Florida Statutes 601.641 – Fraudulent representations, penalties
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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Attorney's Note
Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| misdemeanor of the second degree | up to 60 days | up to $500 |
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 601.641
- Agent: means any person who, on behalf of any citrus fruit dealer, negotiates the consignment, purchase, or sale of citrus fruit, or weighs citrus fruit so that the weight thereof may be used in computing the amount to be paid therefor. See Florida Statutes 601.03
- Citrus fruit: means all varieties and regulated hybrids of citrus fruit and also means processed citrus products containing 20 percent or more citrus fruit or citrus fruit juice. See Florida Statutes 601.03
- Citrus fruit dealer: means any consignor, commission merchant, consignment shipper, cash buyer, broker, association, cooperative association, express or gift fruit shipper, or person who in any manner makes or attempts to make money or other thing of value on citrus fruit in any manner whatsoever, other than of growing or producing citrus fruit. See Florida Statutes 601.03
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Person: means any natural person, partnership, association, corporation, trust, estate, or other legal entity. See Florida Statutes 601.03
- Producer: means any person growing or producing citrus in this state for market. See Florida Statutes 601.03
- Shipper: means any person engaged in shipping, or causing to be shipped, citrus fruit or the canned or concentrated products thereof in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce, whether as owner, agent, or otherwise. See Florida Statutes 601.03
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to claim or represent to be a licensed citrus fruit dealer, licensed and bonded citrus dealer, or agent of a licensed citrus fruit dealer unless such person, firm, association, or corporation is licensed, licensed and bonded, or a registered agent of a licensed citrus fruit dealer under the Laws of Florida.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to advertise or in any way represent falsely as to her or his status as a seller of citrus fruit, to make any false claim as to the status of such seller of citrus fruit, or to make any false claim as to the condition, grade, quality, quantity, grove origin, or producer‘s name and address of any citrus fruit sold by any such person, firm, association, or corporation.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation licensed under this chapter to advertise or to use on her or his letterhead, or on any advertising material, or in any way pretend to be a bonded shipper unless said person, firm, association, or corporation has filed and had approved a performance bond in addition to the bond required under this chapter.
(4) This section is supplemental, making provisions in addition to any other provisions of law and shall be construed liberally.
(5) Any person, firm, association, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Such criminal penalties shall be in addition to any other penalties provided by law. If the violator be a licensed citrus fruit dealer, then such license may be revoked or suspended in the manner provided by s. 601.67.