Sec. 388.503. - Prohibitions.

(a) Notwithstanding Chapter 609 , any person who willfully abandons a vessel anchored, moored, or aground, on the waters of the county, or allows a vessel to be anchored, moored, or aground, on the waters of the county, shall be guilty of a violation of this Part as a Class C offense, as described in Section 609.109 , Ordinance Code. The penalty for a second violation within three years shall be twice the amount of the first offender fine. The penalty for a third or subsequent violation within five years shall be three times the amount of the first offender fine. The penalty shall be in addition to restitution for damage to the property of another and all costs incurred by the City to abate the violation, as described in Section 388.103 (l). (b) It is unlawful for any person who finds any lost or abandoned vessel on the waters of the county to appropriate the same to his or her own use or to refuse to deliver the same when required by law. Any person who unlawfully appropriates such lost or abandoned vessel to his or her own use or refuses to deliver such property when required commits theft, as defined in F.S. § 812.014, punishable as provided by law. (c) As used in this subsection, all costs incurred by the City to abate the violation means as described in Section 388.103 (l). The City shall have the right to utilize any available method under the law to recover such costs. Recovered costs for abatement of a violation of this Part shall be deposited into the Derelict and Abandoned Vessel and Floating Structure Enforcement and Removal Trust Fund, Section 111.787 . (d) Reserved. (e) Each day during any portion of which a violation of this Part occurs shall constitute a separate offense. (f) This Section does not apply to persons who abandon a vessel on the waters of the county solely as a result of a boating accident that is reported to law enforcement in accordance with F.S. § 327.301, or otherwise reported to law enforcement; a hurricane; or another sudden event outside of his or her control if: (1) The individual documents for law enforcement the specific event that led to the vessel to become abandoned on the waters of the county; and (2) The owner or operator of the abandoned vessel shall make a bona fide attempt to recover the vessel, a. For a vessel that has been abandoned as a result of a boating accident or other sudden event outside his or her control, within seven days after such accident or event; or b. Within 45 days after the hurricane has passed over the state. (Ord. 2025-432-E , § 7)