HB 1631 2003
   
1 CHAMBER ACTION
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6          The Committee on Transportation recommends the following:
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8          Committee Substitute
9          Remove the entire bill and insert:
10 A bill to be entitled
11          An act relating to the Department of Transportation
12    SunPass program; amending s. 320.02, F.S.; providing for
13    the purchase of a SunPass transponder and enrollment in
14    the SunPass program at the time of registration or renewal
15    thereof; providing conditions of the sale; requiring that
16    the application form for motor vehicle registration and
17    renewal of registration include language permitting
18    purchase; requiring that such purchase be available in
19    specified counties with toll road facilities; providing
20    for a specified fee to be paid by the state to a private
21    motor vehicle registration agency for the sale; amending
22    s. 338.155, F.S.; providing for use of SunPass
23    transponders by certain handicapped persons; requiring
24    that such persons be permitted to pass free through toll
25    facilities using the transponder; prohibiting fraudulent
26    acquisition or described unlawful use of such
27    transponders; providing penalties; providing an effective
28    date.
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30          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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32          Section 1. Subsection (18) is added to section 320.02,
33    Florida Statutes, to read:
34          320.02 Registration required; application for
35    registration; forms.--
36          (18) In Broward, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, and
37    Palm Beach Counties, the application form for motor vehicle
38    registration and renewal of registration must include language
39    permitting the voluntary purchase of a SunPass transponder. For
40    each transponder sold through a motor vehicle registration
41    agency at the time of vehicle registration or vehicle renewal,
42    there shall be a $10 discount on the purchase. Private motor
43    vehicle registration agencies shall receive a transaction fee of
44    $1 from the state for each transponder sold under this program.
45          Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 338.155, Florida
46    Statutes, is amended to read:
47          338.155 Payment of toll on toll facilities required;
48    exemptions.--
49          (3)(a)Any handicapped person who has a valid driver's
50    license, who operates a vehicle specially equipped for use by
51    the handicapped, and who is certified by a physician licensed
52    under chapter 458 or chapter 459 or by comparable licensing in
53    another state or by the Adjudication Office of the United States
54    Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor as being
55    severely physically disabled and having permanent upper limb
56    mobility or dexterity impairments which substantially impair the
57    person's ability to deposit coins in toll baskets, shall be
58    allowed to pass free through all tollgates and over all toll
59    bridges and ferries in this state. A person who meets the
60    requirements of this subsection shall, upon application, be
61    issued a vehicle window sticker by the Department of
62    Transportation.
63          (b) Each county containing a toll road equipped with
64    SunPass equipment must permit any handicapped person currently
65    allowed to pass free through all toll facilities under paragraph
66    (a), upon the voluntary purchase of a SunPass Transponder after
67    being issued a vehicle window sticker by the Department of
68    Transportation, to pass free through all toll facilities in the
69    county using the transponder. Any person who fraudulently
70    obtains a transponder or who unlawfully uses a transponder that
71    belongs to another person to pass free through a toll facility
72    commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as
73    provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
74          Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.