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2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXXIII REGULATION OF TRADE, COMMERCE, INVESTMENTS, AND SOLICITATIONS
Chapter 506
STAMPED OR MARKED CONTAINERS AND BASKETS
CHAPTER 506
CHAPTER 506
STAMPED OR MARKED CONTAINERS AND BASKETS
506.19 Protection of owners of marked or branded field boxes or other specified containers; recordation.
506.20 Filing and recording of marks and brands on field boxes.
506.21 Filing fee; issuance of certificate of recordation.
506.22 Transfer, release, or sale of registered mark or brand.
506.23 Application of law.
506.24 Unauthorized possession of field boxes or other specified containers; penalty.
506.25 Alteration or obliteration of marks or brands on field boxes or other specified containers.
506.26 Purchase of marked field boxes or other specified containers from one other than owner.
506.265 Purchase of plastic bulk merchandise containers.
506.27 Refusal to deliver marked field boxes or other specified containers to owner upon demand.
506.28 Sending marked field boxes or other specified containers out of state; penalty.
506.501 Carts, Cases, Baskets, Boxes, and Containers Act; short title.
506.502 Definitions.
506.503 Shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, and bakery containers; registration.
506.505 Egg baskets; designation of owner.
506.506 Poultry boxes; designation of owners.
506.507 Bakery containers; designation of owners.
506.508 Illegal use of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers.
506.509 Possession of shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers.
506.511 Transportation of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers; bill of lading.
506.513 Illegal use of shopping carts and laundry carts.
506.5131 Return of shopping carts; assessment of fees, fines, and costs.
506.514 Unlawful removal of dairy cases.
506.515 Unlawful removal of egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers.
506.517 Deposits.
506.518 Penalty.
506.519 Scope of ss. 506.501-506.519.
506.19 Protection of owners of marked or branded field boxes or other specified containers; recordation.—Any person who owns field boxes, pallets, crates, containers, or receptacles used in the general production, harvesting, packing, transportation, or marketing of fruits or vegetables or their byproducts or used for the storage or transport of agricultural or other commercial goods in this state may adopt for his or her exclusive use and ownership a mark or brand that designates or distinguishes his or her ownership and may identify his or her field boxes, pallets, crates, containers, or receptacles with a mark or brand using initials, symbols, designs, names, or any combination thereof, by plainly and distinctly stamping, stenciling, painting, cutting, etching, or burning the mark or brand into or upon both ends or sides of the field boxes, pallets, crates, receptacles, or containers. For purposes of any court or administrative proceeding, if a copy of the mark or brand is filed and recorded with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to this chapter, the presence of this identifying mark or brand and the required registration number on any field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle is prima facie evidence of ownership.
History.—s. 1, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 1, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7087(1), (13); s. 1, ch. 67-18; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 72-47; s. 654, ch. 97-103; s. 1, ch. 2013-211.
506.20 Filing and recording of marks and brands on field boxes.—Any person desiring to avail herself or himself of the benefits of ss. 506.19-506.28, may make application to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and shall file with such department a true copy and description of such identifying mark or brand, which, if entitled thereto under the provisions of ss. 506.19-506.28, shall be filed and recorded by such department in a book to be provided and kept by it for that purpose, and the name of the owner of such brand or mark shall be likewise entered into such record, and such department shall then assign or designate a permanent registered number to the owner of such brand or mark, said number to be assigned progressively as marks and brands are received and recorded, and the registered number so assigned shall then become a part of the registered brand or mark and shall plainly and distinctly be made to appear on such field boxes, pallets, crates, receptacles and containers, together with the identifying mark or brand referred to in s. 506.19 hereof. The department shall determine if such brand or mark so applied for is not a duplication of any brand or mark previously recorded by or with it, or does not so closely resemble the same as to be misleading or deceiving. If the brand or mark applied for does so resemble or is such a duplication of previously recorded brands or marks as to be misleading or deceiving, the application shall be denied and the applicant may file some other brand or mark in the manner described above.
History.—s. 2, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 2, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7087(2), (14); s. 1, ch. 67-18; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 72-47; s. 655, ch. 97-103; s. 127, ch. 2020-2.
506.21 Filing fee; issuance of certificate of recordation.—The application for filing and recording shall be accompanied by a fee of $2 and thereupon, if consistent with the provisions of s. 506.20 the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall issue to the person applying for registration and recordation of such mark or brand a certificate of such recordation and of the register number assigned thereto and thereafter it shall issue such certificates, in any number, to any person applying therefor, upon the payment of a fee of $1 for each certificate so issued, and such certificate shall, in all proceedings in all of the courts of this state be taken as proof of the adoption and recordation of such identifying mark or brand.
History.—s. 3, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 3, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7087(3), (15); s. 1, ch. 67-18; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106.
