent person available in the community or territory to own and operate the motor vehicle dealership in a manner consistent with the public interest.

In any such case, the licensee must continue to make the motor vehicle dealership available for sale to an independent person at a fair and reasonable price. Approval of the sale of such a motor vehicle dealership to a proposed motor vehicle dealer shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(2) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Independent person” is a person who is not an officer, director, or employee of the licensee.
(b) “Reasonable terms and conditions” requires that profits from the dealership are reasonably expected to be sufficient to allow full ownership of the dealership by the independent person within a reasonable time period not to exceed 10 years, which time period may be extended if there is a reasonable basis to do so and is not being sought to evade the purpose of this section; that the independent person has sufficient control to permit acquisition of ownership; and that the relationship cannot be terminated solely to avoid full ownership. The terms and conditions are not reasonable if they preclude the independent person from an expedited purchase of the dealership using a monetary source other than profits from the dealership’s operation; provided, however, that the independent person must pay or make an agreement to pay to the licensee any and all reasonable prepayment charges and costs, including all unrecouped restored losses, associated with the expedited purchase of the dealership. For the purpose of this section, unrecouped restored losses are moneys that the manufacturer has provided to the dealership to restore losses of the dealership that the manufacturer has not been paid back through profits of the dealership.
(c) “Significant investment” means a reasonable amount, considering the reasonable capital requirements of the dealership, acquired and obtained from sources other than the licensee or any of its affiliates and not encumbered by the person’s interest in the dealership.
(3) Nothing in this section shall prohibit, limit, restrict, or impose conditions on:
(a) The business activities, including, without limitation, the dealings with motor vehicle manufacturers and their representatives and affiliates, of any person that is primarily engaged in the business of short-term not to exceed 12 months rental of motor vehicles and industrial and construction equipment and activities incidental to that business, provided that:
1. Any motor vehicles sold by such person are limited to used motor vehicles that have been previously used exclusively and regularly by such person in the conduct of its rental business and used motor vehicles traded in on motor vehicles sold by such person;
2. Warranty repairs performed under any manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty by such person on motor vehicles are limited to those motor vehicles that it owns. As to previously owned vehicles, warranty repairs can be performed only if pursuant to a motor vehicle service agreement as defined in part I of chapter 634, issued by such person or an express warranty issued by such person on the retail sale of those vehicles previously owned; and
3. Motor vehicle financing provided by such person to retail consumers for motor vehicles is limited to used motor vehicles sold by such person in the conduct of its business; or
(b) The direct or indirect ownership, affiliation or control of a person described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(4) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a distributor as defined in s. 320.60(5) or common entity that is not a manufacturer, a division of a manufacturer, an entity that is controlled by a manufacturer, or a common entity of a manufacturer, and that is not owned, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by a manufacturer, as defined in s. 320.60(9), from receiving a license or licenses as defined in s. 320.27 and owning and operating a motor vehicle dealership or dealerships that sell or service motor vehicles other than any line-make of motor vehicles distributed by the distributor.
History.—ss. 10, 13, ch. 84-69; ss. 15, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 24, ch. 2001-196; s. 46, ch. 2002-1; s. 6, ch. 2003-269; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.646 Consumer data protection.—
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Consumer data” means “nonpublic personal information” as such term is defined in 15 U.S.C. s. 6809(4) collected by a motor vehicle dealer and which is provided by the motor vehicle dealer directly to a licensee or third party acting on behalf of a licensee. Consumer data does not include the same or similar data which is obtained by a licensee from any other source.
(b) “Data management system” means a computer hardware or software system that is owned, leased, or licensed by a motor vehicle dealer, including a system of web-based applications, computer software, or computer hardware, whether located at the motor vehicle dealership or hosted remotely, and that stores and provides access to consumer data collected or stored by a motor vehicle dealer. The term includes, but is not limited to, dealership management systems and customer relations management systems.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any franchise agreement, with respect to consumer data a licensee or a third party acting on behalf of a licensee:
(a) Shall comply with all, and not knowingly cause a motor vehicle dealer to violate any, applicable restrictions on reuse or disclosure of the consumer data established by federal or state law and must provide a written statement to the motor vehicle dealer upon request describing the established procedures adopted by the licensee or third party acting on behalf of the licensee which meet or exceed any federal or state requirements to safeguard the consumer data, including, but not limited to, those established in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 6801 et seq.
(b) Shall, upon the written request of the motor vehicle dealer, provide a written list of the consumer data obtained from the motor vehicle dealer and all persons to whom any consumer data has been provided by the licensee or a third party acting on behalf of a licensee during the preceding 6 months. The dealer may make such a request no more than once every 6 months. The list must indicate the specific fields of consumer data which were provided to each person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such a list need not include:
1. A person to whom consumer data was provided, or the specific consumer data provided to such person, if the person was, at the time the consumer data was provided, one of the licensee’s service providers, subcontractors or consultants acting in the course of such person’s performance of services on behalf of or for the benefit of the licensee or motor vehicle dealer, provided that the licensee has entered into an agreement with such person requiring that the person comply with the safeguard requirements of applicable state and federal law, including, but not limited to, those established in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 6801 et seq.; or
2. A person to whom consumer data was provided, or the specific consumer data provided to such person, if the motor vehicle dealer has previously consented in writing to such person receiving the consumer data provided and the motor vehicle dealer has not withdrawn such consent in writing.
(c) May not require that a motor vehicle dealer grant the licensee or a third party direct or indirect access to the dealer’s data management system to obtain consumer data. A licensee must permit a motor vehicle dealer to furnish consumer data in a widely accepted file format, such as comma delimited, and through a third-party vendor selected by the motor vehicle dealer. However, a licensee may access or obtain consumer data directly from a motor vehicle dealer’s data management system with the express consent of the dealer. The consent must be in the form of a written document that is separate from the parties’ franchise agreement, is executed by the motor vehicle dealer, and may be withdrawn by the dealer upon 30 days’ written notice to the licensee.
(d) Must indemnify the motor vehicle dealer for any third-party claims asserted against or damages incurred by the motor vehicle dealer to the extent caused by access to, use of, or disclosure of consumer data in violation of this section by the licensee, a third party acting on behalf of the licensee, or a third party to whom the licensee has provided consumer data.
(3) In any cause of action against a licensee pursuant to s. 320.697 for a violation of paragraph (2)(a), paragraph (2)(b), or paragraph (2)(c), the person bringing the action has the burden of proving that the violation was willful or with sufficient frequency to establish a pattern of wrongdoing with respect to such person’s consumer data.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2016-77; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.664 Reinstatement of license.—When any license has been revoked or suspended by the department pursuant to the provisions of ss. 320.60-320.70, the department may for good cause reinstate the license of any former licensee under ss. 320.60-320.70, if it determines that the former licensee is rehabilitated, meets the requirements of ss. 320.60-320.70, files an application for license pursuant to s. 320.63, and complies with ss. 320.60-320.70.
History.—s. 10, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 20, ch. 78-95; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.67 Inspection of books or other documents of licensee.—
(1) The department may inspect the pertinent books, records, letters, and contracts of a licensee relating to any written complaint made to it against such licensee.
(2) In the exercise of its duties under this section, the department is granted and authorized to exercise the power of subpoena for the attendance of witnesses and the production of any documentary evidence necessary to the disposition by it of any written complaint under this section. Any information obtained may not be used against the licensee as the basis for a criminal prosecution under the laws of this state.
History.—s. 8, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 12, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.68 Revocation of license held by firms or corporations.—If an applicant or licensee is a firm or corporation, it shall be sufficient cause for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license that any officer, director, or trustee of the firm or corporation, or any member in case of a partnership, has been guilty of an act or omission which would be cause for refusing, suspending, or revoking a license to such party as an individual. Each licensee shall be responsible for the acts of any of its employees while acting as its agent if the licensee approved of or had knowledge of the acts or other similar acts and after such approval or knowledge retained the benefits, proceeds, profits, or advantages accruing from the acts or otherwise ratified the acts.
History.—s. 9, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 13, ch. 70-424; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.69 Rules.—The department has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this law.
History.—s. 10, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 63, ch. 98-200; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.695 Injunction.—In addition to the remedies provided in this chapter, and notwithstanding the existence of any adequate remedy at law, the department, or any motor vehicle dealer in the name of the department and state and for the use and benefit of the motor vehicle dealer, is authorized to make application to any circuit court of the state for the grant, upon a hearing and for cause shown, of a temporary or permanent injunction, or both, restraining any person from acting as a licensee under the terms of ss. 320.60-320.70 without being properly licensed hereunder, or from violating or continuing to violate any of the provisions of ss. 320.60-320.70, or from failing or refusing to comply with the requirements of this law or any rule or regulation adopted hereunder. Such injunction shall be issued without bond. A single act in violation of the provisions of ss. 320.60-320.70 shall be sufficient to authorize the issuance of an injunction. However, this statutory remedy shall not be applicable to any motor vehicle dealer after final determination by the department under s. 320.641(3).
History.—s. 15, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.696 Warranty responsibility.—
(1)(a) A licensee shall timely compensate a motor vehicle dealer who performs work to maintain or repair a licensee’s product under a warranty or maintenance plan, extended warranty, certified pre-owned warranty, or a service contract, issued by the licensee or its common entity, unless issued by a common entity that is not a manufacturer; to fulfill a licensee’s delivery or preparation procedures; or to repair a motor vehicle as a result of a licensee’s or common entity’s recall, campaign service, authorized goodwill, directive, or bulletin.
(b) As used in this section, the terms “compensate” and “compensation” shall include all labor and parts included in the work as provided in this section. The term “labor” shall include time spent by employees for diagnosis and repair of a vehicle. The term “parts” shall include replacement parts and accessories. The term “retail customer repair” means work, including parts and labor, performed by a dealer which does not come within the provisions of a licensee’s or its common entity’s warranty, extended warranty, certified pre-owned warranty, service contract, or maintenance plan, and excludes parts and labor described in paragraphs (3)(b) and (4)(c).
(c) Compensation not paid to a motor vehicle dealer within 30 days after receipt of a claim is not timely. A licensee shall not establish or implement a term, policy, or procedure different from those described in this section for any motor vehicle dealer to obtain compensation under this section, and shall not pay a motor vehicle dealer less than amounts due pursuant to this section.
(2) A licensee shall not take or threaten to take adverse action against a motor vehicle dealer who seeks to obtain compensation pursuant to this section. As used in this subsection, the term “adverse action” includes, without limitation, acting or failing to act, other than in good faith; creating or implementing an obstacle or process that is inconsistent with the licensee’s obligations to the dealer under this section; hindering, delaying, or rejecting the proper and timely payment of compensation due under this section to a dealer; establishing, implementing, enforcing, or applying any policy, standard, rule, program, or incentive regarding compensation due under this section other than in a uniform and nondisparate manner among the licensee’s dealers in this state; conducting or threatening to conduct any warranty, retail customer repair, or other service-related audit more frequently than once each calendar year; or denying, reducing, or charging back a warranty claim because of a dealer’s failure to comply with all of the licensee’s requirements for describing or processing a claim.
(3)(a) A licensee shall compensate a motor vehicle dealer for parts used in any work described in subsection (1). The compensation may be an agreed percentage markup over the licensee’s dealer cost, but if an agreement is not reached within 30 days after a dealer’s written request, compensation for the parts is the greater of:
1. The dealer’s arithmetical mean percentage markup over dealer cost for all parts charged by the dealer in 50 consecutive retail customer repairs made by the dealer within a 3-month period before the dealer’s written request for a change in reimbursement pursuant to this section, or all of the retail customer repair orders over that 3-month period if there are fewer than 50 retail customer repair orders in that period. The motor vehicle dealer shall give the licensee 10 days’ written notice that it intends to make a written request to the licensee for a warranty parts reimbursement increase and permit the licensee, within that 10-day period, to select the initial retail customer repair for the consecutive repair orders that will be attached to the written request used for the markup computation, provided that if the licensee fails to provide a timely selection, the dealer may make that selection. No repair order shall be excluded from the markup computation because it contains both warranty, extended warranty, certified pre-owned warranty, maintenance, recall, campaign service, or authorized goodwill work and a retail customer repair. However, only the retail customer repair portion of the repair order shall be included in the computation, and the parts described in paragraph (b) shall be excluded from the computation;
2. The licensee’s highest suggested retail or list price for the parts; or
3. An amount equal to the dealer’s markup over dealer cost that results in the same gross profit percentage for parts used in work done under subsection (1) as the dealer receives for parts used in the customer retail repairs, as evidenced by the average of said dealer’s gross profit percentage in the dealer’s financial statements for the 2 months preceding the dealer’s request.

If a licensee reduces the suggested retail or list price for any replacement part or accessory, it also shall reduce, by at least the same percentage, the cost to the dealer for the part or accessory. The dealer’s markup or gross profit percentage shall be uniformly applied to all of the licensee’s parts used by the dealer in performing work covered by subsection (1).

