Florida Statute 327.30 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXIV
VESSELS

Chapter 327
VESSEL SAFETY

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F.S. 327.30

327.30 Collisions, accidents, and casualties.—

(1) It is the duty of the operator of a vessel involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty, so far as he or she can do so without serious danger to the operator’s own vessel, crew, and passengers, if any, to render to other persons affected by the collision, accident, or other casualty such assistance as is practicable and necessary in order to save them from or minimize any danger caused by the collision, accident, or other casualty, and also to give his or her name, address, and identification of his or her vessel in writing to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged in the collision, accident, or other casualty. The operator of a vessel involved in an accident with an unattended vessel shall take all reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such vessel of the accident, furnishing to such owner his or her name, address, and registration number and reporting as required under this section.

(2) In the case of collision, accident, or other casualty involving a vessel in or upon or entering into or exiting from the water, including capsizing, collision with another vessel or object, sinking, personal injury requiring medical treatment beyond immediate first aid, death, disappearance of any person from on board under circumstances which indicate the possibility of death or injury, or damage to any vessel or other property in an apparent aggregate amount of at least $2,000, the operator shall without delay, by the quickest means available give notice of the accident to one of the following agencies: the Division of Law Enforcement of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the sheriff of the county within which the accident occurred; or the police chief of the municipality within which the accident occurred, if applicable.

(3) The statutory duty of a person to make a report or give information to a law enforcement officer making a written report relating to an accident does not extend to information that would violate the privilege of such person against self-incrimination.

(4) Each coroner or other official performing like functions, upon learning of the death of a person in his or her jurisdiction as a result of a boating accident, shall immediately notify the nearest office of the Department of Law Enforcement.

(5) It is unlawful for a person operating a vessel involved in an accident or injury to leave the scene of the accident or injury without giving all possible aid to all persons involved and making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or persons affected and subsequently complying with and notifying the appropriate law enforcement official as required under this section. Any person who violates this subsection with respect to an accident resulting in personal injury commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Any person who violates this subsection with respect to an accident resulting in property damage only commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(6) Any law enforcement officer who investigates a boating collision or accident may arrest or cite the operator of any vessel involved in the accident or collision when, based upon personal investigation, the officer has probable cause to believe that the operator has committed any offense in connection with the accident or collision.

(7) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a court may order a person convicted of a violation of this section or of any rule adopted or order issued by the commission pursuant to this section to pay an additional fine of up to $1,000 per violation. All fines assessed and collected pursuant to this subsection shall be remitted by the clerk of the court to the Department of Revenue to be deposited into the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund to be used to enhance state and local law enforcement activities related to boating infractions. As used in this subsection, the terms “convicted” and “conviction” mean any judicial disposition other than acquittal or dismissal.

History.—s. 1, ch. 59-399; s. 4, ch. 61-511; s. 1, ch. 65-361; ss. 25, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 34, ch. 79-65; s. 5, ch. 81-100; s. 24, ch. 87-243; s. 1, ch. 87-392; s. 3, ch. 89-117; s. 44, ch. 91-224; s. 455, ch. 95-148; s. 16, ch. 96-330; s. 41, ch. 97-96; s. 22, ch. 99-245; s. 2, ch. 2003-143; s. 2, ch. 2022-197.

Note.—Former s. 371.141.

F.S. 327.30 on Google Scholar

F.S. 327.30 on Casetext

Amendments to 327.30

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 327.30

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S327.30 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - FAIL TO REPORT BOAT ACCIDENT - M: S

S327.30 5 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - LEAVE SCENE OF VESSEL ACCIDENT OR INJURY - F: T

S327.30 5 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - LEAVE SCENE OF VESSEL ACCIDENT PROP DMG ONLY - M: S

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 327.30

Total Results: 9

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report 2018-09.

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 2019-01-04T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 262 So. 3d 59

Snippet: applicable portion of § 316.062, Fla. Stat., or § 327.30, Fla. Stat., as charged in information or indictment

Rodriguez v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1997-05-21T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 694 So. 2d 96

Snippet: involving personal injury in violation of section 327.30(4), Florida Statutes (1995). The elements of that

Ago

Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1992-12-02T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: -327.11, 327.13-327.16, 327.18, 327.19, 327.28, 327.30-327.40, 327.44-327.51, 327.54, 327.56, and327.65

Ago

Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1990-07-30T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: -327.11, 327.13-327.16, 327.18, 327.19, 327.28, 327.30-327.40, 327.44-327.51, 327.54, 327.56, and327.65

Marquez v. State

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1990-06-05T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 563 So. 2d 152, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 4053, 1990 WL 73198

Snippet: to stop or comply with the requirements of s. 327.030(4) is guilty of a felony of the second degree,

Ago

Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1988-10-18T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: -327.11, 327.13-327.16, 327.18, 327.19, 327.28, 327.30-327.40, 327.44-327.51, 327.54, 327.56, and 327.65

Ago

Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1985-05-31T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: -327.11, 327.13-327.16, 327.18, 327.19, 327.28, 327.30-327.40, 327.44-327.51, 327.54, 327.56, and 327.65

Ago

Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1982-09-01T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: BY MARINE PATROL OFFICERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH s 327.30(5), F.S.? 2. IF THE ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING…provisions of Ch. 327, F.S. See, s 327.70, F.S. Section 327.30(5), F.S., empowers any law enforcement officer …made by the investigating officer pursuant to s 327.30(5) confidential or exempt from public disclosure…disclosure. See, s 327.03(3), supra; see also, ss 327.30(2) and (3), F.S., relating to accident reports required…made or received by such department pursuant to s 327.30(5), F.S., is a public record open for inspection

Hoodless v. Jernigan

Court: Fla. | Date Filed: 1903-06-15T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 46 Fla. 213

Snippet: N. E. Rep. 281; McGuffey v. McClain, 130 Ind. 327, 30 N. E. Rep. 296; Badders v. Davis, 88 Ala. 367,