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1995 Edition
Compiled by: Frank Terranella, Esq., 106 Cathay Road, Clifton, N.J. 07013
©Copyright 1995, Frank Terranella
Notice from Grove Enterprises/Monitoring Times
Readers are advised that the material has not been updated since 1995, and local laws may have changed. If you have knowledge of such updates, please contact us at mt@grove-ent.com and we will post verified changes here.
FLORIDA:
FL
ST § 843.16
843.16.
Unlawful to install radio equipment using assigned frequency of
state or law enforcement officers; definitions;
exceptions; penalties
(1) No person, firm, or corporation shall install 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 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 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 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 shall not apply to any holder of a valid amateur radio
operator or station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission or
to 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.
(4) Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of
this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree,
punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Comment: