Florida Statute 812.016 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

812.016 Possession of altered property.—Any dealer in property who knew or should have known that the identifying features, such as serial numbers and permanently affixed labels, of property in his or her possession had been removed or altered without the consent of the manufacturer, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as defined in ss. 775.082 and 775.083.

History.—s. 6, ch. 77-342; s. 1236, ch. 97-102.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 812.016
M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§812.016POSSESS FORGEDALTERED PROPERTY BY DEALER OF PROPERTYM · 1st
Cases Citing F.S. 812.016

Fla. Stat. § 812.016 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
11 resultsSort: Relevance · Newest · Treatment
Copy
·Bruce v. Beary, 498 F.3d 1232 (11th Cir. 2007).
Cited 29 times | Published | Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 21283, 2007 WL 2492101
operating a “chop shop,” in violation of Fla. Stat. § 812.16(2).9 At approximately 1:00 p.m., the officers
0 red7 yellow21 green0 procedural
Limited(citing case) (2025)
phrase: "limited in"
Limited(citing case) (2025)
phrase: "limited in"
Limited(citing case) (2025)
phrase: "limited in"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
·In Re Stand. Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—Report No. 09-01, 35 So. 3d 666 (Fla. 2010).
Cited 14 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 35 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 149, 2010 Fla. LEXIS 302
...* The bracketed word "superior" should be used when there is evidence that the defendant took the property pursuant to a claim of right. whether (defendant's) actions were a legal cause of [loss] [injury] or [damage] to (claimant). b. Violation of F.S. 812.016 (Possession of altered property): whether (defendant) was in the business of buying and selling property and in possession of property which [he] [she] knew, or should have known, had identifying features which had been removed or altered...
0 red2 yellow12 green0 procedural
Cited "but see"Risen (2016)
phrase: "but see"
Cited "but see"Kessler (2010)
phrase: "but see"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2023)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
·Kuria v. Bmlrw, Lllp, 101 So. 3d 425 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).
Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 20811, 2012 WL 6029107
of operating a “chop shop” in violation of section 812.16, Florida Statutes, and dealing in stolen property
0 red0 yellow4 green0 procedural
Cited as authority(citing case) (2024)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2022)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authority(citing case) (2019)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
·Vargas v. State, 34 So. 3d 44 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010).
Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 2950, 2010 WL 785813
operating, owning, or conducting a chop shop. See § 812.16(2), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added). A key
0 red0 yellow2 green0 procedural
Cited as authorityVasquez (2013)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Cited as authorityThomas (2013)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
Beary v. Bruce, 804 So. 2d 579 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002).
Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2002 WL 63189
Plus was running a "chop shop" in violation of section 812.16(a), Florida Statutes, various motor vehicles
Copy
·Stand. Jury Instructions—Civil Cases (No. 98-3), 720 So. 2d 1077 (Fla. 1998).
Cited 1 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 23 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 534, 1998 Fla. LEXIS 1898, 1998 WL 699775
...o a claim of right. [to appropriate, either temporarily or permanently, the property to the use of any person not entitled to it]; and, if so, Third, whether (defendant’s) actions injured (claimant) in any fashion. b. Violation of Florida Statutes § 812.016 (Possession of altered property) On (claimant’s) claim for civil theft, the issues for your determination are: First, whether (defendant) was in the business of buying and selling property; and Second, whether (defendant) was in possessi...
0 red0 yellow1 green0 procedural
Cited as authority(citing case) (2017)
phrase: "rule_authority"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →
Copy
Kelley v. State, 720 So. 2d 272 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1998).
Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1998 Fla. App. LEXIS 12959, 1998 WL 719506
was charged with operating a chop shop under section 812.16, Florida Statutes (1995). He pleaded guilty
Copy
Parnell v. State, 661 So. 2d 128 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995).
Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 10587, 1995 WL 592471
of operating a “chop shop,” in violation of section 812.16, Florida Statutes. We reject appellant’s arguments
Copy
Adkins v. State, 576 So. 2d 392 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991).
Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 2249, 1991 WL 35441
abetting “chop shop” activities in violation of section 812.-16(2), Florida Statutes, he was not charged with
Copy
Rauniel Quintero v. The State of Florida (Fla. 3d DCA 2024).
Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal
(2020), operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (2020), and possession
Copy
·Thomas v. State, 805 So. 2d 989 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001).
Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 17061, 2001 WL 1538820
for operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (1997), and grand theft
1 red0 yellow0 green0 procedural
SupersededCollins (2004)
phrase: "superseded by"
Open case for full Syfertize analysis →

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.

Florida/Georgia Personal Injury & Workers Compensation

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 812.016

Cases Citing F.S. 812.016

·Bruce v. Beary, 498 F.3d 1232 (11th Cir. 2007).

·In Re Stand. Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—Report No. 09-01, 35 So. 3d 666 (Fla. 2010).

·Kuria v. Bmlrw, Lllp, 101 So. 3d 425 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012).

·Vargas v. State, 34 So. 3d 44 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010).

Beary v. Bruce, 804 So. 2d 579 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002).

·Stand. Jury Instructions—Civil Cases (No. 98-3), 720 So. 2d 1077 (Fla. 1998).

Kelley v. State, 720 So. 2d 272 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1998).

Parnell v. State, 661 So. 2d 128 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995).

Adkins v. State, 576 So. 2d 392 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991).

Rauniel Quintero v. The State of Florida (Fla. 3d DCA 2024).

·Thomas v. State, 805 So. 2d 989 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001).