Florida Statutes 507.03 – Registration
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(1) Each mover and moving broker must register with the department, providing its legal business and trade name, mailing address, and business locations; the full names, addresses, and telephone numbers of its owners, corporate officers, and directors and the Florida agent of the corporation; a statement whether it is a domestic or foreign corporation, its state and date of incorporation, its charter number, and, if a foreign corporation, the date it registered with the Department of State; the date on which the mover or moving broker registered its fictitious name if the mover or moving broker is operating under a fictitious or trade name; the name of all other corporations, business entities, and trade names through which each owner of the mover or moving broker operated, was known, or did business as a mover or moving broker within the preceding 5 years; and proof of the insurance or alternative coverages required under s. 507.04.
(2) A certificate evidencing proof of registration shall be issued by the department and must be prominently displayed in the mover’s or moving broker’s primary place of business.
(3)(a) Registration fees shall be calculated at the rate of $300 per year per mover or moving broker. All amounts collected shall be deposited by the Chief Financial Officer to the credit of the General Inspection Trust Fund of the department for the sole purpose of administration of this chapter.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 507.03
- broker: means a person who, for compensation, arranges with a registered mover for loading, transporting or shipping, or unloading of household goods as part of a household move or who, for compensation, refers a shipper to a registered mover. See Florida Statutes 507.01
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- 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.
- Department: means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. See Florida Statutes 507.01
- Estimate: means a written document prepared by a registered mover which sets forth the total costs and describes the basis of those costs relating to a shipper's household move, including, but not limited to, the loading, transportation or shipment, and unloading of household goods and accessorial services. See Florida Statutes 507.01
- 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.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Mover: means a person who, for compensation, contracts for or engages in the loading, transportation or shipment, or unloading of household goods as part of a household move. See Florida Statutes 507.01
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- Shipper: means a person who uses the services of a mover to transport or ship household goods as part of a household move. See Florida Statutes 507.01
- veteran: means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under honorable conditions only or who later received an upgraded discharge under honorable conditions, notwithstanding any action by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs on individuals discharged or released with other than honorable discharges. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- writing: includes handwriting, printing, typewriting, and all other methods and means of forming letters and characters upon paper, stone, wood, or other materials. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) The department shall waive the initial registration fee for an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces, the spouse or surviving spouse of such a veteran, a current member of the United States Armed Forces who has served on active duty, the spouse of such a member, the surviving spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces if the member died while serving on active duty, or a business entity that has a majority ownership held by such a veteran or spouse or surviving spouse if the department receives an application, in a format prescribed by the department. The application format must include the applicant’s signature, under penalty of perjury, and supporting documentation. To qualify for the waiver:
1. A veteran must provide to the department a copy of his or her DD Form 214, as issued by the United States Department of Defense, or another acceptable form of identification as specified by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs;
2. The spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran must provide to the department a copy of the veteran’s DD Form 214, as issued by the United States Department of Defense, or another acceptable form of identification as specified by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and a copy of a valid marriage license or certificate verifying that he or she was lawfully married to the veteran at the time of discharge; or
3. A business entity must provide to the department proof that a veteran or the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran holds a majority ownership in the business, a copy of the veteran’s DD Form 214, as issued by the United States Department of Defense, or another acceptable form of identification as specified by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and, if applicable, a copy of a valid marriage license or certificate verifying that the spouse or surviving spouse of the veteran was lawfully married to the veteran at the time of discharge.
(c) The department shall waive the biennial fee to renew for a registrant who:
1. Is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces or the spouse of such member;
2. Is or was a member of the United States Armed Forces and served on active duty within the 2 years preceding the expiration date. To qualify for the fee waiver, a registrant who is a former member of the United States Armed Forces who served on active duty within the 2 years preceding the expiration date of the registration must have received an honorable discharge upon separation or discharge from the United States Armed Forces; or
3. Is the surviving spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces if the member was serving on active duty at the time of death and died within the 2 years preceding the renewal.
A registrant seeking such waiver must apply in a format prescribed by the department, including the applicant’s signature, under penalty of perjury, and supporting documentation.
(4) A registration must be renewed biennially on or before its expiration date. In order to establish staggered expiration dates, the department may extend the expiration date of a registration for a period not to exceed 12 months.
(5)(a) Each estimate or contract of a mover must include the phrase “  (NAME OF FIRM)   is registered with the State of Florida as a Mover. Fla. Mover Registration No.  .”
(b) Any document from a moving broker must include the phrase “  (NAME OF FIRM)   is registered with the State of Florida as a Moving Broker. Fla. Moving Broker Registration No.  .”
(6)(a) Each advertisement of a mover must include the phrase “Fla. Mover Reg. No.  ” or “Fla. IM No.  .” Each of the mover’s vehicles must clearly and conspicuously display a sign on the driver’s side door which includes at least one of these phrases in lettering of at least 1.5 inches in height.
(b) Each advertisement of a moving broker must include the phrase “Fla. Moving Broker Reg. No.  .   (NAME OF MOVING BROKER)   is a moving broker.   (NAME OF MOVING BROKER)   is paid by a shipper to arrange, or offer to arrange, the transportation of property by a registered mover.”
(7) A registration is not valid for any mover or moving broker transacting business at any place other than that designated in the mover’s or moving broker’s application, unless the department is first notified in writing before any change of location. A registration issued under this chapter is not assignable, and the mover or moving broker may not conduct business under more than one name except as registered. A mover or moving broker desiring to change its registered name or location or designated agent for service of process at a time other than upon renewal of registration must notify the department of the change.
(8) The department may deny, refuse to renew, or revoke the registration of any mover or moving broker based upon a determination that the mover or moving broker, or any of the mover’s or moving broker’s directors, officers, owners, or general partners:
(a) Has failed to meet the requirements for registration as provided in this chapter;
(b) Has been convicted of a crime involving fraud, dishonest dealing, or any other act of moral turpitude;
(c) Has not satisfied a civil fine or penalty arising out of any administrative or enforcement action brought by any governmental agency or private person based upon conduct involving fraud, dishonest dealing, or any violation of this chapter;
(d) Has pending against him or her any criminal, administrative, or enforcement proceedings in any jurisdiction, based upon conduct involving fraud, dishonest dealing, or any other act of moral turpitude; or
(9) The department shall deny or refuse to renew the registration of a mover or a moving broker or deny a registration or renewal request by any of the mover’s or moving broker’s directors, officers, owners, or general partners if the mover or moving broker has not satisfied a civil penalty or administrative fine for a violation of s. 507.07(10).
(10) Each mover and moving broker shall provide evidence of the current and valid insurance or alternative coverages required under s. 507.04.
(11) Each moving broker shall provide the department with a complete list of the registered movers that the moving broker has contracted or is affiliated with, advertises on behalf of, arranges moves for, or refers shippers to, including each mover’s complete name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and registration number and the name of each mover’s owners, corporate officers, and directors. A moving broker must notify the department of any changes to the provided information. The department shall publish and maintain on its website a list of all moving brokers and the registered movers each moving broker is contracted with.
(12) A person required to register pursuant to this section may not operate as or hold itself out to be a mover or moving broker without first registering with the department pursuant to this section.
(13) The department must immediately issue a cease and desist order to a person upon finding that the person is operating as a mover or a moving broker without registering pursuant to this section. In addition, and notwithstanding the availability of any administrative relief under chapter 120, the department may seek from the appropriate circuit court an immediate injunction prohibiting the person from operating in this state until the person complies with this section and pays a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 and court costs.