1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to motor vehicles; amending ss. 261.03 and |
3 | 317.0003, F.S.; redefining the term "ROV" for purposes of |
4 | provisions relating to off-highway vehicles to include |
5 | vehicles of increased width and weight; amending s. |
6 | 316.1905, F.S.; revising provisions for witness testimony; |
7 | providing that certain witnesses shall be considered |
8 | competent to give testimony concerning a speed violation |
9 | only under specified circumstances; amending s. 316.1951, |
10 | F.S.; removing a requirement that the Department of |
11 | Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles adopt a uniform written |
12 | notice to be used to enforce provisions that prohibit |
13 | parking a motor vehicle on certain property for the |
14 | purpose of displaying the motor vehicle as being for sale, |
15 | hire, or rental; removing a requirement that each law |
16 | enforcement agency provide its own notice for such |
17 | enforcement; authorizing a local government to adopt an |
18 | ordinance to enforce such provisions; authorizing a code |
19 | enforcement officer from any local government agency to |
20 | enforce such provisions; providing for immediate removal |
21 | of a motor vehicle in violation of specified provisions; |
22 | providing for assessment of a fine in addition to towing |
23 | and storage fees; requiring a release form prescribed by |
24 | the department to be completed before release of the motor |
25 | vehicle; amending s. 318.14, F.S.; providing a lifetime |
26 | limitation on the number of times a person may elect to |
27 | attend a driver improvement course in lieu of appearing in |
28 | court for certain traffic infractions; amending s. 318.18, |
29 | F.S.; specifying a fine for a vehicle that is displayed |
30 | for sale, hire, or rental in violation of such provisions; |
31 | providing for disposition of fines collected; amending s. |
32 | 319.225, F.S.; prohibiting the department from requiring |
33 | the signature of the transferor to be notarized on certain |
34 | motor vehicle title transfer forms relating to mileage of |
35 | the vehicle; requiring the forms to include an affidavit |
36 | declaring facts in the document to be true; amending s. |
37 | 319.23, F.S.; providing that, under certain circumstances, |
38 | a motor vehicle dealer is not required to apply for a |
39 | certificate of title for a motor vehicle sold to a general |
40 | purchaser who resides outside the state; amending s. |
41 | 320.02, F.S.; directing the department to place the name |
42 | of the owner of a motor vehicle on the list of persons who |
43 | may not be issued a license plate or revalidation sticker |
44 | if that person is on a list submitted to the department by |
45 | a licensed dealer; amending s. 320.27, F.S.; clarifying an |
46 | exemption from certain dealer prelicensing requirements; |
47 | removing a requirement for evaluation of privatized |
48 | applicant training methods; authorizing dealer records to |
49 | be kept in either paper or electronic form; providing |
50 | procedures for transfer of documents to electronic form; |
51 | authorizing the department to deny, suspend, or revoke a |
52 | dealer's license for certain actions relating to payments |
53 | made to the department; authorizing a dealer training |
54 | school to cancel the training certificate issued to a |
55 | student for certain actions relating to payments made to |
56 | the school; amending s. 322.0261, F.S.; providing that the |
57 | department shall not require a person to attend a driver |
58 | improvement course for specified traffic violations when |
59 | adjudication has been withheld by the court; providing an |
60 | effective date. |
61 |
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62 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
63 |
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64 | Section 1. Subsection (9) of section 261.03, Florida |
65 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
66 | 261.03 Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term: |
67 | (9) "ROV" means any motorized recreational off-highway |
68 | vehicle 64 60 inches or less in width, having a dry weight of |
69 | 2,000 1,500 pounds or less, designed to travel on four or more |
70 | nonhighway tires, having nonstraddle seating and a steering |
71 | wheel, and manufactured for recreational use by one or more |
72 | persons. The term "ROV" does not include a golf cart as defined |
73 | in ss. 320.01(22) and 316.003(68) or a low-speed vehicle as |
74 | defined in s. 320.01(42). |
75 | Section 2. Subsection (9) of section 317.0003, Florida |
76 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
77 | 317.0003 Definitions.-As used in this chapter, the term: |
