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Florida Statute 324.051 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 324.051 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
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The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 324
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
View Entire Chapter
324.051 Reports of crashes; suspensions of licenses and registrations.
(1)(a) Every law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty either at the time of and at the scene of the crash or thereafter by interviewing participants or witnesses, investigates a motor vehicle crash which he or she is required to report pursuant to s. 316.066(1) shall forward a written report of the crash to the department within 10 days of completing the investigation. However, when the investigation of a crash will take more than 10 days to complete, a preliminary copy of the crash report shall be forwarded to the department within 10 days after the occurrence of the crash, to be followed by a final report within 10 days after completion of the investigation. The report shall be on a form and contain information consistent with the requirements of s. 316.068.
(b) The department is hereby further authorized to require reports of crashes from individual owners or operators whenever it deems it necessary for the proper administration of this chapter, and these reports shall be made without prejudice except as specified in this subsection. No such report shall be used as evidence in any trial arising out of a crash. However, subject to the applicable rules of evidence, a law enforcement officer at a criminal trial may testify as to any statement made to the officer by the person involved in the accident if that person’s privilege against self-incrimination is not violated.
(2)(a) Thirty days after receipt of notice of any accident described in paragraph (1)(a) involving a motor vehicle within this state, the department shall suspend, after due notice and opportunity to be heard, the license of each operator and all registrations of the owner of the vehicles operated by such operator whether or not involved in such crash and, in the case of a nonresident owner or operator, shall suspend such nonresident’s operating privilege in this state, unless such operator or owner shall, prior to the expiration of such 30 days, be found by the department to be exempt from the operation of this chapter, based upon evidence satisfactory to the department that:
1. The motor vehicle was legally parked at the time of such crash.
2. The motor vehicle was owned by the United States Government, this state, or any political subdivision of this state or any municipality therein.
3. Such operator or owner has secured a duly acknowledged written agreement providing for release from liability by all parties injured as the result of said crash and has complied with one of the provisions of s. 324.031.
4. Such operator or owner has deposited with the department security to conform with s. 324.061 when applicable and has complied with one of the provisions of s. 324.031.
5. One year has elapsed since such owner or operator was suspended pursuant to subsection (3), the owner or operator has complied with one of the provisions of s. 324.031, and no bill of complaint of which the department has notice has been filed in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) This subsection shall not apply:
1. To such operator or owner if such operator or owner had in effect at the time of such crash or traffic conviction an automobile liability policy with respect to all of the registered motor vehicles owned by such operator or owner.
2. To such operator, if not the owner of such motor vehicle, if there was in effect at the time of such crash or traffic conviction an automobile liability policy or bond with respect to his or her operation of motor vehicles not owned by him or her.
3. To such operator or owner if the liability of such operator or owner for damages resulting from such crash is, in the judgment of the department, covered by any other form of liability insurance or bond.
4. To any person who has obtained from the department a certificate of self-insurance, in accordance with s. 324.171, or to any person operating a motor vehicle for such self-insurer.

No such policy or bond shall be effective under this subsection unless it contains limits of not less than those specified in s. 324.021(7).

(3) Any driver license or registration certificate or certificates and registration plates which are suspended as provided for in this section shall remain suspended for a period of 3 years unless reinstated as otherwise provided in this chapter.
History.s. 1, ch. 29963, 1955; s. 2, ch. 57-147; ss. 1, 2, ch. 65-122; s. 6, ch. 65-190; ss. 13, 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 2, ch. 71-59; s. 2, ch. 76-266; s. 2, ch. 77-118; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 7, ch. 77-468; s. 1, ch. 78-83; s. 20, ch. 78-95; s. 2, ch. 83-22; s. 10, ch. 85-81; s. 3, ch. 89-271; s. 54, ch. 89-282; s. 28, ch. 90-119; s. 15, ch. 91-255; s. 90, ch. 94-306; s. 946, ch. 95-148; s. 303, ch. 99-248; s. 2, ch. 2006-260; s. 7, ch. 2010-163.
Note.Former s. 324.04.

F.S. 324.051 on Google Scholar

F.S. 324.051 on CourtListener

Amendments to 324.051


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 324.051

Total Results: 18  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Howard v. Am. Serv. Mut. Ins. Co., 151 So. 2d 682 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1963).

