HB 175

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to lease and rental car companies;
3amending s. 320.0601, F.S.; providing restrictions on
4the installation and use of toll-related transponders
5on vehicles for hire and charges therefor; providing
6an effective date.
7
8Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10     Section 1.  Section 320.0601, Florida Statutes, is amended
11to read:
12     320.0601  Lease and rental car companies; identification of
13vehicles as for-hire.-
14     (1)  A rental car company may not rent in this state any
15for-hire vehicle, other than vehicles designed to transport
16cargo, that has affixed to its exterior any bumper stickers,
17insignias, or advertising that identifies the vehicle as a
18rental vehicle.
19     (2)(a)  A lease or rental car company may not rent in this
20state any for-hire vehicle with permanently affixed SunPass
21transponders unless they are enclosed in a metal box that allows
22the renter to manually activate the transponder.
23     (b)  A lease or rental car company or its designated
24tolling program vendor shall assess service fees only for the
25actual days the renter used the transponder to pay for tolls,
26based on 24-hour increments. A lease or rental car company may
27not charge for days when tolls were not incurred by the renter.
28     (3)(2)  As used in this section, the term:
29     (a)  "Bumper stickers, insignias, or advertising" does not
30include:
31     1.  Any emblem of no more than two colors which is less
32than 2 inches by 4 inches, which is placed on the rental car for
33inventory purposes only, and which does not display the name or
34logo of the rental car company; or
35     2.  Any license required by the law of the state in which
36the vehicle is registered.
37     (b)  "Rent in this state" means to sign a rental contract
38in this state or to deliver a car to a renter in this state.
39     (4)(3)  A rental car company that leases a motor vehicle
40that is found to be in violation of this section shall be
41punished by a fine of $500 per occurrence.
42     (5)(4)  Any registration or renewal as required under s.
43320.02 for an original or transfer of a long-term leased motor
44vehicle must be in the name and address of the lessee.
45     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.


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