78 | (9) "ROV" means any motorized recreational off-highway |
79 | vehicle 64 60 inches or less in width, having a dry weight of |
80 | 2,000 1,500 pounds or less, designed to travel on four or more |
81 | nonhighway tires, having nonstraddle seating and a steering |
82 | wheel, and manufactured for recreational use by one or more |
83 | persons. The term "ROV" does not include a golf cart as defined |
84 | in ss. 320.01(22) and 316.003(68) or a low-speed vehicle as |
85 | defined in s. 320.01(42). |
86 | Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section |
87 | 316.1905, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
88 | 316.1905 Electrical, mechanical, or other speed |
89 | calculating devices; power of arrest; evidence.- |
90 | (3)(a) A witness otherwise qualified to testify shall be |
91 | competent to give testimony against an accused violator of the |
92 | speed motor vehicle laws of this state only when such testimony |
93 | is derived from the use of such an electronic, electrical, |
94 | mechanical, or other device used in the calculation of speed, |
95 | upon showing that the speed calculating device which was used |
96 | had been tested. However, the operator of any visual average |
97 | speed computer device shall first be certified as a competent |
98 | operator of such device by the department. |
99 | Section 4. Section 316.1951, Florida Statutes, is amended |
100 | to read: |
101 | 316.1951 Parking for certain purposes prohibited; sale of |
102 | motor vehicles; prohibited acts.- |
103 | (1) It is unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle, |
104 | as defined in s. 320.01, upon a public street or highway, upon a |
105 | public parking lot, or other public property, or upon private |
106 | property where the public has the right to travel by motor |
107 | vehicle, for the principal purpose and intent of displaying the |
108 | motor vehicle thereon for sale, hire, or rental unless the sale, |
109 | hire, or rental of the motor vehicle is specifically authorized |
110 | on such property by municipal or county regulation and the |
111 | person is in compliance with all municipal or county licensing |
112 | regulations. |
113 | (2) The provisions of subsection (1) do not prohibit a |
114 | person from parking his or her own motor vehicle or his or her |
115 | other personal property on any private real property which the |
116 | person owns or leases or on private real property which the |
117 | person does not own or lease, but for which he or she obtains |
118 | the permission of the owner, or on the public street immediately |
119 | adjacent thereto, for the principal purpose and intent of sale, |
120 | hire, or rental. |
121 | (3) Subsection (1) does not prohibit a licensed motor |
122 | vehicle dealer from displaying for sale or offering for sale |
123 | motor vehicles at locations other than the dealer's licensed |
124 | location if the dealer has been issued a supplemental license |
125 | for off-premises sales, as provided in s. 320.27(5), and has |
126 | complied with the requirements in subsection (1). A vehicle |
127 | displayed for sale by a licensed dealer at any location other |
128 | than the dealer's licensed location is subject to immediate |
129 | removal without warning. |
130 | (4) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles |
131 | shall adopt by rule a uniform written notice to be used to |
132 | enforce this section. Each law enforcement agency in this state |
133 | shall provide, at each agency's expense, the notice forms |
134 | necessary to enforce this section. |
135 | (4)(5) A local government may adopt an ordinance to allow |
136 | the towing of a motor vehicle parked in violation of this |
137 | section. A law enforcement officer, compliance officer, code |
138 | enforcement officer from any local government agency, or |
139 | supervisor of the department may issue a citation and cause to |
140 | be immediately removed at the owner's expense any motor vehicle |
141 | found in violation of subsection (1), except as provided in |
142 | subsections (2) and (3), or in violation of subsection (5), |
143 | subsection (6), subsection (7), or subsection (8), and the owner |
144 | shall be assessed a penalty as provided in s. 318.18(21) by the |
145 | government agency or authority that orders immediate removal of |
146 | the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle removed under this section |
147 | shall not be released from an impound or towing and storage |
148 | facility before a release form prescribed by the department has |
149 | been completed verifying that the fine has been paid to the |
150 | government agency or authority that ordered immediate removal of |
151 | the motor vehicle. However, the owner may pay towing and storage |
