FL H1223

Red Light Camera Program Reforms: Establishes a $158 penalty for red-light camera violations with detailed distribution formulas among the General Revenue Fund, Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund, Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, and the enforcing local government; prohibits commission-based compensation to vendors; requires notification within 30 days of violation; and adds a new exemption from liability when the vehicle owner is deceased, requiring a certified death certificate and affidavit within 30 days.

Electronic Titling and Lien System: Mandates (changed from permissive) electronic transmission of liens and lien satisfactions, requires the department to establish an electronic titling program for new, transferred, and corrected titles, authorizes electronic salvage certificates and certificates of destruction, and permits email notifications in lieu of USPS mail for most purposes.

Child Safety Provisions: Requires federally approved crash-tested restraint devices for children aged 5 and younger (with age-specific requirements), exempts for-hire vehicles, and strengthens penalties for leaving children under 6 unattended in vehicles—including a third-degree felony for causing great bodily harm and a second-degree misdemeanor for exceeding 15 minutes.

New Vehicle Classifications and Road Use: Defines "swamp buggy," "custom vehicle," and "street rod" in statute; authorizes swamp buggy operation on locally designated public roads with DOT-approved crossings of the State Highway System; expands golf cart and utility vehicle authority to cross state highways with posted speeds ≤45 mph at signalized intersections and operate on sidewalks ≥5 feet wide.

Bicycle and Motorcycle Regulations: Updates bicycle helmet standards to federal 16 C.F.R. part 1203 (with a grandfather period for older helmets until January 1, 2016), requires front and rear lamps for nighttime cycling, adds conditions allowing bicyclists to leave the roadway edge, and requires motorcycle/moped license tags to be permanently affixed and clearly visible with violations classified as moving infractions.

Driver License and Identification Card Changes: Creates a specialty driver license/ID card program ($25 fee, repealed August 31, 2016) for universities, sports teams, and military branches; waives ID card fees for homeless persons; extends the expired license grace period from 4 to 6 months; restructures nonresident driving exemptions including International Driving Permit provisions; and grants district medical examiners access to the Driver and Vehicle Information Database.

Commercial Motor Vehicle Updates: Renames the Office of Motor Carrier Compliance to the Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, updates the federal regulations reference date from October 1, 2009 to October 1, 2011 for intrastate commerce, limits intrastate drivers to 70 hours/7 days or 80 hours/8 days with a 34-hour reset, and exempts farm labor vehicles from weekly hour limits during emergencies.

Registration, Plates, and Voluntary Contributions: Adds $1 voluntary contribution options on registration and license forms for food banks, autism services, Support Our Troops, and Take Stock In Children; creates Combat Infantry Badge and Vietnam War Veterans specialty plates; establishes retired legislator/congressional plates ($500 one-time fee with 4 years minimum service); and authorizes a pilot program for alternative license plate technology on government vehicles.

Traffic Infraction and Court Procedures: Allows non-CDL holders to elect a basic driver improvement course once per 12 months (5 times per lifetime) in lieu of court appearance; permits nolo contendere pleas with proof of compliance for certain offenses (3 times per lifetime, $25 court costs); and sets a 180-day window to request a traffic infraction hearing.

Bonded Title Process and Registration Changes: Establishes a new bonded title procedure requiring a surety bond at twice the vehicle's value (expiring after 3 years) when prior title assignment is unavailable; imposes a $20 late fee for title applications filed beyond 30 days; exempts active duty Armed Forces members from providing street addresses on registration; and cancels motor carrier registration on the insurer's cancellation notice expiration date. Effective January 1, 2013, unless otherwise specified.