(b) In calculating the compensation to be paid for parts by the arithmetical mean percentage markup over dealer cost method in paragraph (a), parts discounted by a dealer for repairs made in group, fleet, insurance, or other third-party payer service work; parts used in repairs of government agencies’ repairs for which volume discounts have been negotiated; parts used in special events, specials, or promotional discounts for retail customer repairs; parts sold at wholesale; parts used for internal repairs; engine assemblies and transmission assemblies; parts used in retail customer repairs for routine maintenance, such as fluids, filters and belts; nuts, bolts, fasteners, and similar items that do not have an individual part number; and tires shall be excluded in determining the percentage markup over dealer cost.
(c) If a licensee furnishes a part or component to a motor vehicle dealer at no cost to use in performing repairs under a recall, campaign service action, or warranty repair, the licensee shall compensate the dealer for the part or component in the same manner as warranty parts compensation under this subsection, less the dealer cost for the part or component as listed in the licensee’s price schedule.
(d) A licensee shall not establish or implement a special part or component number for parts used in predelivery, dealer preparation, warranty, extended warranty, certified pre-owned warranty, recall, campaign service, authorized goodwill, or maintenance-only applications if that results in lower compensation to the dealer than as calculated in this subsection.
(4)(a) A licensee shall compensate a motor vehicle dealer for labor performed in connection with work described in subsection (1) as calculated in this subsection.
(b) Compensation paid by a licensee to a motor vehicle dealer may be an agreed hourly labor rate. If, however, an agreement is not reached within 30 days after the dealer’s written request, the dealer may choose to be paid the greater of:
1. The dealer’s hourly labor rate for retail customer repairs, determined by dividing the amount of the dealer’s total labor sales for retail customer repairs by the number of total labor hours that generated those sales for the month preceding the request, excluding the work in paragraph (c); or
2. An amount equal to the dealer’s markup over dealer cost that results in the same gross profit percentage for labor hours performed in work covered by subsection (1) as the dealer receives for labor performed in its customer retail repairs, as evidenced by the average of said dealer’s gross profit percentage in the dealer’s financial statements provided to the licensee for the 2 months preceding the dealer’s written request, if the dealer provides in the written request the arithmetical mean of the hourly wage paid to all of its technicians during that preceding month. The arithmetical mean shall be the dealer cost used in that calculation.

After an hourly labor rate is agreed or determined, the licensee shall uniformly apply and pay that hourly labor rate for all labor used by the dealer in performing work under subsection (1). However, a licensee shall not pay an hourly labor rate less than the hourly rate it was paying to the dealer for work done under subsection (1) on January 2, 2008. A licensee shall not eliminate flat-rate times from or establish an unreasonable flat-rate time in its warranty repair manual, warranty time guide, or any other similarly named document. A licensee shall establish reasonable flat-rate labor times in its warranty repair manuals and warranty time guides for newly introduced model motor vehicles which are at least consistent with its existing documents. As used in this subsection, the terms “retail customer repair” and “similar work” are not limited to a repair to the same model vehicle or model year, but include prior repairs that resemble but are not identical to the repair for which the dealer is making a claim for compensation.

(c) In determining the hourly labor rate calculated under subparagraph (b)1., a dealer’s labor charges for internal vehicle repairs; vehicle reconditioning; repairs performed for group, fleet, insurance, or other third-party payers; discounted repairs of motor vehicles for government agencies; labor used in special events, specials, or express service; and promotional discounts shall not be included as retail customer repairs and shall be excluded from such calculations.
(5) A licensee shall not review, change, or fail to pay a motor vehicle dealer for parts or labor determined under this section unless the dealer has requested a change, or the action is pursuant to the licensee’s written, predetermined schedule for increasing parts or labor compensation that is not contrary to any provision of this section. A dealer may make written requests for changes in compensation for parts or labor performed under this section not more than semiannually. The dealer shall attach supporting documentation to each written request. Any increase in parts or labor reimbursement determined thereafter to be owed to the dealer shall be paid pursuant to this section retroactively for all claims filed by a dealer 15 days after the date of the licensee’s receipt of the dealer’s written request.
(6) A licensee shall not recover or attempt to recover, directly or indirectly, any of its costs for compensating a motor vehicle dealer under this section.
(7) A licensee shall not require, influence, or attempt to influence a motor vehicle dealer to implement or change the prices for which it sells parts or labor in retail customer repairs. A licensee shall not implement or continue a policy, procedure, or program to any of its dealers in this state for compensation under this section which is inconsistent with this section.
(8) If a court determines with finality that any provision of this section is void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall not be affected but shall remain in effect.
History.—s. 16, ch. 70-424; s. 93, ch. 71-355; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 16, 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 1, ch. 2007-208; s. 3, ch. 2008-62; s. 4, ch. 2009-93; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.697 Civil damages.—Any person who has suffered pecuniary loss or who has been otherwise adversely affected because of a violation by a licensee of ss. 320.60-320.70, notwithstanding the existence of any other remedies under ss. 320.60-320.70, has a cause of action against the licensee for damages and may recover damages therefor in any court of competent jurisdiction in an amount equal to 3 times the pecuniary loss, together with costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee to be assessed by the court. Upon a prima facie showing by the person bringing the action that such a violation by the licensee has occurred, the burden of proof shall then be upon the licensee to prove that such violation or unfair practice did not occur.
History.—s. 17, ch. 70-424; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 96, ch. 77-104; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 11, ch. 84-69; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.6975 Procedures and remedies applicable to distributor agreements.—All procedures and remedies specified in ss. 320.641 and 320.697 shall be available to a distributor whose distributor agreement is discontinued, canceled, not renewed, modified, or replaced by an importer.
History.—s. 2, ch. 90-78; s. 2, ch. 91-201; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.698 Civil fines; procedure.—In addition to the exercise of other powers under ss. 320.60-320.70, the department is authorized to assess, impose, levy, and collect by legal process civil fines against licensees as follows:
(1) The department may fine any licensee who refuses to furnish all information required under s. 320.63, furnishes erroneous information, or fails to notify the department of any revisions or changes in information as they occur a sum not exceeding $1,000, and such fine may be levied for each and every such violation.
(2) The department may fine any licensee a sum not exceeding $5,000 when such licensee, or an agent or employee thereof, is adjudged by the department to be guilty of a violation of s. 320.64, and the fine may be levied for each and every such violation.
(3) Any licensee shall be entitled to a hearing pursuant to chapter 120 should said licensee wish to contest the fine levied, or about to be levied, upon the licensee.
(4) The department may waive or suspend any fine authorized hereunder upon a showing of good cause by the licensee for failure to comply with ss. 320.60-320.70.
History.—s. 18, ch. 70-424; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 20, ch. 78-95; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.699 Administrative hearings and adjudications; procedure.—
(1) A motor vehicle dealer, or person with entitlements to or in a motor vehicle dealer, who is directly and adversely affected by the action or conduct of an applicant or licensee which is alleged to be in violation of any provision of ss. 320.60-320.70, may seek a declaration and adjudication of its rights with respect to the alleged action or conduct of the applicant or licensee by:
(a) Filing with the department a request for a proceeding and an administrative hearing which conforms substantially with the requirements of ss. 120.569 and 120.57; or
(b) Filing with the department a written objection or notice of protest pursuant to s. 320.642.
(2) If a written objection or notice of protest is filed with the department under paragraph (1)(b), a hearing shall be held not sooner than 180 days nor later than 240 days from the date of filing of the first objection or notice of protest, unless the time is extended by the administrative law judge for good cause shown. This subsection shall govern the schedule of hearings in lieu of any other provision of law with respect to administrative hearings conducted by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or the Division of Administrative Hearings, including performance standards of state agencies, which may be included in current and future appropriations acts.
History.—ss. 17, 22, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 66, ch. 96-410; s. 25, ch. 2001-196; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.69915 Severability.—If a provision of ss. 320.60-320.70 or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of ss. 320.60-320.70 that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of ss. 320.60-320.70 are severable.
History.—s. 26, ch. 2001-196; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.6992 Application.—Sections 320.60-320.70, including amendments to ss. 320.60-320.70, apply to all presently existing or hereafter established systems of distribution of motor vehicles in this state, except to the extent that such application would impair valid contractual agreements in violation of the State Constitution or Federal Constitution. Sections 320.60-320.70 do not apply to any judicial or administrative proceeding pending as of October 1, 1988. All agreements renewed, amended, or entered into subsequent to October 1, 1988, shall be governed by ss. 320.60-320.70, including any amendments to ss. 320.60-320.70 which have been or may be from time to time adopted, unless the amendment specifically provides otherwise, and except to the extent that such application would impair valid contractual agreements in violation of the State Constitution or Federal Constitution.
History.—ss. 19, 22, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 2, ch. 2011-230; s. 3, ch. 2016-77; s. 3, ch. 2017-141; s. 2, ch. 2017-187.
320.70 Penalties for violation.—Any person being a manufacturer, factory branch, or factory representative, who violates any provision of ss. 320.61-320.70, or who does any act enumerated in s. 320.64 as a ground for the denial, suspension or revocation of a license, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 11, ch. 20236, 1941; s. 7, ch. 22858, 1945; s. 203, ch. 71-136; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2017-187.
320.701 Applicability of ch. 84-69.—This act applies to all presently existing or established systems of distribution of motor vehicles in this state, except to the extent that such application would impair contractual agreements in violation of the Florida Constitution or Federal Constitution. All agreements renewed or entered into subsequent to May 31, 1984, will be governed by this act.
History.—s. 12, ch. 84-69.
320.71 Nonresident motor vehicle, mobile home, or recreational vehicle dealer’s license.—
(1) Any person who is a nonresident of the state, who does not have a dealer’s contract from the manufacturer or manufacturer’s distributor of motor vehicles, mobile homes, or recreational vehicles authorizing the sale thereof in definite Florida territory, and who sells or engages in the business of selling said vehicles at retail within the state shall register with the Department of Revenue for a sales tax dealer registration number and comply with chapter 212, and pay a license tax of $2,000 per annum in each county where such sales are made; $1,250 of said tax shall be transmitted to the Department of Financial Services to be deposited in the General Revenue Fund of the state, and $750 thereof shall be returned to the county. The license tax shall cover the period from January 1 to the following December 31, and no such license shall be issued for any fractional part of a year.
(2) The acceptance by any person of a license under this section shall be deemed equivalent to an appointment by such person of the Secretary of State as the agent of such person upon whom may be served all lawful process in any action, suit, or proceeding against such person arising out of any transaction or operation connected with or incidental to any activities of such person carried on under such license, and the acceptance of such license shall be signification of the agreement of such person that any process against the person which is so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served personally on him or her. Service of such process shall be in accordance with and in the same manner as now provided for service of process upon nonresidents under the provisions of chapter 48.
History.—s. 1, ch. 20851, 1941; s. 2, ch. 57-388; ss. 12, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 30, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 2, 20, ch. 88-147; ss. 20, 21, ch. 88-395; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 375, ch. 95-148; s. 361, ch. 2003-261.
320.77 License required of mobile home dealers.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
(a) “Dealer” means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in mobile homes or offering or displaying mobile homes for sale. The term “dealer” includes a mobile home broker. Any person who buys, sells, deals in, or offers or displays for sale, or who acts as the agent for the sale of, one or more mobile homes in any 12-month period shall be prima facie presumed to be a dealer. The terms “selling” and “sale” include lease-purchase transactions. The term “dealer” does not include banks, credit unions, and finance companies that acquire mobile homes as an incident to their regular business and does not include mobile home rental and leasing companies that sell mobile homes to dealers licensed under this section. A licensed dealer may transact business in recreational vehicles with a motor vehicle auction as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)4. Any licensed dealer dealing exclusively in mobile homes shall not have benefit of the privilege of using dealer license plates.
(b) “Mobile home broker” means any person who is engaged in the business of offering to procure or procuring used mobile homes for the general public; who holds himself or herself out through solicitation, advertisement, or otherwise as one who offers to procure or procures used mobile homes for the general public; or who acts as the agent or intermediary on behalf of the owner or seller of a used mobile home which is for sale or who assists or represents the seller in finding a buyer for the mobile home.
(c)1. “Mobile home salesperson” means a person not otherwise expressly excluded by this section who:
a. Is employed as a salesperson by a mobile home dealer, as defined in this section, or who, under any contract, agreement, or arrangement with a dealer, for a commission, money, profit, or any other thing of value, sells, exchanges, buys, or offers for sale, negotiates, or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in a mobile home required to be titled under this chapter;
b. Induces or attempts to induce any person to buy or exchange an interest in a mobile home required to be registered and who receives or expects to receive a commission, money, brokerage fees, profit, or any other thing of value from the seller or purchaser of the mobile home; or
c. Exercises managerial control over the business of a licensed mobile home dealer or who supervises mobile home salespersons employed by a licensed mobile home dealer, whether compensated by salary or commission, including, but not limited to, any person who is employed by the mobile home dealer as a general manager, assistant general manager, or sales manager, or any employee of a licensed mobile home dealer who negotiates with or induces a customer to enter into a security agreement or purchase agreement or purchase order for the sale of a mobile home on behalf of the licensed mobile home dealer.
2. The term does not include:
a. A representative of an insurance company or a finance company, or a public official who, in the regular course of business, is required to dispose of or sell mobile homes under a contractual right or obligation of the employer, in the performance of an official duty, or under the authority of any court if the sale is to save the seller from any loss or pursuant to the authority of a court.
b. A person who is licensed as a manufacturer, remanufacturer, transporter, distributor, or representative of mobile homes.
c. A person who is licensed as a mobile home dealer under this chapter.
d. A person not engaged in the purchase or sale of mobile homes as a business who is disposing of mobile homes acquired for his or her own use or for use in his or her business if the mobile homes were acquired and used in good faith and not for the purpose of avoiding the provisions of this chapter.
(2) LICENSE REQUIRED.—No person shall engage in business as, or serve in the capacity of, a dealer in this state unless such person possesses a valid, current license as provided in this section.
(3) APPLICATION.—The application for such license shall be in the form prescribed by the department and subject to such rules as may be prescribed by it. The application shall be verified by oath or affirmation and shall contain:
(a) A full statement of the name and the date of birth of the person or persons applying therefor.
(b) The name of the firm or copartnership with the names and places of residence of all its members, if the applicant is a firm or copartnership.
(c) The names and places of residence of the principal officers, if the applicant is a body corporate or other artificial body.
(d) The name of the state under whose laws the corporation is organized.
(e) The former place or places of residence of the applicant.
(f) The prior businesses in which the applicant has been engaged, the dates during which the applicant was engaged in such businesses, and the locations thereof.
(g) A description of the exact location of the place of business, when it was acquired, and whether it is owned in fee simple by the applicant. If leased, a true copy of the lease shall be attached to the application.
(h) Certification by the applicant that the location is a permanent one, not a tent or a temporary stand or other temporary quarters; and, except in the case of a mobile home broker, that the location affords sufficient unoccupied space to store all mobile homes offered and displayed for sale; and that the location is a suitable place in which the applicant can in good faith carry on business and keep and maintain books, records, and files necessary to conduct such business, which will be available at all reasonable hours to inspection by the department or any of its inspectors or other employees. This subsection shall not preclude a licensed mobile home dealer from displaying and offering for sale mobile homes in a mobile home park.
(i) Certification by the applicant that the business of a mobile home dealer is the principal business which shall be conducted at that location; however, this provision shall not apply to mobile home park operators licensed as mobile home dealers.
(j) Such other relevant information as may be required by the department. Each applicant, general partner in the case of a partnership, or corporate officer and director in the case of a corporate applicant, must file a set of fingerprints with the department for the purpose of determining any prior criminal record or any outstanding warrants. The department shall submit the fingerprinting to the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and forwarding to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal processing. The actual cost of such state and federal processing shall be borne by the applicant and is to be in addition to the fee for licensure. The department may issue a license to an applicant pending the results of the fingerprint investigation, which license is fully revocable if the department subsequently determines that any facts set forth in the application are not true or correctly represented.

