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Florida Statute 538.23 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 538.23 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 538.23 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
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.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 538.23

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§538.23(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESREMOVEDM · 1st
§538.23(2)RECEIVE STOLEN PROPREGULATED METALSM · 1st
§538.23(5)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESUNREGISTERED SECONDARY METAL RECYCLERF · 3rd
§538.23(1a1)OBSTRUCTPENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7333M · 1st
§538.23(1a1)OBSTRUCTPENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7334M · 1st
§538.23(1a1)OBSTRUCTSEC METAL RECYCLER REFUSE LEO INSPECTIONF · 3rd
§538.23(1a1)OBSTRUCTSEC METAL RECYCLER REFUSE HONOR HOLD NOTICEF · 3rd
§538.23(1a2)PROPERTY CRIMESPENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7335M · 1st
§538.23(1a2)PROPERTY CRIMESSEC METAL RECYCLER FAIL TO KEEP REQ RECORDSF · 3rd
§538.23(1a3)PROPERTY CRIMESPENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7336M · 1st
§538.23(1a3)PROPERTY CRIMESSEC METAL RECYCLER BUY W/O SELLER HAVING VEHF · 3rd
§538.23(1a4)PROPERTY CRIMESPENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7331M · 1st
§538.23(1a4)PROPERTY CRIMESSECONDARY METAL RECYCLER PAY CASH GT $1KF · 3rd
§538.23(1b)PROPERTY CRIMESSEC METAL RECYCLER VIOL LAW THIRD SUBSQ TIMEF · 2nd
§538.23(1b)PROPERTY CRIMESPENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7332F · 3rd
§538.23(3a)PASS FORGEDALTER ID REGULATED METALS PROP LT $300F · 3rd
§538.23(3a)FRAUD-IMPERSONFALSE ID REGULATED METALS PROP LT $300F · 3rd
§538.23(3a)FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENTVERIF OWNERSHIP REGULATED METALS LT $300F · 3rd
§538.23(3b)PASS FORGEDGIVE SEC METAL RECYCLER FALSE VERIFIC/ID $300+F · 2nd
§538.23(3b)FRAUD-IMPERSONFALSE ID REGULATED METALS PROP $300+F · 2nd
§538.23(3b)FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENTVERIFY OWNERSHIP REGULATED METALS $300+F · 2nd

Cases Citing F.S. 538.23

Fla. Stat. § 538.23 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
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·Medlin v. State, 180 So. 3d 1101 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 18123, 2015 WL 7782632

...The State filed an information charging Medlin with one count of -dealing .in .stolen property, in violation of section 812.019(1), Florida Statutes (2013), and one count of false verification of ownership to a secondary metals recycler, in violation of section 538.23(3)(a), Florida Statutes (2013)....
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CitedRACHELLE MARIE JAMES v. STATE OF FLORIDA (2017)
phrase: "see"
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This Florida statute resource is curated by the lawyer who curates this resource, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.