Florida Senate - 2026                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 654
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì539650,Î539650                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
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       The Committee on Transportation (DiCeglie) recommended the
       following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete lines 1035 - 1340
    4  and insert:
    5  the speed detection system in the school zone during the
    6  preceding state fiscal year and the procedures for enforcement.
    7  The information from counties and municipalities must be
    8  submitted in a form and manner determined by the department,
    9  which the department must make available to the counties and
   10  municipalities by August 1, 2023, and the department may require
   11  data components to be submitted quarterly. The report must
   12  include at least the following:
   13         1. Information related to the location of each speed
   14  detection system, including the geocoordinates of the school
   15  zone, the directional approach of the speed detection system,
   16  the school name, the school level, the times the speed detection
   17  system was active, the restricted school zone speed limit
   18  enforced pursuant to s. 316.1895(5), the posted speed limit
   19  enforced at times other than those authorized by s. 316.1895(5),
   20  the date the systems were activated to enforce violations of s.
   21  316.1895 ss. 316.1895 and 316.183, and, if applicable, the date
   22  the systems were deactivated.
   23         2. The number of notices of violation issued, the number
   24  that were contested, the number that were upheld, the number
   25  that were dismissed, the number that were issued as uniform
   26  traffic citations, and the number that were paid.
   27         3. Any other statistical data and information related to
   28  the procedures for enforcement which is required by the
   29  department to complete the report required under paragraph (c).
   30  
   31  The department shall publish on its website each report
   32  submitted by a county or municipality pursuant to this
   33  paragraph.
   34         (c) On or before December 31, 2024, and annually
   35  thereafter, the department shall must submit a summary report to
   36  the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
   37  the House of Representatives regarding the use of speed
   38  detection systems under this section, along with any recommended
   39  legislation legislative recommendations from the department. The
   40  summary report must include a review of the information
   41  submitted to the department by the counties and municipalities
   42  and must describe the enhancement of safety and enforcement
   43  programs.
   44         Section 10. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
   45  316.1906, Florida Statutes, is reordered and amended, and
   46  subsection (3) of that section is amended, to read:
   47         316.1906 Radar speed-measuring devices; speed detection
   48  systems; evidence, admissibility.—
   49         (1) DEFINITIONS.—
   50         (d) “Officer” means any:
   51         2.1. “Law enforcement officer” who is elected, appointed,
   52  or employed full time by any municipality or the state or any
   53  political subdivision thereof; who is vested with the authority
   54  to bear arms and make arrests; and whose primary responsibility
   55  is the prevention and detection of crime or the enforcement of
   56  the penal, criminal, traffic, or highway laws of the state;
   57         3.2. “Part-time law enforcement officer” who is employed or
   58  appointed less than full time, as defined by an employing
   59  agency, with or without compensation; who is vested with
   60  authority to bear arms and make arrests; and whose primary
   61  responsibility is the prevention and detection of crime or the
   62  enforcement of the penal, criminal, traffic, or highway laws of
   63  the state; or
   64         1.3. “Auxiliary law enforcement officer” who is employed or
   65  appointed, with or without compensation; who aids or assists a
   66  full-time or part-time law enforcement officer; and who, while
   67  under the direct supervision of a full-time or part-time law
   68  enforcement officer, has the authority to arrest and perform law
   69  enforcement functions; or
   70         4. “Traffic infraction enforcement officer” who is employed
   71  or appointed, with or without compensation, and satisfies the
   72  requirements of s. 316.640(5) and is vested with authority to
   73  enforce violations of s. 316.1895 ss. 316.1895 and 316.183
   74  pursuant to s. 316.1896.
   75         (3) A speed detection system is exempt from the design
   76  requirements for radar or LiDAR units established by the
   77  department. A speed detection system must have the ability to
   78  perform self-tests as to its detection accuracy. The system must
   79  perform a self-test at least once every 30 days. The law
   80  enforcement agency, or an agent acting on behalf of the law
   81  enforcement agency, operating a speed detection system must
   82  maintain a log of the results of the system’s self-tests. The
   83  law enforcement agency, or an agent acting on behalf of the law
   84  enforcement agency, operating a speed detection system must also
   85  perform an independent calibration test on the speed detection
   86  system at least once every 12 months. The self-test logs, as
   87  well as the results of the annual calibration test, are
   88  admissible in any court proceeding for a uniform traffic
   89  citation issued for a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183
   90  enforced pursuant to s. 316.1896. Notwithstanding subsection
   91  (2), evidence of the speed of a motor vehicle detected by a
   92  speed detection system compliant with this subsection and the
   93  determination by a traffic infraction enforcement officer that a
   94  motor vehicle is operating in excess of the applicable speed
   95  limit is admissible in any proceeding with respect to an alleged
   96  violation of law regulating the speed of motor vehicles in
   97  school zones.
