| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to lease and rental car companies; |
| 3 | amending s. 320.0601, F.S.; providing restrictions on |
| 4 | the installation and use of toll-related transponders |
| 5 | on vehicles for hire and charges therefor; providing |
| 6 | an effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Section 320.0601, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 11 | to read: |
| 12 | 320.0601 Lease and rental car companies; identification of |
| 13 | vehicles as for-hire.- |
| 14 | (1) A rental car company may not rent in this state any |
| 15 | for-hire vehicle, other than vehicles designed to transport |
| 16 | cargo, that has affixed to its exterior any bumper stickers, |
| 17 | insignias, or advertising that identifies the vehicle as a |
| 18 | rental vehicle. |
| 19 | (2)(a) A lease or rental car company may not rent in this |
| 20 | state any for-hire vehicle with permanently affixed SunPass |
| 21 | transponders unless they are enclosed in a metal box that allows |
| 22 | the renter to manually activate the transponder. |
| 23 | (b) A lease or rental car company or its designated |
| 24 | tolling program vendor shall assess service fees only for the |
| 25 | actual days the renter used the transponder to pay for tolls, |
| 26 | based on 24-hour increments. A lease or rental car company may |
| 27 | not 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 |
| 30 | include: |
| 31 | 1. Any emblem of no more than two colors which is less |
| 32 | than 2 inches by 4 inches, which is placed on the rental car for |
| 33 | inventory purposes only, and which does not display the name or |
| 34 | logo of the rental car company; or |
| 35 | 2. Any license required by the law of the state in which |
| 36 | the vehicle is registered. |
| 37 | (b) "Rent in this state" means to sign a rental contract |
| 38 | in 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 |
| 40 | that is found to be in violation of this section shall be |
| 41 | punished by a fine of $500 per occurrence. |
| 42 | (5)(4) Any registration or renewal as required under s. |
| 43 | 320.02 for an original or transfer of a long-term leased motor |
| 44 | vehicle must be in the name and address of the lessee. |
| 45 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012. |