Florida § 501.062 - Unauthorized commercial solicitation; legislative intent; definitions; prohibited acts; penalties.

§ 501.062. Unauthorized commercial solicitation; legislative intent; definitions; prohibited acts; penalties.

(1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT. — It is the intent of the Legislature to protect, preserve, and promote the safety, welfare, and peace of the citizens of this state by adopting measures to reduce the threat to private property rights, including the right to exclude and to be free from trespass of unauthorized commercial solicitation on private property when noticed by the property owner. It is the intent of this section to protect such private property rights by creating a uniform standard for notifying individuals or groups of individuals that commercial solicitation is prohibited on private property. (2) DEFINITIONS. — As used in this section, the term: (a) “Commercial solicitation” means the act of attempting to sell goods or services, or to raise funds for a commercial purpose, through direct or indirect contact with individuals, including, but not limited to, using words, body gestures, or signs, on behalf of a business or commercial entity. (b) “Dwelling” has the same meaning as in s. 810.011(2). (3) PROHIBITED ACTS. — A person may not engage in commercial solicitation on any dwelling that clearly and prominently displays a sign that is no less than 8.5 by 11 inches, is visible to any person approaching the dwelling, and clearly displays a statement which identifies the dwelling as private property on which commercial solicitation is prohibited, in substantially the following manner with letters at least 1 inch in height: THIS DWELLING IS DESIGNATED PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION IS PERMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 501.062, FLORIDA STATUTES. (4) PENALTIES. — A person who violates subsection (3) commits a noncriminal violation, punishable as provided in s. 775.083. A person who commits a second or subsequent violation commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.