The department and its agents designated as inspectors, upon presenting appropriate credentials, are authorized to conduct inspections and to take and remove samples of fuel in reasonable quantities as follows:

(1) Inspections must be performed in a reasonable manner consistent with the circumstances, but in no event is prior notice required. Inspectors may physically inspect, examine, or otherwise search any tank, reservoir, or other container that can or might be used for the production, storage, or transportation of fuel. Inspection may be made of any equipment used for, or in connection with, the production, storage, or transportation of fuel. Inspectors may demand to have produced for immediate inspection the documents and records required to be kept by a person transporting fuel in nonbulk quantities.
(2) Inspections may be conducted at any place at which fuel is, or may be, produced, stored, delivered, or blended, or at any site where evidence of activities regulated by this part may be discovered, including, but not limited to:

(a) Terminal facilities.

Attorney's Note

Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Felony of the third degreeup to 5 yearsup to $5,000
For details, see Fla. Stat. § 775.082(3)(e)

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 206.8735

  • Department: means the Department of Revenue. See Florida Statutes 206.01
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • fuel: means any diesel fuel not held in bulk storage at a terminal which has not been dyed for exempt use in accordance with Internal Revenue Code requirements. See Florida Statutes 206.86
  • Person: means and includes natural persons, corporations, copartnerships, firms, companies, agencies, or associations; state agencies; and counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions of this state, singular or plural. See Florida Statutes 206.01
(b) Other fuel storage facilities, including, but not limited to, bulk storage and retail facilities.
(c) Any highway inspection site, either fixed or mobile, when designated as such.
(3) Inspectors may reasonably stop and detain any person or equipment transporting fuel in or through this state for the purpose of determining whether the person is operating in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. Detainment may continue for such time only as is necessary to determine whether the person is in compliance.
(4) Any person who refuses, for the purpose of evading tax, to allow an inspection, in addition to being liable for any other penalties imposed by this part, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.