506.22 Transfer, release, or sale of registered mark or brand.—The owner of any such registered mark or brand may transfer, release, or sell the same by an instrument in writing evidencing such transfer, release, or sale, and upon application to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services where such mark or brand is registered for the recordation of such instrument in writing, and upon the filing of the same with such department and the payment of a fee of $2 the department shall cause such instrument or transfer, release, or sale to be placed on record in a book provided and kept by it for that purpose, and certificates of such transfer, upon application therefor, shall be issued by it in like manner, upon the payment of like fees, as provided for the issuance of certificates under the provisions of s. 506.21.
History.—s. 4, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 4, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7087(4), (16); s. 1, ch. 67-18; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106.
506.23 Application of law.—The provisions of ss. 506.19-506.28 shall not be construed to apply when fruits, vegetables, or their byproducts, are wrapped or packed in such accepted or prescribed standard containers as are prescribed and designated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and are used only as receptacles or containers for fruits, vegetables, or their byproducts when offered for transportation or sale only.
History.—s. 10, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 10, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7087(5), (17); s. 5, ch. 90-320.
506.24 Unauthorized possession of field boxes or other specified containers; penalty.—
(1) Any person who shall have in his or her unauthorized possession any field box, pallet, crate, receptacle, or container marked or branded with any mark or brand registered under the provisions of ss. 506.19-506.28, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2) The possession by any person of any field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle so marked or branded, in the absence of written authority therefor, shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of the provisions of this section. However, the owner of such recorded or registered mark or brand may, in writing, authorize and designate any person to use or have in his or her possession any such field boxes, pallets, crates, containers, or receptacles.
History.—s. 5, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 5, ch. 16019, 1933; s. 5, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7433(3), (8), (16); s. 468, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 72-47; s. 656, ch. 97-103.
506.25 Alteration or obliteration of marks or brands on field boxes or other specified containers.—If any person shall alter, change, remove or obliterate the registered mark or brand on any field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle other than his or her own or shall cause or procure the same to be done, with intent to claim the same, or to prevent identification thereof by the true owner, or use or have in his or her possession, any such field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle on which the registered mark or brand has been altered, changed, removed or obliterated, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 6, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 6, ch. 16019, 1933; s. 6, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7433(4), (9), (17); s. 469, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 72-47; s. 657, ch. 97-103.
506.26 Purchase of marked field boxes or other specified containers from one other than owner.—It is unlawful for any person to receive or to purchase any field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle marked or branded with registered mark or brand as herein provided, from any person other than the registered owner thereof or her or his duly authorized agent, and proof of such receipt or purchase shall be prima facie evidence in any court of this state that such receiver or purchaser received or purchased the same with knowledge that it was stolen or embezzled property, and upon conviction thereof, such receiver or purchaser shall be punished as for receiving stolen or embezzled property.
History.—s. 7, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 7, ch. 16019, 1933; s. 7, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7433(5), (10), (18); s. 1, ch. 72-47; s. 658, ch. 97-103.
506.265 Purchase of plastic bulk merchandise containers.—
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Bona fide purchaser” means a person who in good faith makes a purchase without knowledge of another person’s outstanding rights.
(b) “Noncash payment” means payment by a method other than coins or currency.
(c) “Plastic bulk merchandise container” means a plastic crate or shell used by a product manufacturer, distributor, or retailer for the bulk transportation or storage of goods, and includes a plastic pallet used as a portable platform upon which containers, products, or materials may be placed to facilitate handling.
(d) “Proof of ownership” means a bill of sale or other evidence showing that a person who claims to be the owner of an item is the bona fide purchaser who purchased the item for fair market value.
(2) A person who purchases five or more plastic bulk merchandise containers from one seller shall:
(a) Obtain from the seller proof of ownership of the containers.
(b) Maintain a record that contains the date of the transaction; the seller’s or consignee’s name, address, and telephone number; and a description of the containers, including the number of containers being sold, each container’s serial number, and other identifying marks.
(c) Verify the seller’s identity with a valid driver license or other government-issued photo identification card and maintain a copy thereof in the record of sale.
(d) Make a noncash payment for five or more plastic bulk merchandise containers and record the method of payment used in each transaction.
(3) The purchaser shall maintain required records for at least 2 years after the date of purchase or delivery, whichever is later. State attorneys of the judicial circuits in this state may inspect these records at any time upon reasonable notice.
(4)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “value” has the same meaning as provided in s. 812.012.
(b) A person who violates this section in a transaction valued at $10,000 or less commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(c) A person who violates this section in a transaction valued at more than $10,000 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(d) A person who violates this section is liable to the owner of a stolen plastic bulk merchandise container for three times the replacement value of the stolen plastic bulk merchandise container. The owner of the plastic bulk merchandise container may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover monetary damages and attorney fees and costs incurred in maintaining the action.