Cited 25 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 8 A.L.R. 3d 382, 1963 Fla. App. LEXIS 3571

...was being driven by Kellar unless, under "Condition 4", our financial responsibility law is applicable and has the effect of broadening the coverage of the policy so as to include liability to the plaintiff from this accident. We so hold. Basically, § 324.051(2), Fla....
...e, by its own terms, became extended so as to prevent such suspension, does this broadened coverage apply at the time of the accident so as to cover this liability? *685 These questions would cause us much difficulty if it were not for the fact that § 324.051, Fla....
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Garcia Ex Rel. Est. of Garcia v. Vanguard Car Rental USA, Inc., 510 F. Supp. 2d 821 (M.D. Fla. 2007).

Cited 22 times | Published | District Court, M.D. Florida | 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15335, 2007 WL 686625

...These statutory provisions clearly are of the type saved from preemption under the Graves Amendment, because they impose "financial responsibility or insurance standards on the owner of a motor vehicle for the privilege of registering and operating a motor vehicle." [12] It is Fla. Stat. § 324.051, for example, that achieves this object by authorizing the State to suspend the license and registration of a motor vehicle owner or operator who does not have the required minimum levels of motor vehicle insurance at the time of an accident....
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Vargas v. Enter. Leasing Co., 993 So. 2d 614 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008).

Cited 19 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2008 WL 4756388

...1(9)(b)2 is in no way linked to this privilege; it does not require short term lessors to purchase insurance. The monetary figures in the statute are caps on liability unrelated to a lessor's ability to register a motor vehicle. Sections 324.021(7), 324.051, and 324.071, Florida Statutes (2007), implement Florida's financial responsibility scheme....
...r 324 has no bearing on its meaning. What the Folmar court actually said about the placement in Chapter 324 is: "Although section 324.021(9)(b) is in the financial responsibility chapter, we do not believe that the specific penalties provided for in section 324.051 apply....
...[5] The mechanism of Florida's financial responsibility law operates to ensure minimum levels of responsibility following an accident. After a motor vehicle accident, the investigating law enforcement officer must forward a report of the crash to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. § 324.051(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (2007). The Department is required to suspend "the license of each operator and all registrations of the owner of the vehicles operated by such operator." § 324.051(2)(a), Fla....
...he owner or operator had in effect at the time "of the crash an automobile liability policy with respect to all of the registered motor vehicles owned by such operator or owner," containing "limits of not less than those specified in s. 324.021(7)." § 324.051(2)(b), Fla....
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Johns v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 337 So. 2d 830 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976).

Cited 18 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 1976 Fla. App. LEXIS 15487

...State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, 8th Cir.1969, 413 F.2d 539, which was cited generally with approval by our Supreme Court in Mullis v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., supra , though not precisely for the point presently before us in the instant case. Section 324.051 F.S....
...Appellee admits that the City of St. Petersburg did not apply for or obtain a certificate of self-insurance from the Commissioner of Insurance. Appellee filed an affidavit of the Chief of the Financial Responsibility Bureau of the Department of Insurance to the effect that since § 324.051 exempted municipalities from having their operator's licenses and owners' registrations suspended within thirty days following notice of an accident, the Bureau concluded *832 that municipalities are exempt from the requirements of § 324.171....
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Larson v. Warren, 132 So. 2d 177 (Fla. 1961).

Cited 14 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida

...He will hereinafter be referred to as "commissioner." The commissioner may take such steps as the law requires to keep the financial responsibility of the owner of an automobile current and may exact every showing within reason to do so. See §§ 324.021, 324.031, 324.042, 324.051 and 324.061, Florida Statutes, F.S.A....
...In answer to this question it may be said at the outset that revocation of one's automobile license is not a peremptory act but is done after the commissioner has a full report of the accident from the department of public safety or secures such a report from reliable sources. See § 324.051, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., containing numerous *181 exemptions or exceptions....
...Then § 324.061, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., provides how amends may be made in the way of security deposit with the commissioner and § 324.071, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., provides the manner in which one's license and registration may be reinstated when suspended either under § 324.051 or § 324.072, Florida Statutes, F.S.A....
...driver's license, automobile registration certificate and automobile license tag. These were credentials required by law for owning and operating an automobile. Their suspension was in fact a punishment for not complying with §§ 324.021, 324.031, 324.051 and perhaps others....
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Williams v. Ferrentino, 199 So. 2d 504 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1967).

