Florida § 310.161 Piloting without a license; penalties

Florida Statutes

§ 310.161 — Piloting without a license; penalties

Florida § 310.161

TitleXXII

Ch. 310PILOTS, PILOTING, AND PILOTAGE

This text of Florida § 310.161 (Piloting without a license; penalties) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Fla. Stat. § 310.161 (2026).

Text

(1)Any individual who is not a licensed state pilot or a certificated deputy pilot, and who directs the movement of a vessel on which a licensed state pilot or certificated deputy pilot is required is guilty of piloting without a license. Any person piloting without a license is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2)In addition to, or in lieu of, the penalty provided in subsection (1), the department may seek the imposition of a civil penalty through the circuit court. The civil penalty shall be not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each offense. The court shall also award to the prevailing party court costs and reasonable attorney fees and, in the event the department prevails, may also award reasonable costs of i

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

(1) Any individual who is not a licensed state pilot or a certificated deputy pilot, and who directs the movement of a vessel on which a licensed state pilot or certificated deputy pilot is required is guilty of piloting without a license. Any person piloting without a license is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) In addition to, or in lieu of, the penalty provided in subsection (1), the department may seek the imposition of a civil penalty through the circuit court. The civil penalty shall be not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each offense. The court shall also award to the prevailing party court costs and reasonable attorney fees and, in the event the department prevails, may also award reasonable costs of investigation.

(3) The vessel and its owner shall be obligated to pay to the licensed state pilots at the port where the violation of subsection (1) occurred, the pilotage rate which would otherwise have been applicable, and, if the pilots in said port must resort to legal action to obtain a judgment therefor, the court shall also award to the prevailing party court costs and reasonable attorney fees.

Legislative History

s. 2, ch. 75-201; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 16, ch. 78-140; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 2, 3, ch. 84-185; ss. 10, 11, ch. 86-280; s. 2, ch. 89-262; s. 8, ch. 90-54; s. 6, ch. 90-144; s. 4, ch. 91-429.