The department shall, if it deems necessary, cause an investigation to be made to ascertain if the facts set forth in the application are true and shall not issue a license to the applicant until it is satisfied that the facts set forth in the application are true.

(4) FEES.—Upon making initial application, the applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 in addition to any other fees required by law. Applicants may choose to extend the licensure period for 1 additional year for a total of 2 years. An initial applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 for the first year and $100 for the second year in addition to any other fees required by law. An applicant for a renewal license shall pay to the department $100 for a 1-year renewal or $200 for a 2-year renewal. The fee for application for change of location shall be $25. Any applicant for renewal who has failed to submit his or her renewal application by October 1 of the year of its current license expiration shall pay a renewal application fee equal to the original application fee. No fee is refundable. All fees shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(5) DENIAL OF LICENSE.—The department may deny any applicant a license on the ground that:
(a) The applicant has made a material misstatement in his or her application for a license.
(b) The applicant has failed to comply with any applicable provision of this chapter.
(c) The applicant has failed to provide warranty service.
(d) The applicant or one or more of his or her principals or agents has violated any law, rule, or regulation relating to the sale of mobile homes.
(e) The department has proof of unfitness of the applicant.
(f) The applicant or licensee has engaged in previous conduct in any state which would have been a ground for revocation or suspension of a license in this state.
(g) The applicant or licensee has violated any of the provisions of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 or any rule or regulation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development promulgated thereunder.

Upon denial of a license, the department shall notify the applicant within 10 days, stating in writing its grounds for denial. The applicant is entitled to a public hearing and may request that such hearing be held within 45 days of denial of the license. All proceedings shall be pursuant to chapter 120.

(6) LICENSE CERTIFICATE.—A license certificate shall be issued by the department in accordance with the application when the same is regular in form and in compliance with the provisions of this section. The license certificate may be in the form of a document or a computerized card as determined by the department. The cost of each original, additional, or replacement computerized card shall be borne by the licensee and is in addition to the fee for licensure. The fees charged applicants for both the required background investigation and the computerized card as provided in this section shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. The license, when so issued, shall entitle the licensee to carry on and conduct the business of a mobile home dealer at the location set forth in the license for a period of 1 or 2 years beginning October 1 preceding the date of issuance. Each initial application received by the department shall be accompanied by verification that, within the preceding 6 months, the applicant or one or more of his or her designated employees has attended a training and information seminar conducted by the department or by a public or private provider approved by the department. Such seminar shall include, but not be limited to, statutory dealer requirements, which requirements include required bookkeeping and recording procedures, requirements for the collection of sales and use taxes, and such other information that in the opinion of the department will promote good business practices.
(7) SUPPLEMENTAL LICENSE.—Any person licensed pursuant to this section shall be entitled to operate one or more additional places of business under a supplemental license for each such business if the ownership of each business is identical to that of the principal business for which the original license is issued. Each supplemental license shall run concurrently with the original license and shall be issued upon application by the licensee on a form to be furnished by the department and payment of a fee of $50 for each such license. Only one licensed dealer shall operate at the same place of business. A supplemental license authorizing off-premises sales shall be issued, at no charge to the dealer, for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive calendar days.
(8) RECORDS TO BE KEPT BY LICENSEE.—Each licensee shall keep records in such form as shall be prescribed by the department. Such records shall include:
(a) A record of the purchase, sale, or exchange, or receipt for the purpose of sale, of any mobile home;
(b) The description of each such mobile home, including the identification or serial number and such other numbers or identification marks as may be thereon, and a statement that a number has been obliterated, defaced, or changed, if such fact is apparent; and
(c) The name and address of the seller, the purchaser, and the alleged owner or other person from whom the mobile home was purchased or received and the person to whom it was sold or delivered, as the case may be.
(9) SALESPERSONS TO BE REGISTERED BY LICENSEES.—
(a) Each licensee shall register with the department, within 30 days after the date of hire, the name, local residence address, and home telephone number of each person employed by such licensee as a mobile home salesperson. A licensee may not provide a post office box in lieu of a physical residential address.
(b) Each time a mobile home salesperson employed by a licensee changes his or her residence address, the salesperson must notify the department within 20 days after the change.
(c) Quarterly, each licensee shall notify the department of the termination or separation from employment of each mobile home salesperson employed by the licensee. Each notification must be on a form prescribed by the department.
(10) EVIDENCE OF TITLE REQUIRED.—The licensee shall also have in his or her possession for each new mobile home a manufacturer’s invoice or statement of origin, and for each used mobile home a properly assigned certificate of title or registration certificate if the used mobile home was previously registered in a nontitle state, from the time the mobile home is delivered to the licensee until it has been disposed of by him or her.
(11) SETUP OPERATIONS.—Each licensee may perform setup operations only as defined in s. 320.822, and the department shall provide by rule for the uniform application of all existing statutory provisions relating to licensing and setup operations.
(12) PENALTY.—The violation of any provision of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(13) INJUNCTION.—In addition to the remedies provided in this chapter, and notwithstanding the existence of any adequate remedy at law, the department is authorized to make application to any circuit court of the state, and the circuit court shall have jurisdiction, upon a hearing and for cause shown, to grant a temporary or permanent injunction restraining any person from acting as a mobile home dealer under the terms of this section who is not properly licensed or who violates or fails or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of chapter 319 and this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder. Such injunction shall be issued without bond. A single act in violation of the provisions of chapter 319 or this chapter shall be sufficient to authorize the issuance of an injunction.
(14) SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION.—The department shall, as it deems necessary, either suspend or revoke any license issued hereunder upon a finding that the licensee violated any provision of this section or of any other law of this state having to do with dealing in mobile homes or perpetrated a fraud upon any person as a result of such dealing in mobile homes.
(15) ADMINISTRATIVE FINES.—In addition to the exercise of other powers provided in this section, the department is authorized to assess, impose, levy, and collect by legal process fines, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation, against any licensee if it finds that a licensee has violated any provision of this section or has violated any other law of this state having to do with dealing in motor vehicles. Any licensee shall be entitled to a hearing pursuant to chapter 120 should the licensee wish to contest the fine levied, or about to be levied, upon him or her.
(16) SURETY BOND, CASH BOND, OR IRREVOCABLE LETTER OF CREDIT REQUIRED.—
(a) Before any license shall be issued or renewed, the applicant or licensee shall deliver to the department a good and sufficient surety bond, cash bond, or irrevocable letter of credit, executed by the applicant or licensee as principal. The bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall be in a form to be approved by the department and shall be conditioned upon the dealer’s complying with the conditions of any written contract made by the dealer in connection with the sale, exchange, or improvement of any mobile home and his or her not violating any of the provisions of chapter 319 or this chapter in the conduct of the business for which the dealer is licensed. The bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall be to the department and in favor of any retail customer who shall suffer any loss as a result of any violation of the conditions contained in this section. The bond or irrevocable letter of credit shall be for the license period, and a new bond or irrevocable letter of credit or a proper continuation certificate shall be delivered to the department at the beginning of each license period. However, the aggregate liability of the surety in any one license year shall in no event exceed the sum of such bond, or, in the case of a letter of credit, the aggregate liability of the issuing bank shall not exceed the sum of the credit. The amount of the bond required shall be as follows:
1. A single dealer who buys, sells, or deals in mobile homes and who has four or fewer supplemental licenses shall provide a surety bond, cash bond, or irrevocable letter of credit executed by the dealer applicant or licensee in the amount of $25,000.
2. A single dealer who buys, sells, or deals in mobile homes and who has more than four supplemental licenses shall provide a surety bond, cash bond, or irrevocable letter of credit executed by the dealer applicant or licensee in the amount of $50,000.

For the purposes of this paragraph, any person who buys, sells, or deals in both mobile homes and recreational vehicles shall provide the same surety bond required of dealers who buy, sell, or deal in mobile homes only.

