Parking vehicles for certain purposes prohibited; sale of motor vehicles; prohibited acts

(a)

It is unlawful for any operator to park a motor vehicle upon a public street or highway, in a public parking lot, public garage, or other public property, or upon private property where the public has the right to travel by motor vehicle, for the principal purpose and intent of displaying the motor vehicle thereon for sale, hire, or rental unless the sale, hire, or rental of the motor vehicle is specifically authorized on such property by municipal or county regulation and the person is in compliance with all municipal or county licensing regulations.

(b)

Subsection (a) does not prohibit an operator from parking their own motor vehicle or their other personal property on any private real property which the operator owns or leases or on private real property which the operator does not own or lease, but for which the operator obtains the permission of the owner, or on the public street immediately adjacent thereto, for the principal purpose and intent of sale, hire, or rental.

(c)

Subsection (a) does not prohibit a licensed motor vehicle dealer from displaying for sale or offering for sale motor vehicles at locations other than the dealer's licensed location if the dealer has been issued a supplemental license for off-premises sales and has complied with the requirements in subsection (a). A vehicle displayed for sale by a licensed dealer at any location other than the dealer's licensed location is subject to immediate removal without warning.

(d)

A motor vehicle parked in violation of this section may be immediately towed upon instructions from any law enforcement agency with jurisdiction at the owner's expense when found in violation of subsection (a), except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), or in violation of subsection (e), subsection (f), subsection (g), or subsection (h), and the owner shall be assessed a five hundred dollar ($500.00) penalty. A motor vehicle removed under this section shall not be released from an impound or towing and storage facility before a release form prescribed by the city has been completed verifying that the fine has been paid to the city or as provided under F.S. § 713.78(5).

(e)

It is unlawful to offer a vehicle for sale if the vehicle identification number has been destroyed, removed, covered, altered, or defaced, as described in F.S. § 319.33(1)(d). A vehicle found in violation of this subsection is subject to immediate removal without warning.

(f)

It is unlawful to knowingly attach to any motor vehicle a registration that was not assigned or lawfully transferred to the vehicle pursuant to F.S. § 320.261. A vehicle found in violation of this subsection is subject to immediate removal without warning.

(g)

It is unlawful to display or offer for sale a vehicle that does not have a valid registration as provided in F.S. § 320.02. A vehicle found in violation of this subsection is subject to immediate removal without warning. This subsection does not apply to vehicles and recreational vehicles being offered for sale through motor vehicle auctions as defined in F.S. § 320.27(1)(c)4.

(h)

A vehicle is subject to immediate removal without warning if it bears a telephone number that has been displayed on three (3) or more vehicles offered for sale within a twelve (12) month period.

(i)

Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, a violation of subsection (1), subsection (5), subsection (6), subsection (7), or subsection (8) of this section shall subject the owner of such motor vehicle to towing fees reasonably necessitated by removal and storage of the motor vehicle and a fine as required by F.S. § 318.18.

(j)

Nothing herein shall prohibit enforcement of any other law.

(Ord. No. 2025-43, § 2 (Exh. A), 4-17-2025)

State Law reference— Liens for recovering, towing, or storing vehicles and vessels, F.S. § 713.78(5); Registration required; application for registration; forms, F.S. § 320.02; Motor vehicle dealers, F.S. § 320.27(1)(c)4; Amount of penalties, F.S. § 318.18.