Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 812.16 (2025)
Operating chop shops; definitions; penalties; restitution; forfeiture.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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812.16 Operating chop shops; definitions; penalties; restitution; forfeiture.—
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Chop shop” means any area, building, storage lot, field, or other premises or place where one or more persons are engaged or have engaged in altering, dismantling, reassembling, or in any way concealing or disguising the identity of a stolen motor vehicle or of any major component part of a stolen motor vehicle; where there are two or more stolen motor vehicles present; or where there are major component parts from two or more stolen motor vehicles present.
(b) “Major component part” means one of the following subassemblies of a motor vehicle, regardless of its actual market value: front-end assembly, including fenders, grills, hood, bumper, and related parts; frame and frame assembly; engine; transmission; T-tops; rear clip assembly, including quarter panels and floor panel assembly; doors; and tires, tire wheels, and continuous treads and other devices.
(c) “Motor vehicle” includes every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, which device is self-propelled or may be connected to and towed by a self-propelled device, and also includes any and all other land-based devices which are self-propelled but which are not designed for use upon a highway, including but not limited to farm machinery and steam shovels.
(2) Any person who knowingly owns, operates, or conducts a chop shop or who knowingly aids and abets another person in owning, operating, or conducting a chop shop is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(3) A person who violates this section, upon conviction, in addition to any other punishment, may be ordered to make restitution to the rightful owner of a stolen motor vehicle or of a stolen major component part, or to the owner’s insurer if the owner has already been compensated for the loss by the insurer, for any financial loss sustained as a result of the theft of the motor vehicle or a major component part. Restitution may be imposed in addition to any imprisonment or fine imposed, but not in lieu thereof.
(4) The following may be seized and are subject to forfeiture pursuant to ss. 932.701-932.704:
(a) Any stolen motor vehicle or major component part found at the site of a chop shop or any motor vehicle or major component part for which there is probable cause to believe that it is stolen but for which the true owner cannot be identified.
(b) Any engine, tool, machine, implement, device, chemical, or substance used or designed for altering, dismantling, reassembling, or in any other way concealing or disguising the identity of a stolen motor vehicle or any major component part.
(c) A wrecker, car hauler, or other motor vehicle that is knowingly used or has been used to convey or transport a stolen motor vehicle or major component part.
Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 812.16
M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd§812.16(2)PROPERTY CRIMESOWN OPERATE CONDUCT OR AID AND ABET CHOP SHOP
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1995–2024 · leading case: Bruce v. Beary, 498 F.3d 1232 (11th Cir. 2007).
Bruce v. Beary, 498 F.3d 1232 (11th Cir. 2007). “30 (5)(b), [8] and with operating a "chop shop," in violation of Fla. Stat. § 812.16 (2). [9] At approximately 1:00 p.”
Vargas v. State, 34 So. 3d 44 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). “See § 812.16(2), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added).”
Kuria v. Bmlrw, Lllp, 101 So. 3d 425 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012). “1 On January 4, 2008, Freddie Smith, III, while at an apartment complex owned and operated by the Appellees, was engaged in the commission of operating a “chop shop” in violation of section 812.16, Florida Statutes, and dealing in stolen property in violation of section 812.”
Beary v. Bruce, 804 So. 2d 579 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). “Because the Unit surmised that A Plus was running a "chop shop" in violation of section 812.16(a), Florida Statutes, various motor vehicles and items of personal property, together with ,000 in cash, were seized.”
Parnell v. State, 661 So. 2d 128 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995). “He was also convicted of one count of operating a “chop shop,” in violation of section 812.16, Florida Statutes. We reject appellant’s arguments relating to the sufficiency of evidence to support his convictions; however, we agree that, under the circumstances of this case,…”
Thomas v. State, 805 So. 2d 989 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001). “The appellant challenges judgments and sentences for operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (1997), and grand theft, in violation of section 812.”
Rauniel Quintero v. The State of Florida (Fla. 3d DCA 2024). “, Florida Statutes (2020), operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (2020), and possession of a vehicle without an assigned identification number plate, in violation of section 319.”
Kelley v. State, 720 So. 2d 272 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998). “Appellant was charged with operating a chop shop under section 812.16, Florida Statutes (1995). He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay restitution to the victims or their insurers as follows: (1) ,120 to State Auto Insurance Company on a Ford Rollback; (2) ,000 to Jeffrey…”
Ricardo Walters v. U.S. Attorney Gen., 626 F. App'x 887 (11th Cir. 2015). “Fla. Stat. § 812.16 (l)(a), (2). Thus, a § 812.”
— 812.16(2) — 4 cases
Bruce v. Beary, 498 F.3d 1232 (11th Cir. 2007). “30 (5)(b), [8] and with operating a "chop shop," in violation of Fla. Stat. § 812.16 (2). [9] At approximately 1:00 p.”
Vargas v. State, 34 So. 3d 44 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). “See § 812.16(2), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added).”
Thomas v. State, 805 So. 2d 989 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001). “The appellant challenges judgments and sentences for operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (1997), and grand theft, in violation of section 812.”
Rauniel Quintero v. The State of Florida (Fla. 3d DCA 2024). “, Florida Statutes (2020), operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (2020), and possession of a vehicle without an assigned identification number plate, in violation of section 319.”
— 812.16(3) — 1 case
Kelley v. State, 720 So. 2d 272 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998). “Appellant was charged with operating a chop shop under section 812.16, Florida Statutes (1995). He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay restitution to the victims or their insurers as follows: (1) ,120 to State Auto Insurance Company on a Ford Rollback; (2) ,000 to Jeffrey…”
— 812.16(a) — 1 case
Beary v. Bruce, 804 So. 2d 579 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). “Because the Unit surmised that A Plus was running a "chop shop" in violation of section 812.16(a), Florida Statutes, various motor vehicles and items of personal property, together with ,000 in cash, were seized.”
— 812.16(l)(a) — 2 cases
Vargas v. State, 34 So. 3d 44 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). “See § 812.16(2), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added).”
Kelley v. State, 720 So. 2d 272 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998). “Appellant was charged with operating a chop shop under section 812.16, Florida Statutes (1995). He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay restitution to the victims or their insurers as follows: (1) ,120 to State Auto Insurance Company on a Ford Rollback; (2) ,000 to Jeffrey…”
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