(b) Surety bonds shall be executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the state as surety, and irrevocable letters of credit shall be issued by a bank authorized to do business in the state as a bank.
(c) Irrevocable letters of credit shall be engaged by a bank as an agreement to honor demands for payment as specified in this section.
(d) The department shall, upon denial, suspension, or revocation of any license, notify the surety company of the licensee or bank issuing an irrevocable letter of credit for the licensee, in writing, that the license has been denied, suspended, or revoked and shall state the reason for such denial, suspension, or revocation.
(e) Any surety company that pays any claim against the bond of any licensee or any bank that honors a demand for payment as a condition specified in a letter of credit of a licensee shall notify the department, in writing, that such action has been taken and shall state the amount of the claim or payment.
(f) Any surety company that cancels the bond of any licensee or any bank that cancels an irrevocable letter of credit shall notify the department, in writing, of such cancellation, giving reason for the cancellation.
History.—s. 1, ch. 23665, 1947; s. 2, ch. 70-215; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 1, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 75-203; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 32, ch. 77-357; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 20, ch. 78-95; ss. 8, 16, 17, ch. 80-217; s. 199, ch. 81-259; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 9, ch. 82-66; ss. 5, 6, ch. 82-129; s. 6, ch. 85-176; s. 8, ch. 85-343; s. 1, ch. 87-150; ss. 3, 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 40, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 7, ch. 92-148; s. 69, ch. 93-120; s. 65, ch. 94-306; s. 917, ch. 95-148; s. 19, ch. 95-333; s. 18, ch. 2005-164; s. 37, ch. 2006-290; s. 44, ch. 2007-5; s. 44, ch. 2013-160.
320.771 License required of recreational vehicle dealers.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
(a)1. “Dealer” means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in recreational vehicles or offering or displaying recreational vehicles for sale. The term “dealer” includes a recreational vehicle broker. Any person who buys, sells, deals in, or offers or displays for sale, or who acts as the agent for the sale of, one or more recreational vehicles in any 12-month period shall be prima facie presumed to be a dealer. The terms “selling” and “sale” include lease-purchase transactions. The term “dealer” does not include banks, credit unions, and finance companies that acquire recreational vehicles as an incident to their regular business and does not include mobile home rental and leasing companies that sell recreational vehicles to dealers licensed under this section.
2. A licensed dealer may transact business in recreational vehicles with a motor vehicle auction as defined in s. 320.27(1)(c)4. Further, a licensed dealer may, at retail or wholesale, sell a motor vehicle, as described in s. 320.01(1)(a), acquired in exchange for the sale of a recreational vehicle, if the acquisition is incidental to the principal business of being a recreational vehicle dealer. However, a recreational vehicle dealer may not buy a motor vehicle for the purpose of resale unless licensed as a motor vehicle dealer pursuant to s. 320.27. A dealer may apply for a certificate of title to a recreational vehicle required to be registered under s. 320.08(9), using a manufacturer’s statement of origin as permitted by s. 319.23(1), only if the dealer is authorized by a manufacturer/dealer agreement, as defined in s. 320.3202, on file with the department, to buy, sell, or deal in that particular line-make of recreational vehicle, and the dealer is authorized by the manufacturer/dealer agreement to perform delivery and preparation obligations and warranty defect adjustments on that line-make.
(b) “Recreational vehicle broker” means any person who is engaged in the business of offering to procure or procuring used recreational vehicles for the general public; who holds himself or herself out through solicitation, advertisement, or otherwise as one who offers to procure or procures used recreational vehicles for the general public; or who acts as the agent or intermediary on behalf of the owner or seller of a used recreational vehicle which is for sale or who assists or represents the seller in finding a buyer for the recreational vehicle.
(c) “Recreational vehicle” does not include any camping trailer, as defined in s. 320.01(1)(b)2.
(2) LICENSE REQUIRED.—No person shall engage in business as, or serve in the capacity of, a dealer in this state unless such person possesses a valid, current license as provided in this section. Motor vehicle dealers licensed under s. 320.27 shall not be required to obtain the license provided in this section to sell motor vehicles as defined in s. 320.01(1)(b)4., 5., and 6.
(3) APPLICATION.—The application for such license shall be in the form prescribed by the department and subject to such rules as may be prescribed by it. The application shall be verified by oath or affirmation and shall contain:
(a) A full statement of the name and the date of birth of the person or persons applying therefor.
(b) The name of the firm or copartnership with the names and places of residence of all its members, if the applicant is a firm or copartnership.
(c) The names and places of residence of the principal officers, if the applicant is a body corporate or other artificial body.
(d) The name of the state under whose laws the corporation is organized.
(e) The former place or places of residence of the applicant.
(f) The prior businesses in which the applicant has been engaged, the dates during which the applicant was engaged in such businesses, and the locations thereof.
(g) A description of the exact location of the place of business, when it was acquired, and whether it is owned in fee simple by the applicant. If leased, a true copy of the lease shall be attached to the application.
(h) Certification by the applicant that the location is a permanent one, not a tent or a temporary stand or other temporary quarters; that the location affords sufficient unoccupied space to store all recreational vehicles offered and displayed for sale; and that the location is a suitable place in which the applicant can in good faith carry on business and keep and maintain books, records, and files necessary to conduct such business, which will be available at all reasonable hours to inspection by the department or any of its inspectors or other employees.
(i) Certification by the applicant that the business of a recreational vehicle dealer is the principal business which shall be conducted at that location; however, this provision shall not apply to recreational vehicle or mobile home park operators licensed as mobile home or recreational vehicle dealers.
(j) A statement that the applicant is insured under a garage liability insurance policy, which shall include, at a minimum, $25,000 combined single-limit liability coverage, including bodily injury and property damage protection, and $10,000 personal injury protection, if the applicant is to be licensed as a dealer in, or intends to sell, recreational vehicles.
(k) A statement that the applicant for a recreational vehicle license, issued pursuant to this section, has not and will not enter into any agreements, written or oral, with any other person or business entity which would constitute an unfair or deceptive trade practice in violation of part II of chapter 501.
(l) Such other relevant information as may be required by the department. Each applicant, general partner in the case of a partnership, or corporate officer and director in the case of a corporate applicant, must file a set of fingerprints with the department for the purpose of determining any prior criminal record or any outstanding warrants. The department shall submit the fingerprinting to the Department of Law Enforcement for state processing and forwarding to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal processing. The actual cost of such state and federal processing shall be borne by the applicant and is to be in addition to the fee for licensure. The department may issue a license to an applicant pending the results of the fingerprint investigation, which license is fully revocable if the department subsequently determines that any facts set forth in the application are not true or correctly represented.

The department shall, if it deems necessary, cause an investigation to be made to ascertain if the facts set forth in the application are true and shall not issue a license to the applicant until it is satisfied that the facts set forth in the application are true.

(4) FEES.—Upon making initial application, the applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 in addition to any other fees required by law. Applicants may choose to extend the licensure period for 1 additional year for a total of 2 years. An initial applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 for the first year and $100 for the second year in addition to any other fees required by law. An applicant for a renewal license shall pay to the department $100 for a 1-year renewal or $200 for a 2-year renewal. The fee for application for change of location shall be $25. Any applicant for renewal who has failed to submit his or her renewal application by October 1 of the year of its current license expiration shall pay a renewal application fee equal to the original application fee. No fee is refundable. All fees shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(5) DENIAL OF LICENSE.—The department may deny any applicant a license on the ground that:
(a) The applicant has made a material misstatement in the application for a license.
(b) The applicant has failed to comply with any applicable provision of this chapter.
(c) The applicant has failed to provide warranty service.
(d) The applicant or one or more of the applicant’s principals or agents has violated any law, rule, or regulation relating to the sale of recreational vehicles.
(e) The department has proof of unfitness of the applicant.
(f) The applicant or licensee has engaged in previous conduct in any state which would have been a ground for revocation or suspension of a license in this state.
(g) The applicant or licensee has violated any of the provisions of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 or any rule or regulation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development promulgated thereunder.

Upon denial of a license, the department shall notify the applicant within 10 days, stating in writing its grounds for denial. The applicant is entitled to a public hearing and may request that such hearing be held within 45 days of denial of the license. All proceedings shall be pursuant to chapter 120.

(6) LICENSE CERTIFICATE.—A license certificate shall be issued by the department in accordance with the application when the same is regular in form and in compliance with the provisions of this section. The license certificate may be in the form of a document or a computerized card as determined by the department. The cost of each original, additional, or replacement computerized card shall be borne by the licensee and is in addition to the fee for licensure. The fees charged applicants for both the required background investigation and the computerized card as provided in this section shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. The license, when so issued, shall entitle the licensee to carry on and conduct the business of a recreational vehicle dealer at the location set forth in the license for a period of 1 or 2 years from October 1 preceding the date of issuance. Each initial application received by the department shall be accompanied by verification that, within the preceding 6 months, the applicant or one or more of his or her designated employees has attended a training and information seminar conducted by the department or by a public or private provider approved by the department. Such seminar shall include, but not be limited to, statutory dealer requirements, which requirements include required bookkeeping and recording procedures, requirements for the collection of sales and use taxes, and such other information that in the opinion of the department will promote good business practices.
(7) SUPPLEMENTAL LICENSE.—A person licensed under this section shall be entitled to operate one or more additional places of business under a supplemental license for each such business if the ownership of each business is identical to that of the principal business for which the original license is issued. Each supplemental license shall run concurrently with the original license and shall be issued upon application by the licensee on a form to be furnished by the department and payment of a fee of $50 for each such license. Only one licensed dealer shall operate at the same place of business. A supplemental license authorizing off-premises sales shall be issued, at no charge to the dealer, for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days. A licensed dealer who conducts an off-premises sale not in conjunction with a public vehicle show, as defined in s. 320.3203(5)(c), shall:
(a) Notify the applicable local department office of the specific dates and location for which such license is requested.
(b) Provide staff to work at the temporary location for the duration of the off-premises sale.
(c) Meet all local government permit requirements.
(d) Have the permission of the property owner to operate at that location.
(e) Conspicuously display a sign at the licensed location which clearly identifies the dealer’s name and business address as listed on the dealer’s original license.
(f) Prominently include the dealer’s name and business address, as listed on the dealer’s original license, in all advertisements associated with such sale.
(8) LICENSE ENDORSEMENT.—Any mobile home dealer licensed pursuant to s. 320.77, may apply to the department for authority to sell recreational vehicles. The mobile home dealer shall file an application required by this section and shall be governed by the licensing provisions contained herein. No additional license fees or bond shall be required for issuance of this endorsement to the mobile home dealer’s license.
(9) RECORDS TO BE KEPT BY LICENSEE.—Each licensee shall keep records in such form as shall be prescribed by the department. Such records shall include:
(a) A record of the purchase, sale, or exchange, or receipt for the purpose of sale, of any recreational vehicle.
(b) The description of each such recreational vehicle, including the identification or serial number and such other numbers or identification marks as may be thereon, and a statement that a number has been obliterated, defaced, or changed, if such fact is apparent.
(c) The name and address of the seller, the purchaser, and the alleged owner or other person from whom the recreational vehicle was purchased or received and the person to whom it was sold or delivered, as the case may be.
(10) EVIDENCE OF TITLE REQUIRED.—
(a) The licensee shall also have in his or her possession for each new recreational vehicle a manufacturer’s invoice or statement of origin.
(b) For each used recreational vehicle in the possession of a licensee and offered for sale by him or her, the licensee either shall have in his or her possession or control a duly assigned certificate of title from the owner in accordance with the provisions of chapter 319, or a registration certificate if the used recreational vehicle was previously registered in a nontitle state, from the time when the vehicle is delivered to the licensee and offered for sale by him or her until it has been disposed of by the licensee, or shall have reasonable indicia of ownership or right of possession, or shall have made proper application for a certificate of title or duplicate certificate of title in accordance with the provisions of chapter 319. A dealer may not sell or offer for sale a vehicle in his or her possession unless the dealer satisfies the requirements of this subsection. Reasonable indicia of ownership shall include a duly assigned certificate of title; in the case of a new vehicle, a manufacturer’s certificate of origin issued to or reassigned to the dealer; a consignment contract between the owner and the dealer along with a secure power of attorney from the owner to the dealer authorizing the dealer to apply for a duplicate certificate of title and assign the title on behalf of the owner; a court order awarding title to the vehicle to the dealer; a salvage certificate of title; a photocopy of a duly assigned certificate of title being held by a financial institution as collateral for a business loan of money to the dealer (“floor plan”); a copy of a canceled check or other documentation evidencing that an outstanding lien on a vehicle taken in trade by a licensed dealer has been satisfied and that the certificate of title will be, but has not yet been, received by the dealer; a vehicle purchase order or installment contract for a specific vehicle identifying that vehicle as a trade-in on a replacement vehicle; or a duly executed odometer disclosure statement as required by Title IV of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1972 (Pub. L. No. 92-513, as amended by Pub. L. No. 94-364 and Pub. L. No. 100-561) and by 49 C.F.R. part 580 bearing the signatures of the titled owners of a traded-in vehicle.
(11) SETUP OPERATIONS.—Each licensee may perform setup operations only as defined in s. 320.822, and the department shall provide by rule for the uniform application of all existing statutory provisions relating to licensing and setup operations.
(12) PENALTY.—The violation of any provision of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(13) INJUNCTION.—In addition to the remedies provided in this chapter, and notwithstanding the existence of any adequate remedy at law, the department is authorized to make application to any circuit court of the state, and the circuit court shall have jurisdiction, upon a hearing and for cause shown, to grant a temporary or permanent injunction restraining any person from acting as a recreational vehicle dealer under the terms of this section who is not properly licensed or who violates or fails or refuses to comply with any of the provisions of chapter 319 and this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder. Such injunction shall be issued without bond. A single act in violation of the provisions of chapter 319 or this chapter shall be sufficient to authorize the issuance of an injunction.
(14) SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION.—The department shall, as it deems necessary, either suspend or revoke any license issued hereunder upon a finding that the licensee violated any provision of this section or of any other law of this state having to do with dealing in recreational vehicles or perpetrated a fraud upon any person as a result of such dealing in recreational vehicles.
(15) ADMINISTRATIVE FINES.—In addition to the exercise of other powers provided in this section, the department is authorized to assess, impose, levy, and collect by legal process fines, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation, against any licensee if it finds that a licensee has violated any provision of this section or has violated any other law of this state having to do with dealing in motor vehicles. Any licensee shall be entitled to a hearing pursuant to chapter 120 should the licensee wish to contest the fine levied, or about to be levied, upon him or her.
(16) BOND.—
(a) Before any license shall be issued or renewed, the applicant shall deliver to the department a good and sufficient surety bond, executed by the applicant as principal and by a surety company qualified to do business in the state as surety. The bond shall be in a form to be approved by the department and shall be conditioned upon the dealer’s complying with the conditions of any written contract made by that dealer in connection with the sale, exchange, or improvement of any recreational vehicle and his or her not violating any of the provisions of chapter 319 or this chapter in the conduct of the business for which he or she is licensed. The bond shall be to the department and in favor of any retail customer who shall suffer any loss as a result of any violation of the conditions hereinabove contained. The bond shall be for the license period, and a new bond or a proper continuation certificate shall be delivered to the department at the beginning of each license period. However, the aggregate liability of the surety in any one license year shall in no event exceed the sum of such bond. The amount of the bond required shall be as follows:
1. A single dealer who buys, sells, or deals in recreational vehicles and has four or fewer supplemental licenses shall provide a surety bond in the amount of $10,000.
2. A single dealer who buys, sells, or deals in recreational vehicles and who has more than four supplemental licenses shall provide a surety bond in the amount of $20,000.

