Senate Bill sb1570

    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 1570

    By Senator Crist





    12-1207-04                                              See HB

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to traffic control signals;

  3         amending s. 316.003, F.S.; defining "traffic

  4         signal preemption transmitter"; amending s.

  5         316.0775, F.S.; prohibiting use or possession

  6         of such transmitter; providing for exceptions;

  7         providing penalties; providing for application

  8         as a criminal violation; providing an effective

  9         date.

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11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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13         Section 1.  Subsection (84) is added to section

14  316.003, Florida Statutes, to read:

15         316.003  Definitions.--The following words and phrases,

16  when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings

17  respectively ascribed to them in this section, except where

18  the context otherwise requires:

19         (84)  TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPTION TRANSMITTER.--Any

20  device capable of transmitting optical or radio signals to

21  activate any mechanism installed on or near an official

22  traffic control signal which alters the operation of the

23  traffic control signal. The term "traffic signal preemption

24  transmitter" includes any electronic transmission device

25  capable of changing, altering, or otherwise interfering with

26  the normal operation of any official traffic control signal.

27         Section 2.  Section 316.0775, Florida Statutes, is

28  amended to read:

29         316.0775  Interference with official traffic control

30  signals or devices or railroad signs or signals.--

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2004                                  SB 1570
    12-1207-04                                              See HB




 1         (1)  No person shall, without lawful authority, attempt

 2  to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any

 3  official traffic control device or any railroad sign or

 4  signal, or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or

 5  any other part thereof. Any person who violates this

 6  subsection commits the offense of criminal mischief, A

 7  violation of this section is a criminal violation pursuant to

 8  s. 318.17 and shall be punishable as set forth in s. 806.13

 9  related to criminal mischief and graffiti, beginning on or

10  after July 1, 2000.

11         (2)  No person shall use or have in his or her

12  possession any traffic signal preemption transmitter. This

13  subsection shall not apply to any person operating an

14  authorized emergency vehicle as defined in s. 322.01, road

15  construction and maintenance personnel, employees of the

16  Department of Transportation, or any other lawfully authorized

17  persons when use of the device is in the performance of their

18  normal duties. Any person who violates this subsection commits

19  a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

20  775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

21         (3)  A violation of this section is a criminal

22  violation pursuant to s. 318.17.

23         Section 3.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2004.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.