(5) This section does not apply to the collection, receipt, or recycling of plastic bulk merchandise containers by the operator of a waste management facility or an entity exempt from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2013-211.
506.27 Refusal to deliver marked field boxes or other specified containers to owner upon demand.—The refusal of any person in possession thereof to deliver any field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle so marked or branded and registered as herein provided, to the registered owner of the same or his or her duly authorized agent, upon the demand of such registered owner or authorized agent, when said demand is accompanied with a display of the certificate of recordation and number of the same, as furnished to the registered owner by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shall be prima facie evidence in any court of this state of a fraudulent intent to convert said field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle to the use of the person or persons, so in possession of the same, and to deprive the registered owner thereof, and any person convicted of a violation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 8, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 8, ch. 16019, 1933; s. 8, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7433(6), (11), (19); s. 1, ch. 67-18; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 470, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 72-47; s. 659, ch. 97-103.
506.28 Sending marked field boxes or other specified containers out of state; penalty.—Any person who shall take or send out of the state, or cause to be taken or sent out of the state, any field box, pallet, crate, container, or receptacle so registered or branded as herein provided without the permission of the owner thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 9, ch. 16018, 1933; s. 9, ch. 16019, 1933; s. 9, ch. 16859, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 7433(7), (12), (20); s. 471, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 72-47.
506.501 Carts, Cases, Baskets, Boxes, and Containers Act; short title.—Sections 506.501-506.519 shall be known and may be cited as the “Carts, Cases, Baskets, Boxes, and Containers Act.”
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 1, ch. 87-80.
506.502 Definitions.—For the purposes of ss. 506.501-506.519, the term:
(1) “Bakery container” means any permanent type of container which is used by a bakery, distributor, retailer, or food service establishment or the agent of any of them as a means to transport, store, or carry bakery products.
(2) “Dairy case” means a wire or plastic container which holds 16 quarts or more of beverage and is used by a distributor, retailer, or its agent as a means to transport, store, or carry dairy products.
(3) “Department” means the Department of State.
(4) “Egg basket” means any permanent type of container which contains four dozen or more shell eggs and is used by a distributor, retailer, or its agent as a means to transport, store, or carry eggs.
(5) “Laundry cart” means a basket which is mounted on wheels and used in a coin-operated laundry or drycleaning establishment by a customer or an attendant for the purpose of transporting laundry and laundry supplies.
(6) “Name or mark” means any permanently affixed or permanently stamped name or mark which has been registered with the Department of State pursuant to s. 506.503 and is used for the purpose of identifying the registered owner of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers.
(7) “Parking area” means a lot or other property provided by a retail establishment for the use of customers to park automobiles or other vehicles while doing business in that establishment.
(8) “Poultry box” means any permanent type of container which is used by a processor, distributor, retailer, food service establishment, or its agent as a means to transport, store, or carry poultry.
(9) “Registered owner” means any person, firm, corporation, or association registered with the department as the owner of an identifying name or mark described in subsection (6).
(10) “Shopping cart” means a basket mounted on wheels or a similar device which is generally used in a retail establishment by a customer for the purpose of transporting goods of any kind.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 2, ch. 87-80.
506.503 Shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, and bakery containers; registration.—Any person, firm, corporation, or association owning shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers may register with the Department of State a description of the name or mark affixed or stamped on such carts, cases, baskets, boxes, or containers for identification purposes. If the department determines that the name or mark is not a duplication of any name or mark previously recorded in its files and does not so closely resemble any other recorded name or mark as to be misleading or deceiving, it shall register and record such name or mark in a file to be provided and kept by the department for that purpose, along with the name and address of the registered owner of the name or mark. If the department determines that the name or mark so applied for is a duplication of any name or mark previously recorded by the department, or so closely resembles the previously recorded name or mark as to be misleading or deceiving, the application shall be denied; and the applicant may register some other name or mark in the manner described in this section.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 89, ch. 85-81; s. 3, ch. 87-80.
506.505 Egg baskets; designation of owner.—Any person, firm, corporation, or association engaged in receiving, packing, handling, or selling eggs in permanent baskets which contain four dozen or more shell eggs may, in order to designate the ownership of such baskets or distinguish such baskets from other similar baskets, adopt, own, and use any name or mark and permanently affix or stamp such name or mark on any egg basket, except cardboard, fiberboard, or corrugated containers, which egg basket is owned by such person, firm, corporation, or association.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262.
506.506 Poultry boxes; designation of owners.—Any person, firm, corporation, or association engaged in receiving, packing, handling, or selling poultry in permanent boxes may, in order to designate the ownership of such boxes or distinguish such boxes from other similar boxes, adopt, own, and use any name or mark and permanently affix or stamp such name or mark on any poultry box, except cardboard, fiberboard, or wood containers, which poultry box is owned by such person, firm, corporation, or association.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262.