For the purposes of this paragraph, any person who buys, sells, or deals in both mobile homes and recreational vehicles shall provide the same surety bond required of dealers who buy, sell, or deal in mobile homes only.

(b) The department shall, upon denial, suspension, or revocation of any license, notify the surety company of the licensee, in writing, that the license has been denied, suspended, or revoked and shall state the reason for such denial, suspension, or revocation.
(c) Any surety company which pays any claim against the bond of any licensee shall notify the department, in writing, that it has paid such a claim and shall state the amount of the claim.
(d) Any surety company which cancels the bond of any licensee shall notify the department, in writing, of such cancellation, giving reason for the cancellation.
(17) PROHIBITED COMMISSION SHARING.—In accordance with the provisions of s. 626.753, a dealer or recreational vehicle broker, as defined in this section, who is not a licensed insurance agent may not share in the commission on the sale of insurance coverage on the types of recreational vehicles defined in s. 320.01(1)(b) by the creation of a foreign partnership, corporation, or other entity which is controlled by a person or entity not licensed as an insurance agent.
History.—s. 20, ch. 95-333; s. 44, ch. 96-413; s. 35, ch. 97-96; s. 1, ch. 2000-247; s. 6, ch. 2009-93; s. 1, ch. 2012-18; s. 43, ch. 2012-181; s. 45, ch. 2013-160; s. 26, ch. 2014-216.
320.781 Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Protection Trust Fund.—
(1) There is hereby established a Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Protection Trust Fund. The trust fund shall be administered and managed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The expenses incurred by the department in administering this section shall be paid only from appropriations made from the trust fund.
(2) Beginning October 1, 1990, the department shall charge and collect an additional fee of $1 for each new mobile home and new recreational vehicle title transaction for which it charges a fee. This additional fee shall be deposited into the trust fund. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall charge a fee of $40 per annual dealer and manufacturer license and license renewal, which shall be deposited into the trust fund. The sums deposited in the trust fund shall be used exclusively for carrying out the purposes of this section. These sums may be invested and reinvested by the Chief Financial Officer under the same limitations as apply to investment of other state funds, with all interest from these investments deposited to the credit of the trust fund.
(3) The trust fund shall be used to satisfy any judgment or claim by any person, as provided by this section, against a mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker for damages, restitution, or expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, resulting from a cause of action directly related to the conditions of any written contract made by him or her in connection with the sale, exchange, or improvement of any mobile home or recreational vehicle, or for any violation of chapter 319 or this chapter.
(4) The trust fund shall not be liable for any judgment, or part thereof, resulting from any tort claim except as expressly provided in subsection (3), nor for any punitive, exemplary, double, or treble damages. A person, the state, or any political subdivision thereof may recover against the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer, broker, or surety, jointly and severally, for such damages, restitution, or expenses; provided, however, that in no event shall the trust fund or the surety be liable for an amount in excess of actual damages, restitution, or expenses.
(5) Subject to the limitations and requirements of this section, the trust fund shall be used by the department to compensate persons who have unsatisfied judgments, or in certain limited circumstances unsatisfied claims, against a mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker. The following conditions must exist for a person to be eligible to file a claim against the trust fund:
(a) The claimant has obtained a final judgment that is unsatisfied against the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker or its surety jointly and severally, or against the mobile home dealer or broker only, if the court found that the surety was not liable due to prior payment of valid claims against the bond in an amount equal to, or greater than, the face amount of the applicable bond; or the claimant is prohibited from filing a claim in a lawsuit because a bankruptcy proceeding is pending by the dealer or broker, and the claimant has filed a claim in that bankruptcy proceeding; or the dealer or broker has closed his or her business and cannot be found or located within the jurisdiction of the state; and
(b) A claim has been made in a lawsuit against the surety and a judgment obtained is unsatisfied; a claim has been made in a lawsuit against the surety which has been stayed or discharged in a bankruptcy proceeding; or a claimant is prohibited from filing a claim in a lawsuit because a bankruptcy proceeding is pending by surety or the surety is not liable due to the prior payment of valid claims against the bond in an amount equal to, or greater than, the face amount of the applicable bond. However, a claimant may not recover against the trust fund if the claimant has recovered from the surety an amount that is equal to or greater than the total loss.
(6) In order to recover from the trust fund, the person must file an application and verified claim with the department.
(a) If the claimant has obtained a judgment that is unsatisfied against the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker or its surety as set forth in this section, the verified claim must specify the following:
1.a. That the judgment against the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker and its surety has been entered; or
b. That the judgment against the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker contains a specific finding that the surety has no liability, that execution has been returned unsatisfied, and that a judgment lien has been perfected;
2. The amount of actual damages broken down by category as awarded by the court or jury in the cause which resulted in the unsatisfied judgment, and the amount of attorney’s fees set forth in the unsatisfied judgment;
3. The amount of payment or other consideration received, if any, from the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker or its surety;
4. The amount that may be realized, if any, from the sale of real or personal property or other assets of the judgment debtor liable to be sold or applied in satisfaction of the judgment and the balance remaining due on the judgment after application of the amount which has been realized and a certification that the claimant has made a good faith effort to collect the judgment;
5. An assignment by the claimant of rights, title, or interest in the unsatisfied judgment lien to the department; and
6. Such other information as the department requires.
(b) If the claimant has alleged a claim as set forth in paragraph (5)(a) and for the reasons set forth therein has not been able to secure a judgment, the verified claim must contain the following:
1. A true copy of the pleadings in the lawsuit that was stayed or discharged by the bankruptcy court and the order of the bankruptcy court staying those proceedings or a true copy of the claim that was filed in the bankruptcy court proceedings;
2. Allegations of the acts or omissions by the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker setting forth the specific acts or omissions complained of which resulted in actual damage to the person, along with the actual dollar amount necessary to reimburse or compensate the person for costs or expenses resulting from the acts or omissions of which the person complained;
3. True copies of all purchase agreements, notices, service or repair orders or papers or documents of any kind whatsoever which the person received in connection with the purchase, exchange, or lease-purchase of the mobile home or recreational vehicle from which the person’s cause of action arises;
4. An assignment by the claimant of rights, title, or interest in the claim to the department; and
5. Such other information as the department requires.
(c) The department may require such proof as it deems necessary to document the matters set forth in the claim.
(7) Within 90 days after receipt of the application and verified claim, the department shall issue its determination on the claim. Such determination shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 120, but shall be reviewable only by writ of certiorari in the circuit court in the county in which the claimant resides in the manner and within the time provided by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. The claim must be paid within 45 days after the determination, or, if judicial review is sought, within 45 days after the review becomes final. A person may not be paid an amount from the fund in excess of $25,000 per mobile home or recreational vehicle, which includes any damages, restitution, payments received as the result of a claim against the surety bond, or expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees. Prior to payment, the person must execute an assignment to the department of all the person’s rights and title to, and interest in, the unsatisfied judgment and judgment lien or the claim against the dealer or broker and its surety.
(8) The department, in its discretion and where feasible, may try to recover from the mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker, or the judgment debtor or its surety, all sums paid to persons from the trust fund. Any sums recovered shall be deposited to the credit of the trust fund. The department shall be awarded a reasonable attorney’s fee for all actions taken to recover any sums paid to persons from the trust fund pursuant to this section.
(9) This section does not apply to any claim, and a person may not recover against the trust fund as the result of any claim, against a mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or broker resulting from a cause of action directly related to the sale, lease-purchase, exchange, brokerage, or installation of a mobile home or recreational vehicle prior to July 1, 2006.
(10) Neither the department, nor the trust fund shall be liable to any person for recovery if the trust fund does not have the moneys necessary to pay amounts claimed. If the trust fund does not have sufficient assets to pay the claimant, it shall log the time and date of its determination for payment to a claimant. If moneys become available, the department shall pay the claimant whose unpaid claim is the earliest by time and date of determination.
(11) It is unlawful for any person or his or her agent to file any notice, statement, or other document required under this section which is false or contains any material misstatement of fact. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 1, ch. 90-221; s. 376, ch. 95-148; s. 362, ch. 2003-261; s. 38, ch. 2006-290.
320.822 Definitions; ss. 320.822-320.862.—In construing ss. 320.822-320.862, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words or phrases have the following meanings:
(1) “Buyer” means a person who purchases at retail from a dealer or manufacturer a mobile home or recreational vehicle for his or her own use as a residence, or other related use.
(2) “Code” means the appropriate standards found in:
(a) The Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards for single-family mobile homes, promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(b) The Uniform Standards Code approved by the American National Standards Institute, ANSI A-119.2 for recreational vehicles and ANSI A-119.5 for park trailers or the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development standard for park trailers certified as meeting that standard; or
(c) The Mobile Home Repair and Remodeling Code and Used Recreational Vehicle Code.
(3) “Construction” means the minimum requirements for materials, products, equipment, and workmanship needed to assure that the mobile home or recreational vehicle will provide structural strength and rigidity; protection against corrosion, decay, and other similar destructive forces; resistance to the elements; and durability and economy of maintenance.
(4) “Institute” means the United States of America Standards Institute.
(5) “Length,” for purposes of transportation only, means the distance from the extreme front of the mobile home or recreational vehicle, to the extreme rear, including the drawbar and coupling mechanism, but not including expandable features that do not project from the body during transportation.
(6) “Length of a mobile home” means the distance from the exterior of the front wall (nearest to the drawbar and coupling mechanism) to the exterior of the rear wall (at the opposite end of the home) where such walls enclose living or other interior space and such distance includes expandable rooms but not bay windows, porches, drawbars, couplings, hitches, wall and roof extensions, or other attachments.
(7) “Licensee” means any person licensed or required to be licensed under s. 320.8225.
(8) “Mobile home dealer” means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in mobile homes or offering or displaying mobile homes for sale. Any person who buys, sells, or deals in one or more mobile homes in any 12-month period or who offers or displays for sale one or more mobile homes in any 12-month period shall be prima facie presumed to be engaged in the business of a mobile home dealer. The terms “selling” and “sale” include lease-purchase transactions. The term “mobile home dealer” does not include a bank, credit union, or finance company that acquires mobile homes as an incident to its regular business, does not include a mobile home rental or leasing company that sells mobile homes to mobile home dealers licensed under s. 320.77, and does not include persons who are selling their own mobile homes.
(9) “Recreational vehicle dealer” means any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or dealing in recreational vehicles or offering or displaying recreational vehicles for sale. The term “dealer” includes a recreational vehicle broker. Any person who buys, sells, deals in, or offers or displays for sale, or who acts as the agent for the sale of, one or more recreational vehicles in any 12-month period shall be prima facie presumed to be a dealer. The terms “selling” and “sale” include lease-purchase transactions. The term “dealer” does not include banks, credit unions, and finance companies that acquire recreational vehicles as an incident to their regular business and does not include mobile home rental and leasing companies that sell recreational vehicles to dealers licensed under s. 320.771.
(10) “Mobile home manufacturer” means any person, resident or nonresident, who, as a trade or commerce, manufactures or assembles mobile homes.
(11) “Recreational vehicle manufacturer” means any person, resident or nonresident, who, as a trade or commerce, manufactures or assembles recreational vehicles or van-type vehicles in such manner that they then qualify as recreational vehicles, for sale in this state.
(12) “Responsible party” means a manufacturer, dealer, or supplier.
(13) “Seal” or “label” means a device issued by the department certifying that a mobile home or recreational vehicle meets the appropriate code, which device is to be displayed on the exterior of the mobile home or recreational vehicle.
(14) “Setup” or “installation” means the operations performed at the occupancy site which render a mobile home or park trailer fit for habitation. Such operations include, but are not limited to, transporting; positioning; blocking; leveling, supporting, installing foundation products, components, and systems; connecting utility systems; making minor adjustments; or assembling multiple or expandable units.
(15) “Substantial defect” means:
(a) Any substantial deficiency or defect in materials or workmanship occurring to a mobile home or recreational vehicle which has been reasonably maintained and cared for in normal use.
(b) Any structural element, utility system, or component of the mobile home or recreational vehicle, which fails to comply with the code.
(16) “Supplier” means the original producer of completed components, including refrigerators, stoves, hot water heaters, dishwashers, cabinets, air conditioners, heating units, and similar components, which are furnished to a manufacturer or dealer for installation in the mobile home or recreational vehicle prior to sale to a buyer.
(17) “Width of a mobile home” means the distance from the exterior of one side wall to the exterior of the opposite side wall where such walls enclose living or other interior space and such distance includes expandable rooms but not bay windows, porches, wall and roof extensions, or other attachments.
(18) “Body size” of a park trailer, travel trailer, or fifth-wheel trailer means the distance from the exterior side or end to the opposite exterior side or end of the body. Such distance includes expandable rooms, bay windows, wall and roof extensions, or other extrusions in the travel mode. The following exceptions apply:
(a) Travel trailers shall not exceed 320 square feet. All square footage measurements are of the exterior when in setup mode, including bay windows.
(b) Park trailers constructed to ANSI A-119.5 shall not exceed 400 square feet. Park trailers constructed to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development standard shall not exceed 500 square feet. All square footage measurements are of the exterior when in setup mode and do not include bay windows.
(c) Fifth-wheel trailers may not exceed 400 square feet. All square footage measurements are of the exterior when in setup mode, including bay windows.
History.—s. 3, ch. 67-350; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 96, ch. 71-377; s. 2, ch. 74-169; s. 3, ch. 75-203; s. 1, ch. 76-195; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 33, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 78-221; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 2, ch. 84-182; ss. 7, 9, ch. 85-343; s. 8, ch. 87-225; ss. 4, 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 42, ch. 94-306; s. 918, ch. 95-148; s. 21, ch. 95-333; s. 2, ch. 2004-283.
320.8225 Mobile home and recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, and importer license.—
(1) LICENSE REQUIRED.—Any person who engages in the business of a mobile home manufacturer or a recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or importer in this state, or who manufactures mobile homes or recreational vehicles out of state which are ultimately offered for sale in this state, shall obtain annually a license for each factory location in this state and for each factory location out of state which manufactures mobile homes or recreational vehicles for sale in this state, prior to distributing or importing mobile homes or recreational vehicles for sale in this state.
(2) APPLICATION.—The application for a license must be in the form prescribed by the department and contain sufficient information to disclose the identity, location, and responsibility of the applicant. The application must also include a copy of the warranty and a complete statement of any service agreement or policy to be utilized by the applicant, any information relating to the applicant’s solvency and financial standing, and any other pertinent matter commensurate with safeguarding the public. The department may prescribe an abbreviated application for renewal of a license if the licensee has previously filed an initial application pursuant to this section. The application for renewal must include any information necessary to make current the information required in the initial application.
(3) FEES.—Upon submitting an initial application, the applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300. Applicants may choose to extend the licensure period for 1 additional year for a total of 2 years. An initial applicant shall pay to the department a fee of $300 for the first year and $100 for the second year. An applicant for a renewal license shall pay to the department $100 for a 1-year renewal or $200 for a 2-year renewal. Any applicant for renewal who fails to submit his or her renewal application by October 1 of the year of its current license expiration shall pay a renewal application fee equal to the original application fee. No fee is refundable. All fees must be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
(4) NONRESIDENT.—Any person applying for a license who is not a resident of this state must designate an agent for service of process pursuant to s. 48.181.
(5) REQUIREMENT OF ASSURANCE.—
(a) Annually, prior to the receipt of a license to manufacture mobile homes, the applicant or licensee shall submit a surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit from a financial institution, or a proper continuation certificate, sufficient to assure satisfaction of claims against the licensee for failure to comply with appropriate code standards, failure to provide warranty service, or violation of any provisions of this section. The amount of the surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit must be $50,000. Only one surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit shall be required for each manufacturer, regardless of the number of factory locations. The surety bond, cash bond, or letter of credit must be to the department, in favor of any retail customer who suffers a loss arising out of noncompliance with code standards or failure to honor or provide warranty service. The department may disapprove any bond or letter of credit that does not provide assurance as provided in this section.
(b) Annually, prior to the receipt of a license to manufacture, distribute, or import recreational vehicles, the applicant or licensee shall submit a surety bond, or a proper continuation certificate, sufficient to assure satisfaction of claims against the licensee for failure to comply with appropriate code standards, failure to provide warranty service, or violation of any provisions of this section. The amount of the surety bond must be $10,000 per year. The surety bond must be to the department, in favor of any retail customer who suffers loss arising out of noncompliance with code standards or failure to honor or provide warranty service. The department may disapprove any bond that does not provide assurance as provided in this section.
(c) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 120 relating to providing assurance of satisfaction of claims under this section.
(d) The department shall, upon denial, suspension, or revocation of any license, notify the surety company of the licensee, in writing, that the license has been denied, suspended, or revoked and shall state the reason for such denial, suspension, or revocation.
(e) Any surety company that pays any claim against the bond of any licensee shall notify the department, in writing, that it has paid such a claim and shall state the amount of the claim.
(f) Any surety company that cancels the bond of any licensee shall notify the department, in writing, of such cancellation, giving reason for the cancellation.
(6) LICENSE PERIOD.—A license issued to a mobile home manufacturer or a recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or importer entitles the licensee to conduct business for a period of 1 or 2 years beginning October 1 preceding the date of issuance.
(7) DENIAL OF LICENSE.—The department may deny a mobile home manufacturer or a recreational vehicle manufacturer, distributor, or importer license on the ground that:
(a) The applicant has made a material misstatement in his or her application for a license.
(b) The applicant has failed to comply with any applicable provision of this chapter.
(c) The applicant has failed to provide warranty service.
(d) The applicant or one or more of his or her principals or agents has violated any law, rule, or regulation relating to the manufacture or sale of mobile homes or recreational vehicles.
(e) The department has proof of the unfitness of the applicant.
(f) The applicant or licensee has engaged in previous conduct in any state which would have been a ground for revocation or suspension of a license in this state.
(g) The applicant or licensee has violated any provision of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 or any related rule or regulation adopted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Upon denial of a license, the department shall notify the applicant within 10 days, stating in writing its grounds for denial. The applicant is entitled to an administrative hearing and may request that such hearing be held within 45 days of denial of the license. All proceedings must be pursuant to chapter 120.

