Florida Statute 812.16 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI
CRIMES

Chapter 812
THEFT, ROBBERY, AND RELATED CRIMES

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F.S. 812.16

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.

History.—s. 49, ch. 87-243; s. 72, ch. 95-211.

F.S. 812.16 on Google Scholar

F.S. 812.16 on CourtListener

Amendments to 812.16

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 812.16

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

S812.16 2 - PROPERTY CRIMES - OWN OPERATE CONDUCT OR AID AND ABET CHOP SHOP - F: T

Cases Citing Statute 812.16

Total Results: 11

Bruce v. Beary

498 F.3d 1232, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 21283, 2007 WL 2492101

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Sep 6, 2007 | Docket: 1569124

Cited 29 times | Published

operating a “chop shop,” in violation of Fla. Stat. § 812.16(2).9 At approximately 1:00 p.m., the officers

In Re Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—Report No. 09-01

35 So. 3d 666, 35 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 149, 2010 Fla. LEXIS 302

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Mar 4, 2010 | Docket: 1646266

Cited 14 times | Published

or [damage] to (claimant). b. Violation of F.S. 812.016 (Possession of altered property): whether (defendant)

Kuria v. BMLRW, LLLP

101 So. 3d 425, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 20811, 2012 WL 6029107

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 5, 2012 | Docket: 60226327

Cited 3 times | Published

of operating a “chop shop” in violation of section 812.16, Florida Statutes, and dealing in stolen property

Vargas v. State

34 So. 3d 44, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 2950, 2010 WL 785813

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 10, 2010 | Docket: 1641486

Cited 2 times | Published

operating, owning, or conducting a chop shop. See § 812.16(2), Fla. Stat. (2004) (emphasis added). A key

Beary v. Bruce

804 So. 2d 579, 2002 WL 63189

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 18, 2002 | Docket: 2518411

Cited 2 times | Published

Plus was running a "chop shop" in violation of section 812.16(a), Florida Statutes, various motor vehicles

Standard Jury Instructions—Civil Cases (No. 98-3)

720 So. 2d 1077, 23 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 534, 1998 Fla. LEXIS 1898, 1998 WL 699775

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 8, 1998 | Docket: 64784358

Cited 1 times | Published

any fashion. b. Violation of Florida Statutes § 812.016 (Possession of altered property) On (claimant’s)

Rauniel Quintero v. The State of Florida

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 31, 2024 | Docket: 68999074

Published

(2020), operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (2020), and possession

Thomas v. State

805 So. 2d 989, 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 17061, 2001 WL 1538820

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 5, 2001 | Docket: 64811997

Published

for operating a chop shop, in violation of section 812.16(2), Florida Statutes (1997), and grand theft

Kelley v. State

720 So. 2d 272, 1998 Fla. App. LEXIS 12959, 1998 WL 719506

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 16, 1998 | Docket: 64784084

Published

was charged with operating a chop shop under section 812.16, Florida Statutes (1995). He pleaded guilty

Parnell v. State

661 So. 2d 128, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 10587, 1995 WL 592471

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 10, 1995 | Docket: 64759186

Published

of operating a “chop shop,” in violation of section 812.16, Florida Statutes. We reject appellant’s arguments

Adkins v. State

576 So. 2d 392, 1991 Fla. App. LEXIS 2249, 1991 WL 35441

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 13, 1991 | Docket: 64657323

Published

abetting “chop shop” activities in violation of section 812.-16(2), Florida Statutes, he was not charged with