Newcomer Information
Legal Residency
To become a resident of florida, a person must establish a home or a permanant dwelling place and demonstrate intent to make Florida the place of permanent legal residence.
No fixed waiting period is required for a person to become a resident, but newcomers are urged to show their intent by filing a sworn statement with the clerk of circuit court in the county where the new home is situated. A small charge is made for recording this affidavit.
Driver"s License
To operate a motor vehicle in Florida new residents are required to obtain a Florida drivers license within 30 days, and register their motor vehicle(s) within 10 days of accepting gainful employment, entering children in public schools, registering to vote, or filing for homestead exemption.
Full-time non-resident college students and non-resident military personnel on active duty are exempt from this requirement.
Driver"s License Renewal
A driver"s license is valid for four or six years. Applicants who have a conviction-free record for the previous three years can obtain a six-year license, and must pass a required examination. A four-year renewal is available by mail.
Notice that a license will soon expire is mailed to each driver 30 days before the birthday expiration date.
Licenses must be renewed on or before a person"s birthday.
Buckle Up!
Driver and front seat passenger are required by florida law to wear seat belts. Violation is punishable by a $20 fine. Children including teen-agers, riding in the back seat are required to have the appropriate restraints.
Vehicle Insurance
The State of Florida has two major vehicle insurance laws ¹ The Financial Responsibility Law and the No-Fault Law.
The Financial Responsibility Law requires owners and operators of motor vehicles to be financially responsible for damages or injuries they may cause to others in an accident. Coverage required is $10,000 Bodily Injury Liability, $20,000 Bodily Injury Liability to two or more persons, and $10,000 Property Damage Liability.
To have an accident without the coverage can result in suspension of driver"s license and tags for up to three years.
The No-Fault law requires anyone who owns or has a registered motor vehicle to carry $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL).
No one can buy a tag or registration for a vehicle without insurance. Failure to carry No-Fault can result in suspension of both driver"s license and tags for up to three years.
Vehicle Registration
A registration is evidence of having paid the registration tax on a motor vehicle. It consists of a metal license plate, a serially numbered validation decal and a registration certificate.
In the State of Florida, a motor vehicle is required by law to be registered within ten days of the owner either becoming employed, placing children in public school, or establishing residency. Registering your motor vehicle goes hand in hand with the titling process.
There is no vehicle inspection in the state of Florida.
Highway Emergency Call Boxes
Motorists traveling Florida interstates have available to them emergency call boxes placed every mile along the roadways in most areas. These boxes are to be used only for emergencies an they communicate with the nearest Florida Highway Patrol Station.
Fishing Licenses
Non-residents must have a saltwater license to fish from either a boat or from land. Residents may only fish from land without a saltwater license. When fishing from a boat, a license is required.
A freshwater license is required for all freshwater fishing. Licenses may be obtained at the county courthouse, and at most stores where bait and tackle is sold. For information about freshwater licenses, call the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission at 800-432-2046
Boating
All vessels operated on Florida waters must be registered and/or numbered in Florida except:
> Vessels used exclusively on privates lakes or ponds.
> Vessels owned by the Federal Government.
> Vessels used exclusively as life boats
> Non-motor-powered vessels
> Vessels with a current number from another state or from another country temporarily using Florida waters (less than 90 consecutive days).
> Vessels newly purchased in Florida (less than 30 days)
In addition, all vessels except those documented vessels and non-motor-powered boats less than 16 feet in length must be titled in Florida.
Boat titles and registrations are made at the county tax collectors offices.
Applicants must provide proof of ownership. Registration must be renewed each year in the birth month of the owner.
Public Schools
All children who have attained the age of 6 or who will have attained that age by February 1st of any school year, or who are between the ages of 6 and 16, are required to attend school regularly during the entire school term.
All public schools are directed and controlled at the county level by a county school board. Contact your County School Board for admission requirements.
Taxes
Florida is prohibited by its constitution from levying a personal income tax. The state also has no inheritance tax.
Vote
To vote in Florida, a person must be 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the U.S., and a permanant resident of Florida and of the county in which the residents wishes to vote. One must register to vote, of course, with the county supervisor of elections.
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