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F.S. 525.16525.16 Administrative fine; penalties; prosecution of cases by state attorney.—(1)(a) The department may enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties against a person who violates this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter or impedes, obstructs, or hinders the department in the performance of its duty in connection with this chapter:1. Issuance of a warning letter. 2. Imposition of an administrative fine in the Class II category pursuant to s. 570.971 for each violation. When imposing any fine under this section, the department shall consider the degree and extent of harm caused by the violation, the cost of rectifying the damage, the amount of money the violator benefited from by noncompliance, whether the violation was committed willfully, and the compliance record of the violator. 3. Revocation or suspension of any registration issued by the department. (b) If, 3 years after the date of the last violation under this chapter, a new violation has not occurred at the same location during the proprietorship of the same person, all previous fines shall be disregarded when administering a fine for the next violation. (2) Any person who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted by the department commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (3) An entity that sells, offers for sale, distributes, or offers for distribution petroleum or alternative fuels shall ensure that its activities result in petroleum fuels that meet all requirements and standards adopted under s. 525.14. A terminal supplier, wholesaler, or blender licensed under chapter 206 is not liable for injuries or damages resulting from the subsequent blending of petroleum or alternative fuels occurring after the transfer of ownership of such fuels from the terminal supplier, wholesaler, or blender if the petroleum or alternative fuels used to make the petroleum fuel at issue met the requirements and standards adopted under s. 525.14 while under ownership of the terminal supplier, wholesaler, or blender. (4) The state attorney, or other prosecuting officer within the jurisdiction of whose court the case may come, shall prosecute all cases certified to him or her for prosecution by the department immediately upon receipt of the evidence transmitted by the department, or as soon thereafter as practicable. (5) In addition to the remedies provided in this chapter, and notwithstanding the existence of any adequate remedy at law, the department may bring an action to enjoin the violation of any provision of this chapter, or rules adopted under this chapter, in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurs or is about to occur. Upon demonstration of competent and substantial evidence by the department to the court of the violation or threatened violation, the court shall immediately issue the temporary or permanent injunction sought by the department. The injunction shall be issued without bond. (6) This section may not be used to enforce s. 525.07(10) or rules adopted thereunder unless the owner or operator of a retail petroleum fuel measuring device has failed to install or implement security measures pursuant to s. 525.07(10) or has placed the measuring device back in service before compliance with s. 525.07(10) has been restored. However, if noncompliance is the result of damage or alteration after repair by the owner or operator of the security measure, and the owner or operator demonstrates or provides sufficient evidence of such, the department may not use this section to enforce s. 525.07(10). History.—s. 17, ch. 7905, 1919; CGL 3972; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 78, ch. 92-291; s. 5, ch. 94-335; s. 713, ch. 97-103; s. 29, ch. 2013-251; s. 13, ch. 2014-147; s. 49, ch. 2014-150; s. 2, ch. 2021-97.
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