Findings Of Fact On September 23, 1979, the Department issued to the Respondent, Chipley Motel, permit number 9028-6 authorizing an outdoor advertising sign on the south side of I-10, .8 mile west of SR 77 in Washington County, Florida. This permit was issued pursuant to an application that had been filed by a representative of the Respondent which stated that the site where the sign would be erected was zoned commercial or industrial. The Respondent's representative filed this application containing the statement that the proposed site was zoned commercial or industrial without first checking with county officials to determine the zoning status of the site. Upon receipt of the Respondent's application, Department personnel at the Chipley District Office made inquiry of county officials and were informed that the site applied for by the Respondent was zoned commercial. Thereafter, the Department's district office personnel advised the Respondent that they had ascertained the subject site to be commercially zoned, and permit number 9028-6 was issued. Both the Respondent's representative and the Department's district office personnel believed the proposed sign site was zoned commercial. However, the site applied for by the Respondent, and where permit number 9028-6 authorized a sign to be erected, was not zoned commercial or industrial either when the application was submitted or when the permit was issued. Pursuant to the issuance of permit number 9028-6, the Respondent erected an outdoor advertising sign at the permitted location. This sign was taken down sometime between September of 1979 and July of 1985. Permit number 9028-6 which had been issued for this sign on I-10, .8 mile west of SR 77 was affixed to another sign located 250-300 feet from the permitted site. Sometime after July 31, 1985, a different sign was erected at the location on I-10, .8 mile west of SR 77, and permit number 9028-6 was affixed to this sign. Therefore, permit number 9028-6 had been used on two signs at two different locations before it was reapplied to the sign that now stands on the permitted site. The sign that is up now is not the sign for which permit number 9028-6 was issued.
Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is: RECOMMENDED that permit number 9028-6 held by Chipley Motel, for a sign on the south side of I-10, .8 mile west of SR 77 in Washington County, Florida, be revoked. THIS RECOMMENDED ORDER ENTERED this 13th day of March, 1986 in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. WILLIAM B. THOMAS Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 13th day of April, 1986. COPIES FURNISHED: Philip S. Bennett, Esquire Haydon Burns Bldg., M.S. 58 Tallahassee, Florida 32301-8064 James J. Richardson, Esquire P. O. Box 12669 Tallahassee, Florida 32317-2669 Hon. Thomas E. Drawdy Secretary Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Bldg. Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Findings Of Fact V.J. Patel, general manager of the Best Western North Florida Inn, caused a sign to be erected a tenth of a mile south of State Road 143, advertising the motel. At all pertinent times, Shree Realty, Inc., Mr. Patel's employer, owned both the motel and the sign. At no time was the owner's name anywhere on the sign. Glenel Bowden, an outdoor advertising sign inspector employed by the Department of Transportation (DOT), told Mr. Patel he thought the unpermitted sign, visible to southbound traffic on Interstate 75, was unlawful. Mr. Pate1 and Mr. Bowden discussed the question of the sign's legality on several occasions. On August 28, 1989, Mr. Bowden posted a fluorescent orange violation notice on one of the poles supporting the sign, visible to anyone viewing either of the sign's faces from the highway. Petitioner's Exhibit No. 3. With this development, conversations between the two men ceased. When Mr. Bowden returned to the sign a few days after posting the violation notice, the notice had been removed. Although he stopped by the motel in search of Mr. Patel, and telephoned several times, leaving requests that Mr. Patel return his telephone calls, Mr. Bowden did not succeed in speaking to Mr. Patel again until October 17, 1989, the day the sign was taken down. On August 29, 1989, DOT's administrator for District Two, Tom Brown, signed a notice to show cause addressed to "Vijay" Patel at Route 1, Box 222, Jennings, Florida. DOT sent the notice by certified mail that day, and it arrived at the motel the following day. Tina Williams, a desk clerk, signed for it. The notice DOT mailed to Mr. Patel advised of the necessity to ask for a formal administrative hearing, if desired, within 30 days. The notice stated: You must comply with the applicable provisions of the said Statute(s) and Code(s) within thirty (30) days from the date of the posted notice . . . or, in the alternative, an administrative hearing must be requested by you within thirty (30) days of the date of this notice. . . . In either case, if you fail to comply within the thirty (30) day period above, then the . . . violation(s) shall be considered true . . . [one possible result being] removal of the sign without further notice. The notice, itself dated August 29, 1989, advised that the sign "was posted with a notice pursuant to Section 479.105(l)(a) on August 28, 1989." On October 2, 1989, 32 days after the notice DOT mailed reached the motel, Mr. Patel went to a lawyer's office. That day the lawyer signed and mailed a request for hearing on behalf of V. J. Patel. The hearing request reached DOT on October 5, 1989, 38 days after Mr. Bowden posted the notice of violation on the sign pole, and 37 days after DOT mailed notice to Mr. Patel. Until the final hearing, when counsel first disclosed the true owner of the sign to DOT, Shree Realty, Inc. never requested a hearing.