Cited 11 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

...But in their reply brief appellants neatly reversed their field and contended that the Rules aforesaid did not apply to a license suspension under F.S. Section 324.121 et seq., F.S.A., where a judgment debtor fails to satisfy a Court judgment, but only applied to license suspensions under F.S. Section 324.051, F.S.A., relating to another state of facts entirely....
...driving licenses taken away. See also In re Sackett's Estate, Fla. App. 1965, 171 So.2d 906; Trumbull Chevrolet Sales Co., Inc. v. Motor Vehicle Commissioner, Fla.App. 1961, 134 So.2d 40. E — Judicial Review of Administrative Orders under F.S. Sec. 324.051, F.S.A. The Commissioner contends in his original brief that the "Order of Suspension" entered under F.S. Sec. 324.051, F.S.A., could only be reviewed by F.S....
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Williams v. Newton, 236 So. 2d 98 (Fla. 1970).

Cited 9 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida

...ons, in that it allows suspension of drivers' licenses without a hearing on the question of culpability and treats all owners and operators of vehicles involved in an accident alike, regardless of fault. The trial court in declaring Florida Statutes § 324.051, F.S.A. unconstitutional, held: "* * * [W]ithout precise regard to the language in Section 324.011, the provisions of Section 324.051 are unconstitutional in that the classification of persons subject to the Act bears no reasonable relation to the broad subject matter of the legislation. Section 324.051 puts the non-negligent, non-liable, `uninsured' motorist or owner into the same category with the negligent, liable, `uninsured' operator or owner....
...The holding is that the lack of classification separating those at fault from those not at fault offends equal protection of the law and the failure to provide a pre-suspension hearing to determine fault denies due process of law. The lower court found that the provisions of Florida Statute § 324.051(2) (a), F.S.A. are inconsistent with the intent of the Act set out in Florida Statute § 324.011, F.S.A. [4] Section 324.051(2) (a) provides in pertinent part as follows: "Thirty days after receipt of notice of any accident involving a motor vehicle within this state which has resulted in bodily injury or death to any person, or total damage of fifty dollar...
...ent and had complied with one of the provisions of § 324.031, or "6. Such operator or owner has deposited with the state treasurer security to conform with § 324.061 and has complied with one of the provisions of § 324.031." Under Florida Statute § 324.051(2) (b), F.S.A., the above-quoted section only applies to uninsured operators or owners. The commission by regulation adopted pursuant *101 to Florida Statute § 324.042, F.S.A., has provided for a hearing limited to the exemptions set forth in Florida Statute § 324.051(2), F.S.A....
...sulting in bodily injury or property damage of $50 or more. Fault is not a consideration. The Legislature in its wisdom has determined that this event, an accident, rather than some other, will bring the Act into operation. The exemptions allowed in § 324.051(2) (a) do not change the character of the Act as operating initially without regard to fault....
...I find that on its face and in its operation the license suspension procedure of Florida's Financial Responsibility Act is patently invalid and unconstitutional. The act, in its operation, violates the equal protection provision of the Florida and United States Constitutions. The effect of Section 324.051 is to classify persons subject to the act in a manner which bears no reasonable resemblance to the purpose of the act, which is "to promote safety, and provide financial security by such owners and operators whose responsibility it is...
...However, I know of no principle of law that would prohibit the Commissioner from making a preliminary determination of possible fault or liability on the facts then before him, solely for the purpose of applying the Financial Responsibility Act. Even now, under Section 324.051(2) (a), the Commissioner must make a "quasi-judicial" determination that "no injury was caused to the person or property of anyone other than" the operator or owner; and, under Section 324.051(2) (b) par....
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Phoenix Ins. Co. v. Bowen, 178 So. 2d 751 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1965).

Cited 6 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

...s given the written consent of the plaintiff. Defendant testified on deposition that he had read the release fully before signing it but thought he was merely releasing Gonzalez so that Gonzalez could get his driver's license back in compliance with Section 324.051 F.S., F.S.A....
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Folmar v. Young, 560 So. 2d 798 (Fla. 4th DCA 1990).

