(1) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(2) “Person” means any individual, firm, company, agency, organization, partnership, or corporation.

(3) “Licensee” means any person licensed under this chapter.

(4) The personal pronoun “he” or the personal pronoun “she” implies the impersonal pronoun “it.”

(5) “Principal officer” means an individual who holds the office of president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer in a corporation.

(6) “Advertising” means the submission of bids, contracting, or making known by any public notice or solicitation of business, directly or indirectly, that services regulated under this chapter are available for consideration.

(7) “Good moral character” means a personal history of honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights and property of others and for the laws of this state and nation.

(8) “Conviction” means an adjudication of guilt by a federal or state court resulting from plea or trial, regardless of whether imposition of sentence was suspended.

(9) “Unarmed” means that no firearm shall be carried by the licensee while providing services regulated by this chapter.

(10) “Branch office” means each additional location of an agency where business is actively conducted which advertises as performing or is engaged in the business authorized by the license.

(11) “Sponsor” means any Class “C,” Class “MA,” or Class “M” licensee who supervises and maintains under his or her direction and control a Class “CC” intern; or any Class “E” or Class “MR” licensee who supervises and maintains under his or her direction and control a Class “EE” intern.

(12) “Intern” means an individual who studies as a trainee or apprentice under the direction and control of a designated sponsoring licensee.

(13) “Manager” means any licensee who directs the activities of licensees at any agency or branch office. The manager shall be assigned to and shall primarily operate from the agency or branch office location for which he or she has been designated as manager. The manager of a private investigative agency may, however, manage up to three offices within a 150-mile radius of the location listed on the agency’s Class “A” license, provided that these three offices consist of either:

(a) The location listed on the agency’s Class “A” license and up to two branch offices; or

(b) Up to three branch offices.

(14) “Firearm instructor” means any Class “K” licensee who provides classroom or range instruction to applicants for a Class “G” license.

(15) “Private investigative agency” means any person who, for consideration, advertises as providing or is engaged in the business of furnishing private investigations.

(16) “Private investigator” means any individual who, for consideration, advertises as providing or performs private investigation. This does not include an informant who, on a one-time or limited basis, as a result of a unique expertise, ability, vocation, or special access and who, under the direction and control of a Class “C” licensee or a Class “MA” licensee, provides information or services that would otherwise be included in the definition of private investigation.

(17) “Private investigation” means the investigation by a person or persons for the purpose of obtaining information with reference to any of the following matters:

(a) Crime or wrongs done or threatened against the United States or any state or territory of the United States, when operating under express written authority of the governmental official responsible for authorizing such investigation.

(b) The identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, reputation, or character of any society, person, or group of persons.

(c) The credibility of witnesses or other persons.

(d) The whereabouts of missing persons, owners of unclaimed property or escheated property, or heirs to estates.

(e) The location or recovery of lost or stolen property.

(f) The causes and origin of, or responsibility for, fires, libels, slanders, losses, accidents, damage, or injuries to real or personal property.

(g) The business of securing evidence to be used before investigating committees or boards of award or arbitration or in the trial of civil or criminal cases and the preparation therefor.

(18) “Security agency” means any person who, for consideration, advertises as providing or is engaged in the business of furnishing security services, armored car services, or transporting prisoners. This includes any person who utilizes dogs and individuals to provide security services.

(19) “Security officer” means any individual who, for consideration, advertises as providing or performs bodyguard services or otherwise guards persons or property; attempts to prevent theft or unlawful taking of goods, wares, and merchandise; or attempts to prevent the misappropriation or concealment of goods, wares or merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, choses in action, notes, or other documents, papers, and articles of value or procurement of the return thereof. The term also includes armored car personnel and those personnel engaged in the transportation of prisoners.

(20) “Recovery agency” means any person who, for consideration, advertises as providing or is engaged in the business of performing repossessions.

(21) “Recovery agent” means any individual who, for consideration, advertises as providing or performs repossessions.

(22) “Repossession” means the recovery of a motor vehicle as defined under s. 320.01(1), a mobile home as defined in s. 320.01(2), a motorboat as defined under s. 327.02, an aircraft as defined in s. 330.27(1), a personal watercraft as defined in s. 327.02, an all-terrain vehicle as defined in s. 316.2074, farm equipment as defined under s. 686.402, or industrial equipment, by an individual who is authorized by the legal owner, lienholder, or lessor to recover, or to collect money payment in lieu of recovery of, that which has been sold or leased under a security agreement that contains a repossession clause. As used in this subsection, the term “industrial equipment” includes, but is not limited to, tractors, road rollers, cranes, forklifts, backhoes, and bulldozers. The term “industrial equipment” also includes other vehicles that are propelled by power other than muscular power and that are used in the manufacture of goods or used in the provision of services. A repossession is complete when a licensed recovery agent is in control, custody, and possession of such repossessed property. Property that is being repossessed shall be considered to be in the control, custody, and possession of a recovery agent if the property being repossessed is secured in preparation for transport from the site of the recovery by means of being attached to or placed on the towing or other transport vehicle or if the property being repossessed is being operated or about to be operated by an employee of the recovery agency.

(23) “Felony” means a criminal offense that is punishable under the laws of this state, or that would be punishable if committed in this state, by death or imprisonment in the state penitentiary; a crime in any other state or a crime against the United States which is designated as a felony; or an offense in any other state, territory, or country punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year.

History.—ss. 2, 11, ch. 90-364; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 10, ch. 94-241; s. 5, ch. 96-407; s. 1137, ch. 97-103; s. 1, ch. 97-248; s. 34, ch. 2001-36; s. 4, ch. 2002-295; s. 1, ch. 2005-143; s. 2, ch. 2013-251; s. 10, ch. 2017-85.