Florida Statute 538.23 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXIII
REGULATION OF TRADE, COMMERCE, INVESTMENTS, AND SOLICITATIONS

Chapter 538
SECONDHAND DEALERS AND SECONDARY METALS RECYCLERS

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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.

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Amendments to 538.23

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 538.23

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

S538.23 1 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - REMOVED - M: F

S538.23 2 - RECEIVE STOLEN PROP - REGULATED METALS - M: F

S538.23 5 - PUBLIC ORDER CRIMES - UNREGISTERED SECONDARY METAL RECYCLER - F: T

S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7333 - M: F

S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7334 - M: F

S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - SEC METAL RECYCLER REFUSE LEO INSPECTION - F: T

S538.23 1a1 - OBSTRUCT - SEC METAL RECYCLER REFUSE HONOR HOLD NOTICE - F: T

S538.23 1a2 - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7335 - M: F

S538.23 1a2 - PROPERTY CRIMES - SEC METAL RECYCLER FAIL TO KEEP REQ RECORDS - F: T

S538.23 1a3 - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7336 - M: F

S538.23 1a3 - PROPERTY CRIMES - SEC METAL RECYCLER BUY W/O SELLER HAVING VEH - F: T

S538.23 1a4 - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7331 - M: F

S538.23 1a4 - PROPERTY CRIMES - SECONDARY METAL RECYCLER PAY CASH GT $1K - F: T

S538.23 1b - PROPERTY CRIMES - SEC METAL RECYCLER VIOL LAW THIRD SUBSQ TIME - F: S

S538.23 1b - PROPERTY CRIMES - PENALTY INCREASE SEE REC# 7332 - F: T

S538.23 3a - PASS FORGED - ALTER ID REGULATED METALS PROP LT $300 - F: T

S538.23 3a - FRAUD-IMPERSON - FALSE ID REGULATED METALS PROP LT $300 - F: T

S538.23 3a - FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENT - VERIF OWNERSHIP REGULATED METALS LT $300 - F: T

S538.23 3b - PASS FORGED - GIVE SEC METAL RECYCLER FALSE VERIFIC/ID $300+ - F: S

S538.23 3b - FRAUD-IMPERSON - FALSE ID REGULATED METALS PROP $300+ - F: S

S538.23 3b - FRAUD-FALSE STATEMENT - VERIFY OWNERSHIP REGULATED METALS $300+ - F: S

Cases Citing Statute 538.23

Total Results: 1

Medlin v. State

180 So. 3d 1101, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 18123, 2015 WL 7782632

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 4, 2015 | Docket: 60252290

Cited 1 times | Published

secondary metals recycler, in violation of section 538.23(3)(a), Florida Statutes (2013). Count I alleged

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