Cited 6 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1990 WL 8579

...They claim that the pertinent portion of that provision is "for the purpose of determining financial responsibility." The plaintiffs contend that the foregoing phrase relates only to the issue of whether the lessor is subject to the sanctions set forth in section 324.051....
...k not only at the plain language of the statute, but also its history. Carawan v. State, 515 So.2d 161 (Fla. 1987). Although section 324.021(9) is in the financial responsibility chapter, we do not believe that the specific penalties provided for in section 324.051 apply. Section 324.051 clearly concerns sanctions against individuals in automobile accidents who do not have insurance coverage....
...y doctrine, not statutory penalties for failing to provide proof of financial responsibility. Moreover, there would have been no need to enact section 324.021(9)(b) to require $100,000/$300,000 coverage if its only purpose was to exempt lessors from section 324.051 which requires $10,000/$20,000 coverage....
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United Servs. Auto. Ass'n v. Phillips, 740 So. 2d 1205 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999).

Cited 5 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 1999 WL 550790

...ibility law. Unlike the off-road motorcycle involved in that case, government-owned vehicles are not per se outside the definition of motor vehicle for purposes of chapter 324. Rather, they are "exempt from the operation" of the chapter by virtue of section 324.051(2)(a)2., Florida Statutes (1995), a subsection of the statute that otherwise calls for the suspension of licenses and registrations of operators and owners of motor vehicles involved in accidents....
...ng any bicycle or moped. However, the term `motor vehicle' shall not include any motor vehicle as defined in s. 627.732(1) when the owner of such vehicle has complied with the requirements of ss. 627.730-627.7405, inclusive, unless the provisions of s. 324.051 apply; and, in such case, the applicable proof of insurance provisions of s....
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Folmar v. Young, 591 So. 2d 220 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991).

Cited 4 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1991 WL 110841

...They claim that the pertinent portion of that provision is "for the purpose of determining financial responsibility." The plaintiffs contend that the foregoing phrase relates only to the issue of whether the lessor is subject to the sanctions set forth in section 324.051....
...ot only at the plain language of the statute, but also its history. Carawan v. State, 515 So.2d 161 (Fla. 1987). Although section 324.021(9)(b) is in the financial responsibility chapter, we do not believe that the specific penalties provided for in section 324.051 apply. Section 324.051 clearly concerns sanctions against individuals in automobile accidents who do not have insurance coverage....
...y doctrine, not statutory penalties for failing to provide proof of financial responsibility. Moreover, there would have been no need to enact section 324.021(9)(b) to require $100,000/$300,000 coverage if its only purpose was to exempt lessors from section 324.051 which requires $10,000/$20, 000 coverage....
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Rosado v. Daimlerchrysler Fin. Servs. Trust, 1 So. 3d 1200 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009).

Cited 2 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 967, 2009 WL 277435

...The most significant sanction imposed under these statutes is not the liability of the owner (which already existed in Florida under the dangerous instrumentality doctrine), but rather the loss of a driver's license or registration for someone who has not been financially responsible in the past. See § 324.051, Fla....
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Harrison v. Larson, 133 So. 2d 446 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1961).

Cited 1 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

of 1955. . F.S. § 324.011, F.S.A. . F.S. § 324.051, F.S.A. . F.S. § 324.101, F.S.A. .“Whenever
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Phoenix Ins. v. McQueen ex rel. McQueen, 240 So. 2d 79 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1970).

Cited 1 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 1970 Fla. App. LEXIS 5526

091(1), F.S.A. . F.S. § 324.011, F.S.A.; F.S. § 324.051, F.S.A.; Williams v. Newton (Fla.1970), 236 So
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Ago (Fla. Att'y Gen. 1981).

Published | Florida Attorney General Reports

is again in the negative. AS TO QUESTION 2: Section 324.051(2)(a), F.S. provides that within 30 days of
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Young v. Williams, 249 So. 2d 684 (Fla. 1971).

Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1971 Fla. LEXIS 3633

licensee is in no way liable for the accident. (F.S. § 324.051(2) (a), F.S.A.) Our decision in Williams v. Newton
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Lynch-Davidson Motors v. Griffin, 171 So. 2d 911 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1965).

Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

021(7); 324.021(8); 324.-151(1), F.S.A. . F.S. § 324.051(2), F.S.A. .Landis v. New Amsterdam Casualty
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McKinney v. O'Malley, 379 F. Supp. 135 (M.D. Fla. 1974).

Published | District Court, M.D. Florida | 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7272

action attacking the constitutionality of Section 324.051(2), Florida *136Statutes, as applied to him

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. Attorney Syfert regularly works with Chapter 324 in the context of auto insurance and financial responsibility and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.