Title: Motor Vehicle Theft

Summary: Provides criminal penalties if vehicle is not locked in proper manner & vehicle is stolen by minor.

Full Text:
An act relating to motor vehicle theft; amending s. 316.1975, F.S.; providing criminal penalties if a vehicle is not locked in a proper manner and the vehicle is stolen by a minor; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 316.1975, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 316.1975 Unattended motor vehicle.-(1) A person driving or in charge of any motor vehicle may not permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, and removing the key. A vehicle may not be permitted to stand unattended upon any perceptible grade without stopping the engine and effecti vely setting the brake thereon and turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the street. Except as provided in subsection (3), a violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318. (2) This section does not apply to the operator of: (a) An authorized emergency vehicle while in the performance of official duties and the vehicle is equipped with an activated antitheft device that prohibits the vehicle from HB 2018 being driven; (b) A licensed delivery truck or other delivery vehicle while making deliveries; (c) A solid waste or recovered materials collection vehicle while collecting such items; or (d) A vehicle that is started by remote control while the ignition, transmission, and doors are locked. (3) It is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, if a person violates subsection (1) by failing to lock the ignition of a motor vehicle in the required manner, and, as a result thereo f, a minor commits the offense of theft of the motor vehicle. Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2018.