FLORIDA STATUTES (1995) -
Title 46, CRIMES; Ch. 843, OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE; § 843.16
843.16 Unlawful to install radio equipment using assigned frequency of
state or law enforcement officers; definitions; exceptions;
penalties
(1) No person, firm, or corporation shall install in any motor vehicle or
business establishment, except an emergency vehicle or crime watch
vehicle as herein defined or a place established by munincipal,
county, state, or federal authority for governmental purposes, any
frequency modulation radio receiving equipment so adjusted or tuned
as to receive messages or signals on frequencies assigned by the
Federal Communications Commission to police or law enforcement
officers of any city or county of the state or to the state or any of
its agencies. Provided, nothing herein shall be construed to affect
any radio station licensed by the Federal communications Commission
or to affect any recognized newspaper or news publication engaged in
covering the news on a full-time basis or any alarm system contractor
certified pursuant to Part II of Chapter 489, Operating a Central
Monitoring System.
(2) As used in this section, the term:
(a) "Emergency vehicle" shall specifically mean:
1. Any motor vehicle used by any law enforcement officer or
employee of any city, any county, the state, the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, or the Armed Forces of the United States while
on official business;
2. Any fire department vehicle of any city or county of the
state or any state fire department vehicle;
3. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles when said
vehicle is to be assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the
state;
4. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the
sheriff of any county in the state when said vehicle is to be
assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said county
5. Any motor vehicle designated as an emergency vehicle by the
chief of police of any city in the state when said vehicle is to
be assigned the use of frequencies assigned to the said city.
(b) "Crime watch vehicle" means any motor vehicle used by any
person participating in a citizen crime watch or neighborhood
watch program when such program and use are approved in writing
by the appropriate sheriff or chief of police where the vehicle
will be used and the vehicle is assigned the use of frequencies
assigned to the county or city. Such approval shall be renewed
annually.
(3) This section shall not apply to any holder of a valid amateur
radio operator or station license issued by the Federal Communications
Commission or to any recognized newspaper or news publication engaged
in covering the news on a full-time basis or any alarm system
contractor certified pursuant to Part II of Chapter 489, Operating a
Central Monitoring System.
(4) Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions
of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the second
degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.