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Original source: Florida Statutes online (2016)
843.16 Unlawful to install or transport radio equipment using assigned
frequency of state or law enforcement officers; definitions; exceptions;
penalties.---
(1) A person, firm, or corporation may not install or transport in any motor
vehicle or business establishment, except an emergency vehicle or crime watch
vehicle as herein defined or a place established by municipal, county, state,
or federal authority for governmental purposes, any frequency modulation radio
receiving equipment so adjusted or tuned as to receive messages or signals on
frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to police or law
enforcement officers or fire rescue personnel of any city or county of the state
or to the state or any of its agencies. Provided, nothing herein shall be
construed to affect any radio station licensed by the Federal Communications
System or to affect any recognized newspaper or news publication engaged in
covering the news on a full-time basis or any alarm system contractor certified
pursuant to part II of chapter 489, operating a central monitoring system.
(2) As used in this section, the term:
(a) "Emergency vehicle" shall specifically mean:
1. Any motor vehicle used by any law enforcement officer or employee of
any city, any county, the state, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or
the Armed Forces of the United States while on official business;
2. Any fire department vehicle of any city or county of the state or
any state fire department vehicle;
3. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when said vehicle is
to be assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the state;
4. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the sheriff
or fire chief of any county in the state when said vehicle is to be
assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said county;
5. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the chief of
police or fire chief of any city in the state when said vehicle is to be
assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said city.
(b) "Crime watch vehicle" means any motor vehicle used by any person
participating in a citizen crime watch or neighborhood watch program when
such program and use are approved in writing by the appropriate sheriff or
chief of police where the vehicle will be used and the vehicle is assigned
the use of frequencies assigned to the county or city. Such approval shall
be renewed annually.
(3) This section does not apply to the following:
(a) Any holder of a valid amateur radio operator or station license issued
by the Federal Communications Commission.
(b) Any recognized newspaper or news publication engaged in covering the
news on a full-time basis.
(c) Any alarm system contractor certified pursuant to part II of chapter
489, operating a central monitoring system.
(d) Any sworm law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10 or emergency
service employee as defined in s. 496.404 while using personal transportation
to and from work.
(e) An employee of a government agency that holds a valid Federal
Communications Commission station license or that has a valid agreement or
contract allowing access to another agency's radio station.
(4) Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this
section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.--ss. 1-4, ch. 26886, 1951; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1049, ch.
71-136; s. 1, ch. 86-55; s. 1, ch. 90-62; s. 95, ch. 2005-164; s. 1, ch. 2008-70.
Retranscribed by: Todd L. Sherman/KB4MHH
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