317.0012 Crimes relating to certificates of title; penalties. - Florida Statutes

317.0012 Crimes relating to certificates of title; penalties.

   (1) It is unlawful for any person to procure or attempt to procure a certificate of title or duplicate certificate of title to an off-highway vehicle, or to pass or attempt to pass a certificate of title or duplicate certificate of title to an off-highway vehicle or any assignment thereof, if such person knows or has reason to believe that the vehicle has been stolen. Any person who violates this subsection commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

   (2) It is unlawful for any person, knowingly and with intent to defraud, to have in his or her possession, sell, offer to sell, counterfeit, or supply a blank, forged, fictitious, counterfeit, stolen, or fraudulently or unlawfully obtained certificate of title, duplicate certificate of title, bill of sale, or other indicia of ownership of an off-highway vehicle or to conspire to do any of the foregoing. Any person who violates this subsection commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

   (3) It is unlawful to:

   (a) Alter or forge any certificate of title to an off-highway vehicle or any assignment thereof or any cancellation of any lien on an off-highway vehicle.

   (b) Retain or use such certificate, assignment, or cancellation knowing that it has been altered or forged.

   (c) Use a false or fictitious name, give a false or fictitious address, or make any false statement in any application or affidavit required by this chapter or in a bill of sale or sworn statement of ownership or otherwise commit a fraud in any application.

   (d) Knowingly obtain goods, services, credit, or money by means of an invalid, duplicate, fictitious, forged, counterfeit, stolen, or unlawfully obtained certificate of title, bill of sale, or other indicia of ownership of an off-highway vehicle.

   (e) Knowingly obtain goods, services, credit, or money by means of a certificate of title to an off-highway vehicle which certificate is required by law to be surrendered to the department.

Any person who violates this subsection commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. A violation of this subsection with respect to any off-highway vehicle makes such off-highway vehicle contraband which may be seized by a law enforcement agency and forfeited under ss. 932.701-932.704.

History. s. 66, ch. 2002-295; s. 50, ch. 2005-164.