152 | charges to the towing and storage facility before payment of the |
153 | fine or before the release form has been completed which has |
154 | been parked in one location for more than 24 hours after a |
155 | written notice has been issued. Every written notice issued |
156 | pursuant to this section shall be affixed in a conspicuous place |
157 | upon a vehicle by a law enforcement officer, compliance officer, |
158 | or supervisor of the department. Any vehicle found in violation |
159 | of subsection (1) within 30 days after a previous violation and |
160 | written notice is subject to immediate removal without an |
161 | additional waiting period. |
162 | (5)(6) It is unlawful to offer a vehicle for sale if the |
163 | vehicle identification number has been destroyed, removed, |
164 | covered, altered, or defaced, as described in s. 319.33(1)(d). A |
165 | vehicle found in violation of this subsection is subject to |
166 | immediate removal without warning. |
167 | (6)(7) It is unlawful to knowingly attach to any motor |
168 | vehicle a registration that was not assigned or lawfully |
169 | transferred to the vehicle pursuant to s. 320.261. A vehicle |
170 | found in violation of this subsection is subject to immediate |
171 | removal without warning. |
172 | (7)(8) It is unlawful to display or offer for sale a |
173 | vehicle that does not have a valid registration as provided in |
174 | s. 320.02. A vehicle found in violation of this subsection is |
175 | subject to immediate removal without warning. This subsection |
176 | does not apply to vehicles and recreational vehicles being |
177 | offered for sale through motor vehicle auctions as defined in s. |
178 | 320.27(1)(c)4. |
179 | (8)(9) A vehicle is subject to immediate removal without |
180 | warning if it bears a telephone number that has been displayed |
181 | on three or more vehicles offered for sale within a 12-month |
182 | period. |
183 | (9)(10) Any other provision of law to the contrary |
184 | notwithstanding, a violation of subsection (1), subsection (5), |
185 | subsection (6), subsection (7), or subsection (8) shall subject |
186 | the owner of such motor vehicle to towing fees reasonably |
187 | necessitated by removal and storage of the motor vehicle and a |
188 | fine as required by s. 318.18. |
189 | (10)(11) This section does not prohibit the governing body |
190 | of a municipality or county, with respect to streets, highways, |
191 | or other property under its jurisdiction, from regulating the |
192 | parking of motor vehicles for any purpose. |
193 | (11)(12) A violation of this section is a noncriminal |
194 | traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as |
195 | provided in chapter 318, unless otherwise mandated by general |
196 | law. |
197 | Section 5. Subsection (9) of section 318.14, Florida |
198 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
199 | 318.14 Noncriminal traffic infractions; exception; |
200 | procedures.- |
201 | (9) Any person who does not hold a commercial driver's |
202 | license and who is cited for an infraction under this section |
203 | other than a violation of s. 316.183(2), s. 316.187, or s. |
204 | 316.189 when the driver exceeds the posted limit by 30 miles per |
205 | hour or more, s. 320.0605, s. 320.07(3)(a) or (b), s. 322.065, |
206 | s. 322.15(1), s. 322.61, or s. 322.62 may, in lieu of a court |
207 | appearance, elect to attend in the location of his or her choice |
208 | within this state a basic driver improvement course approved by |
209 | the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. In such a |
210 | case, adjudication must be withheld and points, as provided by |
211 | s. 322.27, may not be assessed. However, a person may not make |
212 | an election under this subsection if the person has made an |
213 | election under this subsection in the preceding 12 months. A |
214 | person may make no more than five elections within his or her |
215 | lifetime 10 years under this subsection. The requirement for |
216 | community service under s. 318.18(8) is not waived by a plea of |
217 | nolo contendere or by the withholding of adjudication of guilt |
218 | by a court. If a person makes an election to attend a basic |
219 | driver improvement course under this subsection, 18 percent of |
220 | the civil penalty imposed under s. 318.18(3) shall be deposited |
221 | in the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund; however, that portion is |
222 | not revenue for purposes of s. 28.36 and may not be used in |
223 | establishing the budget of the clerk of the court under that |
224 | section or s. 28.35. |
225 | Section 6. Subsection (21) is added to section 318.18, |
226 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
227 | 318.18 Amount of penalties.-The penalties required for a |
228 | noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14 or a criminal |
229 | offense listed in s. 318.17 are as follows: |
230 | (21) One hundred dollars for a violation of s. 316.1951 |
231 | for a vehicle that is unlawfully displayed for sale, hire, or |
232 | rental. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, fines |
233 | collected under this subsection shall be retained by the |
234 | governing authority that authorized towing of the vehicle. Fines |
235 | collected by the department shall be deposited into the Highway |
236 | Safety Operating Trust Fund. |
237 | Section 7. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (6) of |
238 | section 319.225, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
239 | 319.225 Transfer and reassignment forms; odometer |
240 | disclosure statements.- |
241 | (6)(a) If the certificate of title is physically held by a |
242 | lienholder, the transferor may give a power of attorney to his |
243 | or her transferee for the purpose of odometer disclosure. The |
244 | power of attorney must be on a form issued or authorized by the |
245 | department, which form must be in compliance with 49 C.F.R. ss. |
246 | 580.4 and 580.13. The department shall not require the signature |
247 | of the transferor to be notarized on the form; however, in lieu |
248 | of notarization, the form shall include an affidavit with the |
249 | following wording: UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, I DECLARE THAT I |
250 | HAVE READ THE FOREGOING DOCUMENT AND THAT THE FACTS STATED IN IT |
251 | ARE TRUE. The transferee shall sign the power of attorney form, |
252 | print his or her name, and return a copy of the power of |
253 | attorney form to the transferor. Upon receipt of a title |
254 | certificate, the transferee shall complete the space for mileage |
255 | disclosure on the title certificate exactly as the mileage was |
256 | disclosed by the transferor on the power of attorney form. If |
257 | the transferee is a licensed motor vehicle dealer who is |
258 | transferring the vehicle to a retail purchaser, the dealer shall |
259 | make application on behalf of the retail purchaser as provided |
260 | in s. 319.23(6) and shall submit the original power of attorney |
261 | form to the department with the application for title and the |
262 | transferor's title certificate; otherwise, a dealer may reassign |
263 | the title certificate by using the dealer reassignment form in |
264 | the manner prescribed in subsection (3), and, at the time of |
265 | physical transfer of the vehicle, the original power of attorney |
266 | shall be delivered to the person designated as the transferee of |
267 | the dealer on the dealer reassignment form. A copy of the |
268 | executed power of attorney shall be submitted to the department |
269 | with a copy of the executed dealer reassignment form within 5 |
270 | business days after the certificate of title and dealer |
271 | reassignment form are delivered by the dealer to its transferee. |
272 | (b) If the certificate of title is lost or otherwise |
273 | unavailable, the transferor may give a power of attorney to his |
274 | or her transferee for the purpose of odometer disclosure. The |
275 | power of attorney must be on a form issued or authorized by the |
276 | department, which form must be in compliance with 49 C.F.R. ss. |
277 | 580.4 and 580.13. The department shall not require the signature |
278 | of the transferor to be notarized on the form; however, in lieu |
279 | of notarization, the form shall include an affidavit with the |
280 | following wording: UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, I DECLARE THAT I |
281 | HAVE READ THE FOREGOING DOCUMENT AND THAT THE FACTS STATED IN IT |
282 | ARE TRUE. The transferee shall sign the power of attorney form, |
283 | print his or her name, and return a copy of the power of |
284 | attorney form to the transferor. Upon receipt of the title |
285 | certificate or a duplicate title certificate, the transferee |
286 | shall complete the space for mileage disclosure on the title |
287 | certificate exactly as the mileage was disclosed by the |
288 | transferor on the power of attorney form. If the transferee is a |
289 | licensed motor vehicle dealer who is transferring the vehicle to |
290 | a retail purchaser, the dealer shall make application on behalf |
291 | of the retail purchaser as provided in s. 319.23(6) and shall |
292 | submit the original power of attorney form to the department |
293 | with the application for title and the transferor's title |
294 | certificate or duplicate title certificate; otherwise, a dealer |
295 | may reassign the title certificate by using the dealer |
296 | reassignment form in the manner prescribed in subsection (3), |
