§ 16-56. Commercial airboat registration and identification.

(a)

Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to all airboats operated for commercial purposes on all public bodies of water located within the boundaries of Osceola County, as defined in F.S. § 7.49.

(b)

Commercial airboat registration. No owner of an airboat shall cause an airboat to be operated for a commercial purpose without first registering said airboat with Osceola County and obtaining a unique alpha-numeric identification for each airboat so registered.

(c)

Alpha-numeric identification to be displayed. The owner of an airboat that is being used for a commercial purpose shall at all times during such use display the alpha-numeric identification assigned as set forth in this section.

(d)

Specifications for identification. The assigned identification shall be clearly marked on both sides of the rudder so as to be plainly visible from the port and starboard side of the vessel. The identification shall be no less than twelve-inch high block lettering. The identification shall be painted against a square background using one (1) of the following color combinations to contrast with the color of the rudder:

(1)

Black characters on white background.

(2)

Dark blue characters on white background.

(3)

Black characters on yellow background.

(4)

Yellow characters on dark blue background.

The material used for the identification shall be reflective so as to be visible when illuminated at night.

(e)

Exemptions.

(1)

This section shall not apply to an airboat operated by duly authorized federal, state, or county personnel in the line of duty.

(2)

This section shall not apply to airboats operating pursuant to a contract with Osceola County that requires the display of registration numbers clearly on the upper areas of the body of the airboat so as to be easily identified by persons on shore and/or another boat.

(f)

Enforcement.

(1)

Any person who is found to violate any of these provisions shall be punished as provided in chapter 7, article I, of this Code. The jurisdiction of the code enforcement board and special master shall not be exclusive. Any alleged violation of any of the provisions of this chapter may be pursued by appropriate remedy, whether by injunctive, declaratory or other civil sanction, at the option of the county.

(2)

General penalties as set forth in chapter 1, section 1-6 of the Osceola County Code of Ordinances are applicable to this chapter.

(g)

Discipline of business licenses. Pursuant to section 13-41, the county may suspend or revoke a local business tax receipt based on violations under this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2018-22, § 2, 3-19-18)