Fla. Stat. § 655.960 — Florida Code / Title XXXVIII / Chapter 655 / Section 655.960
655.960 Definitions; ss. 655.960-655.965.
Status: in_force

As used in this section and ss. 655.961-655.965, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Access area” means any paved walkway or sidewalk which is within 50 feet of any automated teller machine. The term does not include any street or highway open to the use of the public, as defined in s. 316.003(90)(a) or (b), including any adjacent sidewalk, as defined in s. 316.003.

(2) “Access device” has the same meaning as set forth in Federal Reserve Board Regulation E, 12 C.F.R. part 205, promulgated pursuant to the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 1601 et seq.

(3) “Automated teller machine” means any electronic information processing device located in this state which accepts or dispenses cash in connection with a credit, deposit, checking, or convenience account. The term does not include devices used solely to facilitate check guarantees or check authorizations or which are used in connection with the acceptance or dispensing of cash on a person-to-person basis, such as by a store cashier.

(4) “Candlefoot power” means the light intensity of candles on a horizontal plane at 36 inches above ground level and 5 feet in front of the area to be measured.

(5) “Control,” with respect to an access area or defined parking area, means to have the present legal authority to determine how, when, and by whom such area is to be used, and how such area is to be maintained, lighted, and landscaped. If an operator leases an access area or defined parking area as lessee, such lessee shall not be considered to have control for the purposes of ss. 655.960-655.965.

(6) “Customer” means a natural person to whom an access device has been issued for personal, family, or household use.

(7) “Defined parking area” means that portion of any parking area open for customer parking which is contiguous to an access area with respect to an automated teller machine, is regularly, principally, and lawfully used for parking by users of the automated teller machine while conducting automated teller machine transactions during the hours of darkness, and is owned or leased by the operator of the automated teller machine or owned or controlled by the party leasing the automated teller machine site to the operator. The term does not include any parking area which is not open or regularly used for parking by users of the automated teller machine who are conducting automated teller machine transactions during the hours of darkness. A parking area is not open if it is physically closed to access or if conspicuous signs indicate that it is closed. If a multiple level parking area satisfies the conditions of this subsection and would therefore otherwise be a defined parking area, only the single parking level deemed by the operator of the automated teller machine to be the most directly accessible to the users of the automated teller machine shall be considered a parking area.

(8) “Financial institution office” means a main office or principal office, as defined in s. 655.005, and a branch or branch office as defined in s. 658.12(4).

(9) “Hours of darkness” means the period that commences 30 minutes after sunset and ends 30 minutes before sunrise.

(10) “Operator” means any financial institution, as defined in s. 655.005, other business entity, or any person who controls the use or operation by a customer or other member of the general public of an automated teller machine. An operator controls the use or operation of an automated teller machine for the purposes of ss. 655.960-655.965 if such person or entity has the present legal authority to determine when and by whom the automated teller machine may be used or operated and how it is to be maintained in compliance with the provisions of ss. 655.960-655.965. An operator does not include any person or entity which is not a financial institution, if the primary function of such person or entity is to provide data processing services for automated teller machine transactions or to provide for the exchange, transfer, or dissemination of electronic funds transfer data.

(11) Terms which are defined in the financial institution codes, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings ascribed to them therein for purposes of ss. 655.960-655.965.

History: s. 1, ch. 94-343; s. 8, ch. 2015-64; s. 80, ch. 2016-239; s. 44, ch. 2017-3; s. 14, ch. 2017-150; s. 15, ch. 2018-130; s. 17, ch. 2019-101; s. 6, ch. 2019-109; s. 18, ch. 2020-69; s. 9, ch. 2021-180; s. 6, ch. 2021-233; s. 7, ch. 2023-171; s. 14, ch. 2023-174; s. 7, ch. 2024-34.