297 | and, at the time of physical transfer of the vehicle, the |
298 | original power of attorney shall be delivered to the person |
299 | designated as the transferee of the dealer on the dealer |
300 | reassignment form. A copy of the executed power of attorney |
301 | shall be submitted to the department with a copy of the executed |
302 | dealer reassignment form within 5 business days after the |
303 | duplicate certificate of title and dealer reassignment form are |
304 | delivered by the dealer to its transferee. |
305 | Section 8. Subsection (6) of section 319.23, Florida |
306 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
307 | 319.23 Application for, and issuance of, certificate of |
308 | title.- |
309 | (6)(a) In the case of the sale of a motor vehicle or |
310 | mobile home by a licensed dealer to a general purchaser, the |
311 | certificate of title must be obtained in the name of the |
312 | purchaser by the dealer upon application signed by the |
313 | purchaser, and in each other case such certificate must be |
314 | obtained by the purchaser. In each case of transfer of a motor |
315 | vehicle or mobile home, the application for a certificate of |
316 | title, a or corrected certificate, or an assignment or |
317 | reassignment, must be filed within 30 days after from the |
318 | delivery of the motor vehicle or mobile home to the purchaser. |
319 | An applicant must pay a fee of $20, in addition to all other |
320 | fees and penalties required by law, for failing to file such |
321 | application within the specified time. In the case of the sale |
322 | of a motor vehicle by a licensed motor vehicle dealer to a |
323 | general purchaser who resides in another state or country, the |
324 | dealer is not required to apply for a certificate of title for |
325 | the motor vehicle; however, the dealer must transfer ownership |
326 | and reassign the certificate of title or manufacturer's |
327 | certificate of origin to the purchaser, and the purchaser must |
328 | sign an affidavit, as approved by the department, that the |
329 | purchaser will title and register the motor vehicle in another |
330 | state or country. |
331 | (b) If a licensed dealer acquires a motor vehicle or |
332 | mobile home as a trade-in, the dealer must file with the |
333 | department, within 30 days, a notice of sale signed by the |
334 | seller. The department shall update its database for that title |
335 | record to indicate "sold." A licensed dealer need not apply for |
336 | a certificate of title for any motor vehicle or mobile home in |
337 | stock acquired for stock purposes except as provided in s. |
338 | 319.225. |
339 | Section 9. Subsection (16) of section 320.02, Florida |
340 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
341 | 320.02 Registration required; application for |
342 | registration; forms.- |
343 | (16) The department is authorized to withhold registration |
344 | or re-registration of a motor vehicle if the name of the owner |
345 | or of a coowner appears on a list submitted to the department by |
346 | a licensed motor vehicle dealer for a previous registration of |
347 | that vehicle. The department shall place the name of the |
348 | registered owner of that vehicle on the list of those persons |
349 | who may not be issued a license plate, revalidation sticker, or |
350 | replacement plate for the vehicle purchased from the licensed |
351 | motor vehicle dealer. The motor vehicle dealer must maintain |
352 | signed evidence that the owner or coowner acknowledged the |
353 | dealer's authority to submit the list to the department if he or |
354 | she failed to pay and must note the amount for which the owner |
355 | or coowner would be responsible for the vehicle registration. |
356 | The dealer must maintain the necessary documentation required in |
357 | this subsection or face penalties as provided in s. 320.27. This |
358 | subsection does not affect the issuance of a title to a motor |
359 | vehicle. |
360 | (a) The motor vehicle owner or coowner may dispute the |
361 | claim that money is owed to a dealer for registration fees by |
362 | submitting a form to the department if the motor vehicle owner |
363 | or coowner has documentary proof that the registration fees have |
364 | been paid to the dealer for the disputed amount. Without clear |
365 | evidence of the amounts owed for the vehicle registration and |
366 | repayment, the department will assume initial payments are |
367 | applied to government-assessed fees first. |
368 | (b) If the registered owner's dispute complies with |
369 | paragraph (a), the department shall immediately remove the motor |
370 | vehicle owner or coowner's name from the list, thereby allowing |
371 | the issuance of a license plate or revalidation sticker. |