506.507 Bakery containers; designation of owners.—Any person, firm, corporation, or association engaged in receiving, packing, handling, or selling bakery products in permanent containers may, in order to designate the ownership of such containers or distinguish such containers from other similar containers, adopt, own, and use any name or mark and permanently affix such name or mark on any bakery container it owns, except a cardboard, fiberboard, or corrugated container.
History.—s. 4, ch. 87-80.
506.508 Illegal use of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers.—No person, firm, corporation, or association shall use for any purpose any container which is identified with or by any name or mark registered with the department as provided in s. 506.503 unless such person is the registered owner of the name or mark. No person, firm, corporation, or association shall deface, obliterate, destroy, cover up, or otherwise remove or conceal any such name or mark without the written consent of the registered owner.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 5, ch. 87-80.
506.509 Possession of shopping carts, laundry carts, dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers.—Any person who is in possession of any shopping cart, laundry cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, or bakery container with a registered name or mark shall be presumed to be in possession of stolen property and is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 6, ch. 87-80.
506.511 Transportation of dairy cases, egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers; bill of lading.—It is unlawful for any common carrier or private carrier for hire, except those carriers engaged in the transporting of dairy products, eggs, poultry, or bakery products to and from farms or bakeries where produced, to receive or transport any container marked with a registered name or mark unless such carrier has in his or her possession a bill of lading or invoice therefor.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 90, ch. 85-81; s. 7, ch. 87-80; s. 670, ch. 97-103.
506.513 Illegal use of shopping carts and laundry carts.—It is a violation of ss. 506.501-506.519:
(1) To remove any shopping cart or laundry cart from the premises or parking area of a retail establishment with intent to deprive temporarily or permanently the owner of such cart, or the retailer, of possession of the cart.
(2) To remove a shopping cart or laundry cart, without written authorization, from its owner or from the premises or parking area of any retail establishment.
(3) To remove, obliterate, or alter any serial number or sign affixed to a shopping cart or laundry cart.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262.
506.5131 Return of shopping carts; assessment of fees, fines, and costs.—
(1) The rightful owner of any shopping cart with a registered name or mark found on public property shall be immediately notified of its recovery.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or local ordinance, no fee, fine, or costs may be assessed against the owner of a shopping cart unless the shopping cart was found on public property and was removed from the premises or parking area of a retail establishment by the owner of the shopping cart, or an employee acting on the owner’s behalf, and the fee, fine, or cost has been approved by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This subsection shall not apply to any ordinance adopted after January 31, 2002, and prior to June 30, 2002, that requires a business establishment to install a retention system to retain shopping carts within the real property boundaries of a business location.
History.—s. 12, ch. 98-396; s. 6, ch. 2006-165.
506.514 Unlawful removal of dairy cases.—It is a violation of ss. 506.501-506.519 for any person not in lawful possession of a dairy case to remove a dairy case from the premises, the parking area, or any other area of any retail establishment, or from any dairy delivery vehicle, if:
(1) The dairy case is marked on at least two sides with a registered name or mark; and
(2) A notice to the public, warning that use by any person other than the registered owner is punishable by law, is visibly displayed on the dairy case.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262.
506.515 Unlawful removal of egg baskets, poultry boxes, or bakery containers.—It is a violation of ss. 506.501-506.519 for any person not in lawful possession of an egg basket, poultry box, or bakery container to remove such egg basket, poultry box, or bakery container from the premises, the parking area, or any other area of any processor, bakery, distributor, retailer, or food service establishment.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 8, ch. 87-80.
506.517 Deposits.—The requiring, taking, or accepting of any deposit upon delivery of any shopping cart, laundry cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, or bakery container shall not be deemed a sale thereof, optional or otherwise.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 9, ch. 87-80.
506.518 Penalty.—Any person who violates any of the provisions of ss. 506.501-506.519 is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 10, ch. 87-80; s. 126, ch. 91-224.
506.519 Scope of ss. 506.501-506.519.—
(1) Sections 506.501-506.519 do not apply to the owner of a shopping cart, laundry cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, or bakery container; to a retailer; to the agents or employees of such owner or retailer; or to a customer who has written consent from the owner of a shopping cart, laundry cart, dairy case, egg basket, poultry box, or bakery container, or from a retailer, to possess such cart, case, basket, box, or container or remove it from the premises or the parking area of the retail establishment.
(2) The provisions of ss. 506.501-506.519 are intended to be supplemental to the other provisions of this chapter and any other provisions of law governing the subject matter of ss. 506.501-506.519.
History.—s. 1, ch. 83-262; s. 11, ch. 87-80; s. 4, ch. 2000-272.