(8) REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF LICENSE.—The department shall suspend or, in the case of a subsequent offense, shall revoke any license upon a finding that the licensee violated any provision of this chapter or any other law of this state regarding the manufacture, warranty, or sale of mobile homes or recreational vehicles. The department may reinstate the license if it finds that the former licensee has complied with all applicable requirements of this chapter and an application for a license is refiled pursuant to this section.
(9) CIVIL PENALTIES; PROCEDURE.—The department is authorized to assess, impose, levy, and collect by legal process a civil penalty, in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each violation, against any licensee if it finds that a licensee has violated any provision of this section or has violated any other law of this state having to do with dealing in motor vehicles. A licensee is entitled to a hearing pursuant to chapter 120 to contest the fine levied, or about to be levied, upon him or her.
History.—s. 3, ch. 74-169; s. 4. ch. 75-203; s. 34, ch. 77-357; s. 20, ch. 78-95; s. 9, ch. 80-217; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 7, ch. 85-176; s. 43, ch. 86-243; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 377, ch. 95-148; s. 6, ch. 96-394; s. 11, ch. 2007-258; s. 46, ch. 2013-160.
320.823 Establishment of uniform mobile home standards.—Each new single-family or duplex mobile or manufactured home manufactured in this state or manufactured outside this state but sold or offered for sale in this state must be constructed to meet the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, pursuant to the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act. Such standards must include, but need not be limited to, standards for body and frame construction and the installation of plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems.
History.—s. 4, ch. 67-350; s. 5, ch. 75-203; s. 35, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 5, 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 2004-283.
320.8231 Establishment of uniform standards for recreational vehicle-type units and park trailers.—
(1) Each recreational vehicle-type unit, as defined in s. 320.01(1)(b), manufactured in this state or manufactured outside this state but sold or offered for sale in this state shall meet the Uniform Standards Code ANSI book A-119.2 or A-119.5, as applicable, approved by the American National Standards Institute. Such standards shall include, but are not limited to, standards for the installation of plumbing, heating, and electrical systems and fire and life safety in recreational vehicle-type units and park trailers. However, those park trailers exceeding 400 square feet shall meet the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards and shall have a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development label.
(2) Trailer hitches or other trailer connecting devices manufactured, sold, or offered for sale in this state for use with any trailer governed by this section or for use in towing boats must conform to the certification standards in Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission Regulation V-5.
History.—s. 6, ch. 75-203; s. 35, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 3, ch. 84-182; s. 10, ch. 85-343; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 1, ch. 90-78; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 66, ch. 94-306; s. 1, ch. 96-358.
320.8232 Establishment of uniform standards for used recreational vehicles and repair and remodeling code for mobile homes.—
(1) Each used recreational vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968, and sold or offered for sale in this state by a dealer or manufacturer shall meet the standards of the Used Recreational Vehicle Code. The provisions of said code shall ensure safe and livable housing and shall not be more stringent than those standards required to be met in the manufacture of recreational vehicles. Such provisions shall include, but not be limited to, standards for structural adequacy, plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and fire and life safety.
(2) The provisions of the repair and remodeling code shall ensure safe and livable housing and shall not be more stringent than those standards required to be met in the manufacture of mobile homes. Such provisions shall include, but not be limited to, standards for structural adequacy, plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and fire and life safety.
History.—s. 36, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 11, ch. 85-343; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.824 Changes and modifications of standards.—
(1) The department may adopt by rule changes in, or additions to, the standards adopted in s. 320.823 or s. 320.8231, which are approved and officially published by the institute or promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development subsequent to the effective date of this act.
(2) The department or its authorized agent may enter any place or establishment where mobile homes are manufactured, sold, or offered for sale, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the requirements of the code and the rules adopted by the department have been met.
History.—s. 5, ch. 67-350; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 37, ch. 77-357; s. 67, ch. 79-164; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 67, ch. 94-306; s. 2, ch. 96-358; s. 64, ch. 98-200.
320.8245 Limitation of alteration or modification to mobile homes or recreational vehicles.—
(1) LIMITATION OF ALTERATIONS OR MODIFICATIONS.—No alteration or modification shall be made to a mobile home or recreational vehicle by a licensed dealer after shipment from the manufacturer’s plant unless such alteration or modification is authorized in this section.
(2) EFFECT ON MOBILE HOME WARRANTY.—Unless an alteration or modification is performed by a qualified person as defined in subsection (4), the warranty responsibility of the manufacturer as to the altered or modified item shall be void.
(a) An alteration or modification performed by a mobile home or recreational vehicle dealer or his or her agent or employee shall place warranty responsibility for the altered or modified item upon the dealer. If the manufacturer fulfills, or is required to fulfill, the warranty on the altered or modified item, he or she shall be entitled to recover damages in the amount of his or her costs and attorneys’ fees from the dealer.
(b) An alteration or modification performed by a mobile home or recreational vehicle owner or his or her agent shall render the manufacturer’s warranty as to that item void. A statement shall be displayed clearly and conspicuously on the face of the warranty that the warranty is void as to the altered or modified item if the alteration or modification is performed by other than a qualified person. Failure to display such statement shall result in warranty responsibility on the manufacturer.
(3) AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT.—The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to chapter 120 which define the alterations or modifications which must be made by qualified personnel. The department may regulate only those alterations and modifications which substantially impair the structural integrity or safety of the mobile home.
(4) DESIGNATION AS A QUALIFIED PERSON.—
(a) In order to be designated as a person qualified to alter or modify a mobile home or recreational vehicle, a person must comply with local or county licensing or competency requirements in skills relevant to performing alterations or modifications on mobile homes or recreational vehicles.
(b) When no local or county licensing or competency requirements exist, the department may certify persons to perform mobile home alterations or modifications. The department shall by rule or regulation determine what skills and competency requirements are requisite to the issuance of a certification. A fee sufficient to cover the costs of issuing certifications may be charged by the department. The certification shall be valid for a period which terminates when the county or other local governmental unit enacts relevant competency or licensing requirements. The certification shall be valid only in counties or localities without licensing or competency requirements.
(c) The department shall determine which counties and localities have licensing or competency requirements adequate to eliminate the requirement of certification. This determination shall be based on a review of the relevant county or local standards for adequacy in regulating persons who perform alterations or modifications to mobile homes. The department shall find local or county standards adequate when minimal licensing or competency standards are provided.
History.—s. 4, ch. 74-169; s. 38, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 378, ch. 95-148.
320.8249 Mobile home installers license.—
(1) Any person who installs a mobile home shall obtain a mobile home installers license from the Bureau of Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Construction of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles pursuant to this section. Said license shall be renewed annually, and each licensee shall pay a fee of $150.
(2) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall issue a license as a mobile home installer to any person who applies to the department, pays the appropriate application fee, not to exceed $100, as set by department rule, and complies with subsection (3).
(3) In order to obtain licensure as a mobile home installer, the applicant must be at least 18 years old, must hold a valid performance bond in an amount set by department rule, not to exceed $5,000, conditioned upon proper performance of mobile home installation and weather-sealing duties for a period of 1 year, must carry liability insurance in an amount determined by department rule, not to exceed $100,000, must complete a minimum 8-hour training course approved by the department, and must pass a department-approved examination designed to test the skills necessary to properly and competently perform mobile home installation and to ascertain that the applicant has adequate knowledge of federal, state, and local laws applicable to mobile home installation contracting. The department may charge an examination fee sufficient to defray the costs of developing or obtaining and providing the examination, not to exceed $100. Any licensed dealer or licensed manufacturer who has subcontracted with an installer for installation and who remedies any faulty installation performed by said installer shall have recourse against said installer’s performance bond.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), any person who can show that he or she had been engaged in the business of mobile home installation on October 1, 1996, shall be exempted until October 1, 1997, from the requirement for completing training and for passing an examination in order to be licensed by the department as a mobile home installer and shall be licensed upon application, provided he or she has complied with all requirements of subsection (3), other than the training and examination requirements. No person shall be licensed or remain licensed as a mobile home installer subsequent to October 1, 1997, who has not taken and passed the department-approved mobile home installer examination.
(5) A direct employee of a licensed mobile home installer working under the supervision of the licensee and within the job scope of the licensee is not required to be licensed as a mobile home installer. The licensed mobile home installer is responsible for supervising all such employees and for the proper and competent performance of all employees working under his or her supervision.
(6) “Installation,” as used herein, is synonymous with “setup” as defined in s. 320.822(14).
(7) No person shall:
(a) Falsely hold himself or herself or a business organization out as a licensed mobile home installer;
(b) Falsely impersonate a licensed mobile home installer;
(c) Present as his or her own the mobile home installers license of another;
(d) Knowingly give false or forged evidence to the department;
(e) Use or attempt to use a mobile home installers license which has been suspended or revoked; or
(f) Engage in the business or act in the capacity of a licensed mobile home installer or advertise himself or herself or a business organization as available to engage in the business or act in the capacity of a mobile home installer without being duly licensed.
(8) Any unlicensed person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (7) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(9) A licensed person or licensed applicant may not:
(a) Obtain a mobile home installers license by fraud or misrepresentation.
(b) Be convicted or found guilty of, or enter a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime in any jurisdiction which directly relates to the practice of mobile home installation or the ability to practice.
(c) Violate any law or rule relating to installing, repairing, or dealing in mobile homes or any lawful order of the department.
(d) Commit fraud or deceit in the practice of contracting.
(e) Commit incompetence or misconduct in the practice of contracting.
(f) Commit gross negligence, repeated negligence, or negligence resulting in a significant danger to life or property.
(10) Any licensed person or license applicant who violates subsection (7) or subsection (9) may have any of the following disciplinary penalties imposed by the department, at its discretion:
(a) License revocation;
(b) License suspension;
(c) A fine not to exceed $1,000 per violation involving a single installation and not to exceed $5,000 for a violation involving the total setup;
(d) A requirement to take and pass, or retake and pass, the department-approved examination;
(e) Probation;
(f) Probation subject to such restriction of practice as the department chooses to impose;
(g) A notice of noncompliance; or
(h) Refusal of licensure application.
(11) The regulation of manufactured home installers or mobile home installers is preempted to the state, and no person may perform mobile home installation unless licensed pursuant to this section, regardless of whether that person holds a local license.
(12) A county, municipality, or other unit of local government may not require additional licensing, bonding, or insurance of a duly licensed installer who performs setup operations as defined in s. 320.822. However, a county, municipality, or other unit of local government may require an installer to obtain a local occupational license, which license shall not require for its issuance any conditions other than those required by this chapter and payment of the appropriate occupational license fee.
(13) All installers, dealers, and manufacturers shall purchase installation decals from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for a fee not to exceed $10 per decal. An installation decal shall be affixed to the manufactured home or mobile home prior to installation. This decal shall denote the date of installation, the name of the installer, and the number of the installer’s license or the dealer or manufacturer license number. Such decal shall be positioned immediately next to the HUD decal.
(14) Each installer shall maintain a location log for each decal for 2 years. This requirement must not take effect until the department develops an acceptable format for the log and provides a sample of the acceptable format to each licensed installer.
(15) In performing the installation, installers shall not perform plumbing or electrical activities prohibited by department rules related to setup operations pursuant to s. 320.822.
(16) Funds received by the department pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
(17) There are hereby appropriated five positions and $219,295 from the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund in the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to implement the provisions of this section.
History.—s. 5, ch. 96-394; s. 37, ch. 99-248; s. 4, ch. 2004-283.
320.8251 Mobile home installation products; product approval.—
(1) Each person or entity that engages in the manufacture of mobile home installation components, products, or systems must obtain a certification from the department which affirms that such component, product, or system is approved for use in the installation of mobile homes in this state.
(2) The department shall certify for use in this state any mobile home installation component, product, or system for which a person or entity applies to the department and which complies with subsection (3).
(3) In order to obtain the certification set forth in this section, a manufacturer must submit to the department a report certifying that the mobile home installation component, product, or system meets the mobile home installation standards set forth in this section and in department rules. The report must be signed and sealed by a professional engineer registered in this state. In accordance with chapter 120, the department shall review the report and approve or deny the certification of the installation component, product, or system for use in the installation of mobile homes in this state.
(4) The certification set forth in this subsection is subject to suspension or revocation, and the person or entity that obtained the certification is subject to a fine set by department rules upon a finding by the department that the person or entity has obtained the certification by misrepresentation or fraud or that the product, component, or system does not meet the mobile home installation standards set forth in this chapter or in department rules.
