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Florida Statute 538.23 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
F.S. 538.23 Case Law from Google Scholar
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Link to State of Florida Official Statute Google Search for Amendments to 538.23

The 2023 Florida Statutes (including Special Session C)

Title XXXIII
REGULATION OF TRADE, COMMERCE, INVESTMENTS, AND SOLICITATIONS
Chapter 538
SECONDHAND DEALERS AND SECONDARY METALS RECYCLERS
View Entire Chapter
F.S. 538.23
538.23 Violations and penalties.
(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a secondary metals recycler who knowingly and intentionally:
1. Violates s. 538.20 or s. 538.21;
2. Engages in a pattern of failing to keep records required by s. 538.19;
3. Violates s. 538.26(2); or
4. Violates s. 538.235,

commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(b) A secondary metals recycler who commits a third or subsequent violation of paragraph (a) commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(2) A secondary metals recycler is presumed to know upon receipt of stolen regulated metals property in a purchase transaction that the regulated metals property has been stolen from another if the secondary metals recycler knowingly and intentionally fails to maintain the information required in s. 538.19 and shall, upon conviction of a violation of s. 812.015, be punished as provided in s. 812.014(2) or (3).
(3) Any person who knowingly gives false verification of ownership or who gives a false or altered identification and who receives money or other consideration from a secondary metals recycler in return for regulated metals property commits:
(a) A felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the value of the money or other consideration received is less than $300.
(b) A felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if the value of the money or other consideration received is $300 or more.
(4) If a lawful owner recovers stolen regulated metals property from a secondary metals recycler who has complied with this part, and the person who sold the regulated metals property to the secondary metals recycler is convicted of theft, a violation of this section, or dealing in stolen property, the court shall order the defendant to make full restitution, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, court costs, and other expenses to the secondary metals recycler pursuant to s. 775.089.
(5) A person acting as a secondary metals recycler who is not registered with the department under s. 538.25 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
History.s. 2, ch. 89-533; s. 1, ch. 90-192; s. 4, ch. 91-429; ss. 3, 4, ch. 92-79; s. 2, ch. 92-157; s. 4, ch. 93-37; s. 10, ch. 95-184; s. 3, ch. 2008-69; s. 10, ch. 2012-179; s. 1, ch. 2012-185; s. 90, ch. 2013-15; s. 109, ch. 2019-167.

F.S. 538.23 on Google Scholar

F.S. 538.23 on Casetext

Amendments to 538.23


Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 538.23
Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S538.23 1 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - REMOVED - M: F
S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7333 - M: F
S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7334 - M: F
S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - SEC METAL RECYCLER REFUSE LEO INSPECTION - F: T
S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - SEC METAL RECYCLER REFUSE HONOR HOLD NOTICE - F: T
S538.23 1a2 - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7335 - M: F
S538.23 1a2 - PROPERTY CRIMES - SEC METAL RECYCLER FAIL TO KEEP REQ RECORDS - F: T
S538.23 1a3 - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7336 - M: F
S538.23 1a3 - PROPERTY CRIMES - SEC METAL RECYCLER BUY WO SELLER HAVING VEH - F: T
S538.23 1a4 - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7331 - M: F
S538.23 1a4 - PROPERTY CRIMES - SEC METAL RECYCLER PAY CASH OVER 1K DOLS - F: T
S538.23 1b - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7332 - F: T
S538.23 1b - PROPERTY CRIMES - SEC METAL RECYCLER VIOL LAW THIRD SUBSQ TIME - F: S
S538.23 2 - RECEIVE STOLEN PROP - REGULATED METALS - M: F
S538.23 3a - PASS FORGED - ALTER ID REGULATED METALS PROP UND 300 DOLS - F: T
S538.23 3a - FRAUD-IMPERSON - FALSE ID REGULATED METALS PROP UND 300 DOLS - F: T
S538.23 3a - FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENT - VERIF OWNERSHIP REGULATED METALS UND 300 DOLS - F: T
S538.23 3b - PASS FORGED - ALTERED ID REG METAL PROP 300 DOLS OR MORE - F: S
S538.23 3b - FRAUD-IMPERSON - FALSE ID REGULATED METALS PROP 300 DOLS MORE - F: S
S538.23 3b - FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENT - VERIF OWNRSHP REGULATED METALS 300 DOLS MORE - F: S
S538.23 5 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - UNREGISTERED SECONDARY METAL RECYCLER - F: T



Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases from cite.case.law:

MEDLIN, v. STATE, 180 So. 3d 1101 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2015)

. . . one count of false verification of ownership to a secondary metals recycler, in violation of section 538.23 . . .

HEGGS, v. STATE, 759 So. 2d 620 (Fla. 2000)

. . . section 812.014) to differentiate between levels of the offense; section 10 amends subsection (2) of 538.23 . . .