   98         Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
   99  316.640, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  100         316.640 Enforcement.—The enforcement of the traffic laws of
  101  this state is vested as follows:
  102         (5)(a) Any sheriff’s department or police department of a
  103  municipality may employ, as a traffic infraction enforcement
  104  officer, any individual who successfully completes instruction
  105  in traffic enforcement procedures and court presentation through
  106  the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program as approved by the
  107  Division of Criminal Justice Standards and Training of the
  108  Department of Law Enforcement, or through a similar program, but
  109  who does not necessarily otherwise meet the uniform minimum
  110  standards established by the Criminal Justice Standards and
  111  Training Commission for law enforcement officers or auxiliary
  112  law enforcement officers under s. 943.13. Any such traffic
  113  infraction enforcement officer who observes the commission of a
  114  traffic infraction or, in the case of a parking infraction, who
  115  observes an illegally parked vehicle may issue a traffic
  116  citation for the infraction when, based upon personal
  117  investigation, he or she has reasonable and probable grounds to
  118  believe that an offense has been committed which constitutes a
  119  noncriminal traffic infraction as defined in s. 318.14. In
  120  addition, any such traffic infraction enforcement officer may
  121  issue a traffic citation under ss. 316.0083, 316.173, and
  122  316.1896 ss. 316.0083 and 316.1896. For purposes of enforcing
  123  ss. 316.074(1), 316.075(1)(c)1., 316.172(1)(a) and (b), and
  124  316.1895(10) ss. 316.0083, 316.1895, and 316.183, any sheriff’s
  125  department or police department of a municipality may designate
  126  employees as traffic infraction enforcement officers. The
  127  traffic infraction enforcement officers must be physically
  128  located in the county of the respective sheriff’s or police
  129  department.
  130         Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
  131  316.650, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  132         316.650 Traffic citations.—
  133         (3)
  134         (c) If a traffic citation is issued under s. 316.0083, s.
  135  316.173, or s. 316.1896, the traffic infraction enforcement
  136  officer must shall provide by electronic transmission a replica
  137  of the traffic citation data to the court having jurisdiction
  138  over the alleged offense or its traffic violations bureau within
  139  5 business days after the date of issuance of the traffic
  140  citation to the violator. If a hearing is requested, the traffic
  141  infraction enforcement officer must shall provide a replica of
  142  the traffic notice of violation data to the clerk to for the
  143  local hearing officer having jurisdiction over the alleged
  144  offense within 14 days.
  145         Section 13. Subsection (3) of section 318.15, Florida
  146  Statutes, is amended to read:
  147         318.15 Failure to comply with civil penalty or to appear;
  148  penalty.—
  149         (3) The clerk shall notify the department of persons who
  150  were mailed a notice of violation of s. 316.074(1) or s.
  151  316.075(1)(c)1. pursuant to s. 316.0083, of s. 316.172(1)(a) or
  152  (b) pursuant to s. 316.173, or of s. 316.1895(10) pursuant to s.
  153  316.1896, and who failed to enter into, or comply with the terms
  154  of, a penalty payment plan, or order with the clerk to the local
  155  hearing officer or failed to appear at a scheduled hearing
  156  within 10 days after such failure, and shall reference the
  157  person’s driver license number, or in the case of a business
  158  entity, vehicle registration number.
  159         (a) Upon receipt of such notice, the department, or
  160  authorized agent thereof, may not issue a license plate or
  161  revalidation sticker for any motor vehicle owned or co-owned by
  162  that person pursuant to s. 320.03(8) until the amounts assessed
  163  have been fully paid.
  164         (b) After the issuance of the person’s license plate or
  165  revalidation sticker is withheld pursuant to paragraph (a), the
  166  person may challenge the withholding of the license plate or
  167  revalidation sticker only on the basis that the outstanding
  168  fines and civil penalties have been paid pursuant to s.
  169  320.03(8).
  170         Section 14. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3), paragraphs (a)
  171  and (b) of subsection (5), and subsection (23) of section
  172  318.18, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  173         318.18 Amount of penalties.—The penalties required for a
  174  noncriminal disposition pursuant to s. 318.14 or a criminal
  175  offense listed in s. 318.17 are as follows:
  176         (3)
  177         (d)1. Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (c), a person
  178  cited for a violation of s. 316.1895(10) or s. 316.183 for
  179  exceeding the speed limit in force at the time of the violation
  180  on a roadway maintained as a school zone as provided in s.
  181  316.1895, when enforced by a traffic infraction enforcement
  182  officer pursuant to s. 316.1896, must pay a fine of $100. Fines
  183  collected under this paragraph must be distributed as follows:
  184         a. Twenty dollars must be remitted to the Department of
  185  Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund.
