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(77), which tax shall be paid to the department or its agent upon the registration or renewal of registration of the vehicle. Notwithstanding the provisions of 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 the provisions of 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 $5 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, revenues collected from the surcharge imposed in this subsection must be deposited into the State Transportation Trust 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.

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; transportation trust fund.--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 $2, which shall be collected in the same manner as the license tax and deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund. This surcharge shall apply to registration periods beginning July 1, 1991.

History.--s. 175, ch. 91-112.

320.08046  Surcharge on license tax; General Revenue Fund.--There is levied 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. Of the proceeds of the license tax surcharge, 58 percent shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund and 42 percent shall be deposited into the Grants and Donations Trust Fund in the Department of Juvenile Justice to fund the community juvenile justice partnership grants program.

History.--s. 66, ch. 94-209; s. 37, ch. 95-267; s. 15, ch. 2003-179.

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 Florida Organ and Tissue Donor Education and Procurement 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.

320.08048  Sample license plates.--

(1)  The department is authorized, upon application and payment of a $10 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.

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; and

(c)  A processing fee of $2.

(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 four 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.

320.08053  Requirements for requests to establish specialty license plates.--

(1)  An organization that seeks authorization to establish a new specialty license plate for which an annual use fee is to be charged must submit to the department:

(a)  A request for the particular specialty license plate being sought, describing the proposed specialty license plate in specific terms, including a sample plate that conforms to the specifications set by the department and this chapter, and that is in substantially final form.

(b)  The results of a scientific sample survey of Florida motor vehicle owners that indicates at least 30,000 motor vehicle owners intend to purchase the proposed specialty license plate at the increased cost. As used in this paragraph, the term "scientific sample survey" means information that is gathered from a representative subset of the population as a whole. The sample survey of registered motor vehicle owners must be performed independently of the requesting organization by an organization that conducts similar sample surveys as a normal course of business. Prior to conducting a sample survey for the purposes of this section, a requesting organization must obtain a determination from the department that the organization selected to conduct the survey performs similar surveys as a normal course of business and is independent of the requesting organization. The methodology, results, and any evaluation by the department of the scientific sample survey shall be validated by the Auditor General as a condition precedent to submission of the specialty license plate for approval by the Legislature.

(c)  An application fee, not to exceed $60,000, to defray the department's cost for reviewing the application and developing the specialty license plate, if authorized. State funds may not be used to pay the application fee, except for collegiate specialty license plates authorized in s. 320.08058(3) and (13). The specialty license plate application provisions of this act shall not apply to any organization which has requested and received the required forms for obtaining a specialty license plate authorization from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, has opened a bank account for the funds collected for the specialty license tag and has made deposits to such an account, and has obtained signatures toward completing the requirements for the specialty license tag. All applications requested on or after the effective date of this act must meet the requirements of this act.

(d)  A marketing strategy outlining short-term and long-term marketing plans for the requested specialty license plate and a financial analysis outlining the anticipated revenues and the planned expenditures of the revenues to be derived from the sale of the requested specialty license plates.

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 specialty license plate requested by the 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. If the specialty license plate requested by the organization is not approved by the Legislature, the application fee shall be refunded to the requesting organization.

(3)  The department shall adopt rules providing viewpoint-neutral specifications for the design of specialty license plates that promote or enhance the readability of all specialty license plates and that discourage counterfeiting. The rules shall provide uniform specifications requiring inclusion of the word "Florida" in the same location on each specialty license plate, in such a size and location that is clearly identifiable on the specialty license plate when mounted on a vehicle, and shall provide specifications for the size and location of any words or logos appearing on a specialty license plate.

History.--s. 1, ch. 95-282; s. 1, ch. 98-414; s. 3, ch. 2004-337.

320.08056  Specialty license plates.--

(1)  The department is responsible for developing the specialty license plates authorized in s. 320.08053. The department shall begin production and distribution of each new specialty license plate within 1 year after approval of the specialty license plate by the Legislature.

(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, 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 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. When 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, $20.

(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 College license plate, $25.

(n)  Florida Agricultural license plate, $20.

(o)  Girl Scout license plate, $20.

(p)  Police Athletic League license plate, $20.

(q)  Boy Scouts of America license plate, $20.

(r)  Largemouth Bass license plate, $25.

(s)  Sea Turtle license plate, $17.50.

(t)  Protect Wild Dolphins license plate, $20.

(u)  Barry University license plate, $25.

(v)  Everglades River of Grass license plate, $20.

(w)  Keep Kids Drug-Free license plate, $25.

(x)  Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches license plate, $20.

(y)  Conserve Wildlife license plate, $15.

(z)  Florida Memorial University license plate, $25.

(aa)  Tampa Bay Estuary license plate, $15.

(bb)  Florida Wildflower license plate, $15.

(cc)  United States Marine Corps license plate, $15.

(dd)  Choose Life license plate, $20.

(ee)  Share the Road license plate, $15.

(ff)  American Red Cross license plate, $25.

(gg)  United We Stand license plate, $25.

(hh)  Breast Cancer Research license plate, $25.

(ii)  Protect Florida Whales license plate, $25.

(jj)  Florida Golf license plate, $25.

(kk)  Florida Firefighters license plate, $20.

(ll)  Police Benevolent Association license plate, $20.

(mm)  Military Services license plate, $15.

(nn)  Protect Our Reefs license plate, $25.

(oo)  Fish Florida license plate, $22.

(pp)  Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention license plate, $25.

(qq)  Hospice license plate, $25.

(rr)  Stop Heart Disease license plate, $25.

(ss)  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.

(tt)  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.

(uu)  Family First license plate, $25.

(vv)  Sportsmen's National Land Trust license plates, $25.

(ww)  Live the Dream license plate, $25.

(xx)  Florida Food Banks license plate, $25.

(yy)  Discover Florida's Oceans license plate, $25.

(zz)  Family Values license plate, $25.

(aaa)  Parents Make A Difference license plate, $25.

(bbb)  Support Soccer license plate, $25.

(ccc)  Kids Deserve Justice license plate, $25.

(ddd)  Animal Friend license plate, $25.

(eee)  Future Farmers of America license plate, $25.

(fff)  Donate Organs-Pass It On license plate, $25.

(ggg)  A State of Vision license plate, $25.

(hhh)  Homeownership For All 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.

(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, or pursuant to an organizational recipient's request. Organizations are required to 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 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).