(5) Any product, component, or system subject to this section which is currently being used in the installation of mobile homes in this state is not required to be certified in accordance with this section until July 1, 2009.
History.—s. 5, ch. 2004-283.
320.8255 Mobile home inspection.—
(1) In order to ensure the highest degree of quality control in the construction of new mobile homes, each new mobile home sold in the state shall be inspected by the department pursuant to procedures developed by the department which assure compliance with code provisions. The department may adopt reasonable rules and regulations pursuant to chapter 120 for the implementation and enforcement of this inspection.
(2) Department inspectors shall make unannounced visits to manufacturing plants or take any other appropriate action which assures compliance with the code.
(3) Mobile home manufacturers and dealers shall be charged a fee for special inspections, including, but not limited to, plant approvals, 100 percent plant inspections, increased frequency inspections, reinspections, and special consumer complaint investigations as requested by a manufacturer or dealer or as may be deemed necessary by the department.
(4) The department shall determine fees for special inspections and for the label authorized under s. 320.827 which are sufficient to cover the cost of inspection and administration under this section. Fees collected shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
History.—s. 5, ch. 74-169; s. 39, ch. 77-357; s. 10, ch. 80-217; s. 200, ch. 81-259; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 10, ch. 82-66; ss. 6, 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 275, ch. 99-248.
320.827 Label; procedures for issuance; certification; requirements.—No dealer shall sell or offer for sale in this state any new mobile home manufactured after January 1, 1968, unless the mobile home bears a label and the certification by the manufacturer that the mobile home to which the label is attached meets or exceeds the appropriate code. Any mobile home bearing the insignia of approval pursuant to this section shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of all local government ordinances or rules which govern construction, and no mobile home bearing the department insignia of approval shall be in any way modified except in compliance with this chapter. Labels may be issued by the department when applied for with an affidavit certifying that the dealer or manufacturer applying will not attach a label to any new mobile home that does not meet or exceed the appropriate code. No mobile home may be manufactured in this state unless it bears a label and certification that the mobile home meets or exceeds the code. The label for each mobile home shall be displayed in a manner to be prescribed by the department.
History.—s. 8, ch. 67-350; s. 7, ch. 75-203; s. 40, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 11, ch. 82-66; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 96-358; s. 53, ch. 97-100.
320.8285 Onsite inspection.—
(1) Each county or municipality in this state shall be responsible for the onsite inspection of each mobile home installation located within the jurisdiction of such entity. The onsite inspection shall ensure compliance with the department’s uniform installation standards set forth in this chapter and in department rules.
(2) Each county or municipality may designate the persons who are to perform the onsite inspection. If a county or municipality does not so designate, the department shall designate the persons who are to perform the onsite inspection. A person may not be designated to perform onsite inspections unless that person is competent in the area of mobile home installation.
(3) The county or municipality issuing a permit for the installation of a mobile home shall issue such permit only to a licensed mobile home installer or to a licensed mobile home dealer or manufactured home owner if the dealer or owner demonstrates on the face of the application that a licensed installer will be performing the actual work. In the case of issuance to an owner, the permit must reflect the name and the license number of the licensed installer performing the work.
(4) Pursuant to the onsite inspection, each mobile home shall be issued a certificate of occupancy if the mobile home complies with department rules regarding the installation of mobile homes.
(5) Fees for onsite inspections and certificates of occupancy of mobile homes shall be reasonable for the services performed. A guideline for fee schedules shall be issued by the department.
(6) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall enforce every provision of this section and the rules adopted pursuant hereto, except that local land use and zoning requirements, fire zones, building setback and side and rear yard requirements, site development and property line requirements, subdivision control, and onsite installation inspection requirements, as well as review and regulation of architectural and aesthetic requirements, are hereby specifically and entirely reserved to local jurisdictions. However, any architectural or aesthetic requirement imposed on the mobile home structure itself may pertain only to roofing and siding materials. Such local requirements and regulations for manufactured homes must be reasonable, uniformly applied, and enforced without distinctions as to whether such housing is manufactured, located in a mobile home park or a mobile home subdivision, or built in a conventional manner. No local jurisdiction shall prohibit siting or resiting of used mobile homes based solely on the date the unit was manufactured.
(7) Park trailers are subject to inspection in the same manner as are mobile homes pursuant to this section.
History.—s. 6, ch. 74-169; s. 10, ch. 75-203; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 12, ch. 82-66; s. 4, ch. 84-182; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 6, ch. 92-148; s. 68, ch. 94-306; s. 49, ch. 97-300; s. 6, ch. 2004-283.
320.830 Reciprocity.—If any other state has codes for mobile homes at least equal to those established by this chapter, the department, upon determining that such standards are being enforced by an independent inspection agency, shall place the other state on a reciprocity list, which list shall be available to any interested person. Any mobile home that bears a seal of any state which has been placed on the reciprocity list may not be required to bear the seal of this state. A mobile home that does not bear the label herein provided shall not be permitted to be manufactured or offered for sale by a manufacturer or dealer anywhere within the geographical limits of this state unless the mobile home is designated for delivery into another state that has not adopted a code entitling the state to be placed on the reciprocity list.
History.—s. 11, ch. 67-350; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 8, ch. 74-169; s. 8, ch. 75-203; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 4, ch. 96-358.
320.831 Penalties.—
(1) Whoever violates any provision of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. ss. 5401 et seq., or any rules, regulations, or final order issued thereunder shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each such violation. Each violation of a provision of the act or any rule, regulation, or order issued thereunder shall constitute a separate violation with respect to each mobile home or with respect to each failure or refusal to allow or perform an act required thereby, except that the maximum civil penalty may not exceed $1 million for any related series of violations occurring within 1 year from the date of the first violation.
(2) Any individual, or a director, officer, or agent of a corporation, who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of s. 610 of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 in a manner which threatens the health or safety of any purchaser is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) Any manufacturer, dealer, or inspector who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of ss. 320.822-320.862 or any of the rules adopted by the department is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, provided such violation is not also a violation of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 or any rule, regulation, or final order issued thereunder.
History.—s. 12, ch. 67-350; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 74-99; s. 41, ch. 77-357; s. 5, ch. 78-221; s. 12, ch. 80-217; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 41, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.832 Legislative intent.—Nothing herein shall act to nullify or supersede the provisions of chapter 527.
History.—s. 13, ch. 67-350; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.8325 Mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers; uniform installation standards; injunctions; penalty.—
(1) The department shall adopt rules setting forth uniform standards for the installation of mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers and for the manufacture of components, products, or systems used in the installation of mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers. The rules shall ensure that the home or park trailer is installed on a permanent foundation that resists wind, flood, flotation, overturning, sliding, and lateral movement of the home or park trailer. No entity, other than the department, has authority to amend these uniform standards. The owner of the mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer shall be responsible for the installation in accordance with department rules.
(2)(a) Persons licensed in this state to engage in the business of insuring mobile homes, manufactured homes, or park trailers that are subject to the provisions of this section against damage from windstorm shall issue such insurance only if the mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer has been installed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and department rules.
(b) If a mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer is insured against damage caused by windstorm and subsequently sustains windstorm damage of a nature that indicates that the mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer was not installed in the manner required by this chapter and department rules, the person issuing the policy shall not be relieved from meeting the obligations specified in the insurance policy with respect to such damage on the basis that the mobile home or park trailer was not properly installed.
(3) Whenever a person or entity that engages in the business of manufactured housing installation or in the business of manufacturing components, products, or systems in this state and does so in a manner that is not in accordance with the uniform standards set forth by the department, a person or entity aggrieved thereby may bring an action in the appropriate court for actual damages. In addition, the court may provide appropriate equitable relief, including the enjoining of a violator from engaging in the business or from engaging in further violations. Whenever it is established to the satisfaction of the court that a willful violation has occurred, the court shall award punitive damages to the aggrieved party. The losing party may be liable for court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the prevailing party.
(4) In addition to other penalties provided in this section, the department or the state attorneys and their assistants are authorized to apply to the circuit courts within their respective jurisdictions, and such courts shall have jurisdiction, upon hearing and for cause shown, to grant temporary or permanent injunctions restraining any person or entity engaging in the business of manufactured housing installation or the manufacturing of components, products, or systems from installing homes or manufacturing or selling such components, products, or systems in a manner not in accordance with the uniform standards set forth by the department or restraining any persons in the business of installing such components, products, or systems from using devices that do not meet the uniform standards set forth by the department or from installing such components, products, or systems in a manner not in accordance with the uniform standards set forth by the department, whether or not there exists an adequate remedy at law, and such injunctions shall issue without bond.
(5) This section applies only to a mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer that is being used as a dwelling place and that is located on a particular location for a period of time exceeding 14 days, for a mobile or manufactured home, or 45 days, for a park trailer.
(6) For the purposes of this section, the definitions set forth in s. 320.822 apply.
History.—s. 6, ch. 73-182; s. 2, ch. 74-9; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 4, ch. 84-182; s. 12, ch. 85-343; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 38, ch. 99-248; s. 7, ch. 2004-283.
320.833 Retention, destruction, and reproduction of records; electronic retention.—Records and documents of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, created in compliance with, and in the implementation of, chapter 319 and this chapter, shall be retained by the department as specified in record retention schedules established under the general provisions of chapter 119. Further, the department is hereby authorized:
(1) To destroy, or otherwise dispose of, those records and documents, in conformity with the approved retention schedules.
(2) To photograph, microphotograph, or reproduce on film, as authorized and directed by the approved retention schedules, whereby each page will be exposed in exact conformity with the original records and documents retained in compliance with the provisions of this section. Photographs or microphotographs in the form of film or print of any records, made in compliance with the provisions of this section, shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof would have and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility in evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of such photographs or microphotographs shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original photographs or microphotographs.
(3) Beginning December 1, 2001, the department may maintain all records required or obtained in compliance with, and in the implementation of, chapter 319 and this chapter exclusively by electronic means.
History.—s. 5, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 77-443; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 33, ch. 2000-313.
Note.—Former s. 318.051.
320.8335 Disclosure of manner used in determining length of mobile homes.—When the length of the coupling mechanism is included in the overall length of a mobile home, any person who engages in the trade or commerce of selling mobile homes must disclose in writing to the buyer, before the buyer signs a contract for sale, that the length of the coupling mechanism has been included in the length of the mobile home. Any advertisement or other communication which describes a mobile home in terms of its length or width shall conform to the requirements of this section.
History.—s. 1, ch. 75-27; s. 3, ch. 78-221; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.834 Purpose.—It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure the safety and welfare of residents of mobile homes through an inspection program conducted by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Mobile homes are a primary affordable housing resource of many of the residents of the state and satisfy a large segment of statewide housing needs. It is the further intent of the Legislature that the department, mobile home dealers, and mobile home manufacturers continue to work together to meet the applicable code requirements for mobile homes and that such dealers and manufacturers share the responsibilities of warranting mobile homes in accordance with applicable codes and resolving legitimate consumer complaints in a timely, efficient manner.
History.—s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 8, 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 8, ch. 2004-283.
320.835 Mobile home and recreational vehicle warranties.—Each manufacturer, dealer, installer, and supplier of mobile homes or recreational vehicles shall warrant each new mobile home or recreational vehicle sold in this state and the setup of each such mobile home, in accordance with the warranty requirements prescribed by this section, for a period of at least 12 months, measured from the date of delivery of the mobile home to the buyer or the date of sale of the recreational vehicle in the case of a manufacturer or dealer, or from the date of receipt of a certificate of occupancy in the case of an installer. The warranty requirements of each manufacturer, dealer, installer, and supplier of mobile homes or recreational vehicles are as follows:
(1) The manufacturer warrants:
(a) For a mobile home or recreational vehicle, that all structural elements; plumbing systems; heating, cooling, and fuel-burning systems; electrical systems; fire prevention systems; and any other components or conditions included by the manufacturer are free from substantial defect.
(b) That 100-ampere electrical service exists in the mobile home.
(2) The dealer warrants:
(a) That any modifications or alterations made to the mobile home or recreational vehicle by the dealer or authorized by the dealer shall be free from substantial defect. Alterations or modifications made by a dealer shall relieve the manufacturer of warranty responsibility only as to the item altered or modified.
(b) That setup operations performed on the mobile home are performed in compliance with s. 320.8325.
(c) That substantial defects do not occur to the mobile home during setup or by transporting it to the occupancy site.