  186         b. Seventy-seven dollars must be distributed to the county
  187  for any violations occurring in any unincorporated areas of the
  188  county or to the municipality for any violations occurring in
  189  the incorporated boundaries of the municipality in which the
  190  infraction occurred, to be used as provided in s. 316.1896(5).
  191         c. Three dollars must be remitted to the Department of
  192  Revenue for deposit into the Department of Law Enforcement
  193  Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund to be used as
  194  provided in s. 943.25.
  195         2. If a person who is mailed a notice of violation or a
  196  uniform traffic citation for a violation of s. 316.1895(10) or
  197  s. 316.183, as enforced by a traffic infraction enforcement
  198  officer under s. 316.1896, presents documentation from the
  199  appropriate governmental entity that the notice of violation or
  200  uniform traffic citation was in error, the clerk of court or
  201  clerk to the local hearing officer may dismiss the case. The
  202  clerk of court or clerk to the local hearing officer may not
  203  charge for this service.
  204         3. An individual may not receive a commission or per-ticket
  205  fee from any revenue collected from violations detected through
  206  the use of a speed detection system. A manufacturer or vendor
  207  may not receive a fee or remuneration based upon the number of
  208  violations detected through the use of a speed detection system.
  209         (5)(a)1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2., $200 for a
  210  violation of s. 316.172(1)(a), failure to stop for a school bus.
  211  If, at a hearing, the alleged offender is found to have
  212  committed this offense, the court shall impose a minimum civil
  213  penalty of $200. In addition to this penalty, for a second or
  214  subsequent offense within a period of 5 years, the department
  215  shall suspend the driver license of the person for not less than
  216  180 days and not more than 1 year.
  217         2. If a violation of s. 316.172(1)(a) is enforced by a
  218  school bus infraction detection system pursuant to s. 316.173,
  219  the penalty of $200 shall be imposed. If, at a an administrative
  220  hearing contesting a notice of violation or uniform traffic
  221  citation, the alleged offender is found to have committed this
  222  offense, a minimum civil penalty of $200 shall be imposed.
  223  Notwithstanding any other provision of law except s. 28.37(6),
  224  the civil penalties assessed under this subparagraph resulting
  225  from a notice of violation or uniform traffic citation shall be
  226  remitted to the school district at least monthly and used
  227  pursuant to s. 316.173(8).
  228         (b)1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2., $400 for a
  229  violation of s. 316.172(1)(b), passing a school bus on the side
  230  that children enter and exit when the school bus displays a stop
  231  signal. If, at a hearing, the alleged offender is found to have
  232  committed this offense, the court shall impose a minimum civil
  233  penalty of $400.
  234         2. If a violation of s. 316.172(1)(b) is enforced by a
  235  school bus infraction detection system pursuant to s. 316.173,
  236  the penalty under this subparagraph is a minimum of $200. If, at
  237  a hearing contesting a notice of violation or uniform traffic
  238  citation, the alleged offender is found to have committed this
  239  offense, the court shall impose a minimum civil penalty of $200.
  240  Notwithstanding any other provision of law except s. 28.37(6),
  241  the civil penalties assessed under this subparagraph resulting
  242  from notice of violation or uniform traffic citation shall be
  243  remitted to the school district at least monthly and used
  244  pursuant to s. 316.173(8).
  245         3. In addition to this penalty, for a second or subsequent
  246  offense within a period of 5 years, the department shall suspend
  247  the driver license of the person for not less than 360 days and
  248  not more than 2 years.
  249         (23) In addition to the penalty prescribed under s.
  250  316.0083, s. 316.173, or s. 316.1895 for violations enforced
  251  under those sections s. 316.0083 which are upheld by the local
  252  hearing officer, the local hearing officer may also order the
  253  payment of county, or municipal, or school district costs, not
  254  to exceed $250.
  255         Section 15. Subsection (12) of section 320.02, Florida
  256  Statutes, is amended to read:
  257         320.02 Registration required; application for registration;
  258  forms.—
  259         (12) The department is authorized to withhold registration
  260  or reregistration of any motor vehicle if the owner, or one of
  261  the co-owners of the vehicle:,
  262         (a) Has a driver license which is under suspension for the
  263  failure to remit payment of any fines levied in this state
  264  pursuant to chapter 318 or chapter 322; or
  265         (b) Received a traffic citation for a violation of s.
  266  316.074(1) or s. 316.075(1)(c)1., s. 316.172(1)(a) or (b), or s.
  267  316.1895(10), as enforced by s. 316.0083, s. 316.173, or s.
  268  316.1896, respectively, and did not request a hearing, submit an
  269  affidavit claiming an exception, or pay the traffic citation.