372 | Section 10. Subsections (4) and (6) and paragraph (a) of |
373 | subsection (9) of section 320.27, Florida Statutes, are amended |
374 | to read: |
375 | 320.27 Motor vehicle dealers.- |
376 | (4) LICENSE CERTIFICATE.- |
377 | (a) A license certificate shall be issued by the |
378 | department in accordance with such application when the |
379 | application is regular in form and in compliance with the |
380 | provisions of this section. The license certificate may be in |
381 | the form of a document or a computerized card as determined by |
382 | the department. The actual cost of each original, additional, or |
383 | replacement computerized card shall be borne by the licensee and |
384 | is in addition to the fee for licensure. Such license, when so |
385 | issued, entitles the licensee to carry on and conduct the |
386 | business of a motor vehicle dealer. Each license issued to a |
387 | franchise motor vehicle dealer expires annually on December 31 |
388 | unless revoked or suspended prior to that date. Each license |
389 | issued to an independent or wholesale dealer or auction expires |
390 | annually on April 30 unless revoked or suspended prior to that |
391 | date. Not less than 60 days prior to the license expiration |
392 | date, the department shall deliver or mail to each licensee the |
393 | necessary renewal forms. Each independent dealer shall certify |
394 | that the dealer (owner, partner, officer, or director of the |
395 | licensee, or a full-time employee of the licensee that holds a |
396 | responsible management-level position) has completed 8 hours of |
397 | continuing education prior to filing the renewal forms with the |
398 | department. Such certification shall be filed once every 2 years |
399 | commencing with the 2006 renewal period. The continuing |
400 | education shall include at least 2 hours of legal or legislative |
401 | issues, 1 hour of department issues, and 5 hours of relevant |
402 | motor vehicle industry topics. Continuing education shall be |
403 | provided by dealer schools licensed under paragraph (b) either |
404 | in a classroom setting or by correspondence. Such schools shall |
405 | provide certificates of completion to the department and the |
406 | customer which shall be filed with the license renewal form, and |
407 | such schools may charge a fee for providing continuing |
408 | education. Any licensee who does not file his or her application |
409 | and fees and any other requisite documents, as required by law, |
410 | with the department at least 30 days prior to the license |
411 | expiration date shall cease to engage in business as a motor |
412 | vehicle dealer on the license expiration date. A renewal filed |
413 | with the department within 45 days after the expiration date |
414 | shall be accompanied by a delinquent fee of $100. Thereafter, a |
415 | new application is required, accompanied by the initial license |
416 | fee. A license certificate duly issued by the department may be |
417 | modified by endorsement to show a change in the name of the |
418 | licensee, provided, as shown by affidavit of the licensee, the |
419 | majority ownership interest of the licensee has not changed or |
420 | the name of the person appearing as franchisee on the sales and |
421 | service agreement has not changed. Modification of a license |
422 | certificate to show any name change as herein provided shall not |
423 | require initial licensure or reissuance of dealer tags; however, |
424 | any dealer obtaining a name change shall transact all business |
425 | in and be properly identified by that name. All documents |
426 | relative to licensure shall reflect the new name. In the case of |
427 | a franchise dealer, the name change shall be approved by the |
428 | manufacturer, distributor, or importer. A licensee applying for |
429 | a name change endorsement shall pay a fee of $25 which fee shall |
430 | apply to the change in the name of a main location and all |
431 | additional locations licensed under the provisions of subsection |
432 | (5). Each initial license application received by the department |
433 | shall be accompanied by verification that, within the preceding |
434 | 6 months, the applicant, or one or more of his or her designated |
435 | employees, has attended a training and information seminar |
436 | conducted by a licensed motor vehicle dealer training school. |
437 | Any applicant for a new franchised motor vehicle dealer license |
438 | who has held a valid franchised motor vehicle dealer license |
439 | continuously for the past 2 years and who remains in good |
440 | standing with the department is exempt from the prelicensing |
441 | training requirement. Such seminar shall include, but is not |
