207.007  Offenses; penalties and interest.--

(1)  If any motor carrier registered under this chapter fails to file a return and pay any tax liability under this chapter within the time required hereunder, the department may impose a delinquency penalty of $50 or 10 percent of the delinquent taxes due, whichever is greater, if the failure is for not more than 30 days, with an additional 10 percent penalty for each additional 30 days, or fraction thereof, during the time which the failure continues, not to exceed a total penalty of 100 percent in the aggregate. However, the penalty may not be less than $50.

(2)  In addition to any other penalties, any delinquent tax shall bear interest at the rate of 1 percent per month, or fraction thereof, calculated from the date the tax was due. If the department enters into a cooperative reciprocal agreement under the provisions of s. 207.0281, the department shall collect and distribute all interest due to other jurisdictions at the same rate as if such interest were due to the state.

(3)  Any person who:

(a)  Willfully refuses or neglects to make any statement, report, or return required by the provisions of this chapter;

(b)  Knowingly makes, or assists any other person in making, a false statement in a return or report or in connection with an application for registration under this chapter; or

(c)  Violates any of the provisions of this chapter, a penalty for which is not otherwise provided,

is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. In addition, the department may revoke or suspend the registration privileges under ss. 207.004 and 320.02 of the violator. Each day or part thereof during which a person operates or causes to be operated a commercial motor vehicle without being the holder of an identifying device or having a valid temporary fuel-use or driveaway permit as required by this chapter constitutes a separate offense within the meaning of this section. In addition to the penalty imposed by this section, the defendant shall be required to pay all taxes, interest, and penalties due to the state.

History.--s. 2, ch. 80-415; s. 1, ch. 81-151; s. 55, ch. 85-180; s. 79, ch. 87-6; s. 48, ch. 87-101; s. 8, ch. 87-198; s. 14, ch. 92-320; s. 3, ch. 94-306.