When the setup of a mobile home is performed by a person who is not an employee or agent of the mobile home manufacturer or dealer and is not compensated or authorized by, or connected with, such manufacturer or dealer, then the warranty responsibility of the manufacturer or dealer as to setup shall be limited to transporting the mobile home to the occupancy site free from substantial defect.

(3) The installer warrants that the setup operations performed on the mobile home are performed in compliance with s. 320.8325 and department rules governing the installation.
(4) The supplier warrants that any warranties generally offered in the ordinary sale of his or her product to consumers shall be extended to buyers of mobile homes and recreational vehicles. When no warranty is extended by suppliers, the manufacturer shall assume warranty responsibility for that component.
(5) The department may adopt rules under chapter 120 to resolve disputes that may arise among the mobile home manufacturer, dealer, installer, or supplier. Those rules must comply with the dispute resolution process as set forth in the federal Manufactured Housing Improvement Act.
History.—s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 42, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 379, ch. 95-148; s. 9, ch. 2004-283.
320.836 Presenting warranty claim.—The claim in writing, stating the substance of the warranty defect, may be presented to the manufacturer, dealer, or supplier. When the person notified is not the responsible party he or she shall inform the claimant and shall notify the responsible party of the warranty claim immediately.
History.—s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 380, ch. 95-148.
320.837 Warranty service.—
(1) When a service agreement exists between manufacturers, dealers, and suppliers to provide warranty service, the agreement may specify which party is to remedy warranty defects. However, when a warranty defect is not properly remedied, the responsible party as determined pursuant to s. 320.835 shall be responsible for providing warranty service.
(2) When no service agreement exists for warranty service, the responsible party as designated by s. 320.835 is responsible for remedying the warranty defect.
(3) The defect shall be remedied within 30 days of receipt of the written notification of the warranty claim unless the claim is unreasonable or bona fide reasons exist for not remedying the defect. When sufficient reasons exist for not remedying the defect or the claim is unreasonable, the responsible party shall respond to the claimant in writing with its reasons for not promptly remedying the defect and what further action is contemplated by the responsible party.
(4) When the person remedying the defect is not the responsible party as designated by s. 320.835 he or she shall be entitled to reasonable compensation paid to him or her by the responsible party. Conduct which coerces or requires a nonresponsible party to perform warranty service is a violation of this section.
(5) Warranty service shall be performed at the site at which the mobile home is initially delivered to the buyer, except for components which can be removed for service without substantial expense or inconvenience to the buyer.
History.—s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 381, ch. 95-148.
320.838 Civil action.—Notwithstanding the existence of other remedies, a buyer may bring a civil suit for damages against a responsible party who fails to satisfactorily resolve a warranty claim. Damages shall be the actual costs of remedying the defect. Court costs and reasonable attorney fees may be awarded to the prevailing party. When the court finds that failure to honor warranty claims is a consistent pattern of conduct of the responsible party, or that the defect is so severe as to significantly impair the safety of the mobile home, it may assess punitive damages against the responsible party.
History.—s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.839 Cumulative remedies.—The warranty provided for in this act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other rights and privileges which the buyer may have under any other law or instrument. The manufacturer, dealer or supplier shall not require the buyer to waive his or her rights under this act or any other rights under law. Any such waiver shall be deemed contrary to public policy and unenforceable and void.
History.—s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 382, ch. 95-148.
320.840 Liquidated damages.—The retail seller of a mobile home may, in the absence of an express provision in the sales contract stipulating reasonable liquidated damages or retention of down payment or deposit if the buyer fails to accept delivery of a mobile home, retain maximum damages according to the following terms:
(1) If the mobile home is in the seller’s stock and not specially ordered from the manufacturer for the buyer, the maximum retention shall be $50.
(2) If the mobile home is a single-wide and specially ordered from the manufacturer for the buyer, the maximum retention shall be $350.
(3) If the mobile home is larger than a single-wide and specially ordered for the buyer from the manufacturer, the maximum retention shall be $700.
History.—s. 10, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.861 Inspection of records; production of evidence; subpoena power.—
(1) The department may inspect the pertinent books, records, letters, and contracts of any licensee, whether dealer or manufacturer, relating to any written complaint made to it against such licensee.
(2) The department is granted and authorized to exercise the power of subpoena for the attendance of witnesses and the production of any documentary evidence necessary to the disposition by it of any written complaint against any licensee, whether dealer or manufacturer.
History.—s. 12, ch. 74-68; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 13, 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.862 Revocation of license held by firms or corporations.—If any applicant or licensee is a firm or corporation, it shall be sufficient cause for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license that any officer, director, or trustee of the firm or corporation, or any member in case of a partnership, has been guilty of an act or omission which would be cause for refusing, suspending, or revoking a license to such party as an individual. Each licensee shall be responsible for the acts of any of its employees while acting as its agent if the licensee approved of, or had knowledge of, the acts or other similar acts and, after such approval or knowledge, retained the benefits, proceeds, profits, or advantages accruing from, or otherwise ratified, the acts.
History.—s. 13, ch. 74-68; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
320.865 Maintenance of records by the department.—Beginning December 1, 2001, the department shall maintain electronic records of all complaints filed against licensees licensed under the provisions of ss. 320.27, 320.61, 320.77, 320.771, and 320.8225, any other provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding. The records shall contain all enforcement actions taken against licensees and against unlicensed persons acting in a capacity which would require them to be licensed under those sections. The electronic file of each licensee and unlicensed person shall contain a record of any complaints filed against him or her and a record of any enforcement actions taken against him or her. The complainant and the referring agency, if there is one, shall be advised of the disposition by the department of the complaint within 10 days of such action.
History.—s. 3, ch. 80-217; s. 201, ch. 81-259; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 383, ch. 95-148; s. 26, ch. 95-333; s. 34, ch. 2000-313.
1320.90 Notification of consumer’s rights.—The department shall develop a motor vehicle consumer’s rights pamphlet which shall be distributed free of charge by the Department of Legal Affairs to the motor vehicle owner upon request. Such pamphlet must contain information relating to odometer fraud and provide a summary of the rights and remedies available to all purchasers of motor vehicles.
History.—s. 10, ch. 89-333; s. 2, ch. 2011-56; s. 1, ch. 2011-205.
1Note.—As amended by s. 2, ch. 2011-56. For a description of multiple acts in the same session affecting a statutory provision, see preface to the Florida Statutes, “Statutory Construction.” This section was also amended by s. 1, ch. 2011-205, and that version reads:

320.90 Notification of consumer’s rights.—The department shall develop a motor vehicle consumer’s rights pamphlet which shall be distributed free of charge to the motor vehicle owner upon request. Such pamphlet must contain information relating to odometer fraud and provide a summary of the rights and remedies available to all purchasers of motor vehicles.

320.95 Transactions by electronic or telephonic means.—
(1) The department may accept an application provided for under this chapter by electronic or telephonic means.
(2) The department may collect electronic mail addresses and use electronic mail in lieu of the United States Postal Service for the purpose of providing renewal notices.
History.—s. 21, ch. 97-300; s. 44, ch. 2012-181.