442 | limited to, statutory dealer requirements, which requirements |
443 | include required bookkeeping and recordkeeping procedures, |
444 | requirements for the collection of sales and use taxes, and such |
445 | other information that in the opinion of the department will |
446 | promote good business practices. No seminar may exceed 8 hours |
447 | in length. |
448 | (b) Each initial license application received by the |
449 | department for licensure under subparagraph (1)(c)2. shall must |
450 | be accompanied by verification that, within the preceding 6 |
451 | months, the applicant (owner, partner, officer, or director of |
452 | the applicant, or a full-time employee of the applicant that |
453 | holds a responsible management-level position) has successfully |
454 | completed training conducted by a licensed motor vehicle dealer |
455 | training school. Such training must include training in titling |
456 | and registration of motor vehicles, laws relating to unfair and |
457 | deceptive trade practices, laws relating to financing with |
458 | regard to buy-here, pay-here operations, and such other |
459 | information that in the opinion of the department will promote |
460 | good business practices. Successful completion of this training |
461 | shall be determined by examination administered at the end of |
462 | the course and attendance of no less than 90 percent of the |
463 | total hours required by such school. Any applicant who had held |
464 | a valid motor vehicle dealer's license continuously within the |
465 | past 2 years and who remains in good standing with the |
466 | department is exempt from the prelicensing requirements of this |
467 | section paragraph. The department shall have the authority to |
468 | adopt any rule necessary for establishing the training |
469 | curriculum; length of training, which shall not exceed 8 hours |
470 | for required department topics and shall not exceed an |
471 | additional 24 hours for topics related to other regulatory |
472 | agencies' instructor qualifications; and any other requirements |
473 | under this section. The curriculum for other subjects shall be |
474 | approved by any and all other regulatory agencies having |
475 | jurisdiction over specific subject matters; however, the overall |
476 | administration of the licensing of these dealer schools and |
477 | their instructors shall remain with the department. Such schools |
478 | are authorized to charge a fee. This privatized method for |
479 | training applicants for dealer licensing pursuant to |
480 | subparagraph (1)(c)2. is a pilot program that shall be evaluated |
481 | by the department after it has been in operation for a period of |
482 | 2 years. |
483 | (6) RECORDS TO BE KEPT BY LICENSEE.-Every licensee shall |
484 | keep a book or record in either paper or electronic such form as |
485 | shall be prescribed or approved by the department for a period |
486 | of 5 years, in which the licensee shall keep a record of the |
487 | purchase, sale, or exchange, or receipt for the purpose of sale, |
488 | of any motor vehicle, the date upon which any temporary tag was |
489 | issued, the date of title transfer, and a description of such |
490 | motor vehicle together with the name and address of the seller, |
491 | the purchaser, and the alleged owner or other person from whom |
492 | such motor vehicle was purchased or received or to whom it was |
493 | sold or delivered, as the case may be. Such description shall |
494 | include the identification or engine number, maker's number, if |
495 | any, chassis number, if any, and such other numbers or |
496 | identification marks as may be thereon and shall also include a |
497 | statement that a number has been obliterated, defaced, or |
498 | changed, if such is the fact. When a licensee chooses to |
499 | maintain electronic records, the original paper documents may be |
500 | destroyed after the licensee successfully transfers title and |
501 | registration to the purchaser as required by chapter 319 for any |
502 | purchaser who titles and registers the motor vehicle in this |
503 | state. In the case of a sale to a purchaser who will title and |
504 | register the motor vehicle in another state or country, the |
505 | licensee may destroy the original paper documents after |
506 | successfully delivering a lawfully reassigned title or |
507 | manufacturer's certificate or statement of origin to the |
508 | purchaser and after producing electronic images of all documents |
509 | related to the sale. |
510 | (9) DENIAL, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION.- |
511 | (a) The department may deny, suspend, or revoke any |
512 | license issued hereunder or under the provisions of s. 320.77 or |
513 | s. 320.771, upon proof that an applicant or a licensee has |