  270         Section 16. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
  271  322.27, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  272         322.27 Authority of department to suspend or revoke driver
  273  license or identification card.—
  274         (3) There is established a point system for evaluation of
  275  convictions of violations of motor vehicle laws or ordinances,
  276  and violations of applicable provisions of s. 403.413(6)(b) when
  277  such violations involve the use of motor vehicles, for the
  278  determination of the continuing qualification of any person to
  279  operate a motor vehicle. The department is authorized to suspend
  280  the license of any person upon showing of its records or other
  281  good and sufficient evidence that the licensee has been
  282  convicted of violation of motor vehicle laws or ordinances, or
  283  applicable provisions of s. 403.413(6)(b), amounting to 12 or
  284  more points as determined by the point system. The suspension
  285  shall be for a period of not more than 1 year.
  286         (d) The point system shall have as its basic element a
  287  graduated scale of points assigning relative values to
  288  convictions of the following violations:
  289         1. Reckless driving, willful and wanton—4 points.
  290         2. Leaving the scene of a crash resulting in property
  291  damage of more than $50—6 points.
  292         3. Unlawful speed, or unlawful use of a wireless
  293  communications device, resulting in a crash—6 points.
  294         4. Passing a stopped school bus:
  295         a. Not causing or resulting in serious bodily injury to or
  296  death of another—4 points.
  297         b. Causing or resulting in serious bodily injury to or
  298  death of another—6 points.
  299         c. Points may not be imposed for a violation of passing a
  300  stopped school bus as provided in s. 316.172(1)(a) or (b) when
  301  enforced by a school bus infraction detection system pursuant to
  302  s. 316.173. In addition, a violation of s. 316.172(1)(a) or (b)
  303  when enforced by a school bus infraction detection system
  304  pursuant to s. 316.173 may not be used for purposes of setting
  305  motor vehicle insurance rates.
  306         5. Unlawful speed:
  307         a. Not in excess of 15 miles per hour of lawful or posted
  308  speed—3 points.
  309         b. In excess of 15 miles per hour of lawful or posted
  310  speed—4 points.
  311         c. Points may not be imposed for a violation of unlawful
  312  speed as provided in s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183 when enforced by
  313  a traffic infraction enforcement officer pursuant to s.
  314  316.1896. In addition, a violation of s. 316.1895 or s. 316.183
  315  when enforced by a traffic infraction enforcement officer
  316  pursuant to s. 316.1896 may not be used for purposes of setting
  317  motor vehicle insurance rates.
  318         6. A violation of a traffic control signal device as
  319  provided in s. 316.074(1) or s. 316.075(1)(c)1.—4 points.
  320  However, points may not be imposed for a violation of s.
  321  316.074(1) or s. 316.075(1)(c)1. when a driver has failed to
  322  stop at a traffic signal and when enforced by a traffic
  323  infraction enforcement officer. In addition, a violation of s.
  324  316.074(1) or s. 316.075(1)(c)1. when a driver has failed to
  325  stop at a traffic signal and when enforced by a traffic
  326  infraction enforcement officer may not be used for purposes of
  327  setting motor vehicle insurance rates.
  328         7. Unlawfully driving a vehicle through a railroad-highway
  329  grade crossing—6 points.
  330         8. All other moving violations (including parking on a
  331  highway outside the limits of a municipality)—3 points. However,
  332  points may not be imposed for a violation of s. 316.2065(11);
  333  and points may be imposed for a violation of s. 316.1001 only
  334  when imposed by the court after a hearing pursuant to s.
  335  318.14(5).
  336         9. Any moving violation covered in this paragraph,
  337  excluding unlawful speed and unlawful use of a wireless
  338  communications device, resulting in a crash—4 points.
  339         10. Any conviction under s. 403.413(6)(b)—3 points.
  340         11. Any conviction under s. 316.0775(2)—4 points.
  341         12. A moving violation covered in this paragraph which is
  342  committed in conjunction with the unlawful use of a wireless
  343  communications device within a school safety zone—2 points, in
  344  addition to the points assigned for the moving violation.
  345         Section 17. Subsection (23) is added to section 775.15,
  346  Florida Statutes, to read:
  347         775.15 Time limitations; general time limitations;
  348  exceptions.—
  349         (23) For a traffic violation enforced pursuant to s.
  350  316.0083, s. 316.173, or s. 316.1896, the 1-year period of
  351  limitation for a noncriminal violation pursuant to paragraph
  352  (2)(d) resets upon receipt by the appropriate county,
  353  municipality, or law enforcement agency of an affidavit
  354  indicating that the
  355  
  356  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  357  And the title is amended as follows:
  358         Delete line 123
  359  and insert:
  360         receiving certain fees or remuneration; providing
  361         exceptions to requirements that certain civil
  362         penalties be remitted to school districts; conforming