514 | committed any of the following activities: |
515 | 1. Committed Commission of fraud or willful |
516 | misrepresentation in application for or in obtaining a license. |
517 | 2. Been convicted Conviction of a felony. |
518 | 3. Failed Failure to honor a bank draft or check given to |
519 | a motor vehicle dealer for the purchase of a motor vehicle by |
520 | another motor vehicle dealer within 10 days after notification |
521 | that the bank draft or check has been dishonored. If the |
522 | transaction is disputed, the maker of the bank draft or check |
523 | shall post a bond in accordance with the provisions of s. |
524 | 559.917, and no proceeding for revocation or suspension shall be |
525 | commenced until the dispute is resolved. |
526 | 4.a. Failed to provide payment within 10 business days to |
527 | the department for a check payable to the department that was |
528 | dishonored due to insufficient funds in the amount due plus any |
529 | statutorily authorized fee for uttering a worthless check. The |
530 | department shall notify an applicant or licensee when the |
531 | applicant or licensee makes payment to the department by a check |
532 | that is subsequently dishonored by the bank due to insufficient |
533 | funds. The applicant or licensee shall, within 10 business days |
534 | after receiving the notice, provide payment to the department in |
535 | the form of cash in the amount due plus any statutorily |
536 | authorized fee. If the applicant or licensee fails to make such |
537 | payment within 10 business days, the department may deny, |
538 | suspend, or revoke the applicant's or licensee's motor vehicle |
539 | dealer license. |
540 | b. Stopped payment on a check payable to the department, |
541 | issued a check payable to the department from an account that |
542 | has been closed, or charged back a credit card transaction to |
543 | the department. If an applicant or licensee commits any such |
544 | act, the department may deny, suspend, or revoke the applicant's |
545 | or licensee's motor vehicle dealer license. |
546 | 5.a. Failed to provide payment in the amount of tuition |
547 | due plus any statutorily authorized fee within 10 business days |
548 | to a licensed motor vehicle dealer training school for a check |
549 | payable to the school that was dishonored due to insufficient |
550 | funds in the amount of tuition due plus any statutorily |
551 | authorized fee for uttering a worthless check. A licensed motor |
552 | vehicle dealer training school shall notify a student when the |
553 | student makes payment to the school by a check that is |
554 | subsequently dishonored by the bank due to insufficient funds. |
555 | The student shall, within 10 business days after receiving the |
556 | notice, provide payment to the school in a manner designated by |
557 | the school in the amount of tuition due plus any statutorily |
558 | authorized fee. If the student fails to make such payment within |
559 | 10 business days, the motor vehicle dealer training school may |
560 | cancel the training certificate issued to the student and notify |
561 | the department of the cancellation of the training certificate. |
562 | b. Stopped payment on a check payable to a licensed motor |
563 | vehicle dealer training school, issued a check payable to a |
564 | licensed motor vehicle dealer training school from an account |
565 | that has been closed, or charged back a credit card transaction |
566 | to a licensed motor vehicle dealer training school. If a student |
567 | commits any such act, the motor vehicle dealer training school |
568 | may cancel the training certificate issued to the student and |
569 | notify the department of the cancellation of the training |
570 | certificate. |
571 | Section 11. Subsection (4) of section 322.0261, Florida |
572 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
573 | 322.0261 Driver improvement course; requirement to |
574 | maintain driving privileges; failure to complete; department |
575 | approval of course.- |
576 | (4) The department shall identify any operator convicted |
577 | of, or who pleaded nolo contendere to, a violation of s. |
578 | 316.074(1), s. 316.075(1)(c)1., s. 316.172, s. 316.191, or s. |
579 | 316.192 and, unless the court has withheld adjudication, shall |
580 | require that operator, in addition to other applicable |
581 | penalties, to attend a department-approved driver improvement |
582 | course in order to maintain driving privileges. If the operator |
583 | fails to complete the course within 90 days after receiving |
584 | notice from the department, the operator's driver license shall |
585 | be canceled by the department until the course is successfully |
586 | completed. |
587 | Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010. |