Recommendation It is, accordingly, RECOMMENDED: That DOT enter an order dismissing the request for formal hearing with prejudice. DONE and ENTERED this 13th day of April, 1990, in Tallahassee, Florida. ROBERT T. BENTON, II Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 13th day of April, 1990. COPIES FURNISHED: Charles G. Gardner, Esquire Department of Transportation 605 Suwannee Street, M.S. 58 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0458 William J. Haley, Esquire Nancy Staff Slayden, Esquire Brannon, Brown, Haley, Robinson & Cole, P.A. Post Office Box 1029 Lake City, FL 32056-1029 Robert Scanlon, III General Counsel Department of Transportation 562 Haydon Burns Building Tallahassee, FL 32399-0458 Ben G. Watts, Secretary Department of Transportation 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-0458
Findings Of Fact Respondent, Arrowhead Campsites, owns a sign located one mile east of State Road 71 on Interstate Highway 10 in Jackson County, Florida. The sign is located 139 feet from the edge of the highway, and is clearly visible from the main traveled portion of that highway. At the time of the petition in this case, no permit tag was located on the sign, and, additionally, no permit tag was on the sign when last inspected on October 2, 1978, four days prior to hearing in this cause. Respondent, Arrowhead Campsites, owns a sign located .6 miles west of State Road 69 on Interstate Highway 10 in Jackson County, Florida. This sign is clearly visible from the main traveled portion of the roadway, and is located 188 feet from the edge of the roadway. In addition, the sign is located 240 feet from an interchange on Interstate Highway 10. At the time the petition in this cause was filed on March 28, 1978, no permit tag was located on the sign, and, further, no permit tag was located on the sign on October 2, 1978, four days prior to the hearing in this cause. Both the sign located one mile east of State Road 71 on Interstate Highway 10 and the sign located .6 miles west of State Road 69 on Interstate Highway 10 bear copy advertising Arrowhead Campsites. Both of the signs in question are located outside any incorporated city or town. Any proposed findings of fact submitted by Respondent and not incorporated in this recommended order are specifically rejected.
The Issue Whether the Appellee's suspension of Appellant was in compliance with Chapter 110, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 22A-7.10F and G(2), Florida Administrative Code. Whether the Appellee's suspension of Appellant should be sustained.
Findings Of Fact C. W. Mathis was on January 22, 1977, a state trooper, employed by Appellee, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Highway Patrol, in Orlando, Florida. By letter dated February 22, 1977, Trooper Mathis, the Appellant, was notified that he was being suspended for eight (8) hours without pay by the Appellee, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Highway Patrol for: "Leaving the workstation without authori- zation and negligence, in violation of Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Personnel Rules and Regulations 2.lC, willful violation of statutory authority, rules, regulations or policies, and General Order 43, l.A.(4), pages 43-2 and 43-4, Florida Highway Patrol Manual." Trooper Mathis appealed this suspension which is the subject of the bearing. The Division of Administrative Hearings, Department of Administration, has jurisdiction of the cause. On January 22, 1977, Trooper Mathis was on State Road 400, out of his assigned authority, and running radar at approximately 8:50 A.M. He pursued and stopped a car which was clocked at speeding 75 miles per hour. Trooper Mathis asked the driver for a drivers license and when the driver stated he had none, Trooper Mathis told him to get out of the vehicle and asked the driver's name and proof of ownership of the vehicle. The driver indicated that his information was in the glove compartment and both Trooper Mathis and the driver obtained an instrument from the glove compartment of the driver's automobile. In the stopped vehicle was a white male passenger. Trooper Mathis returned to the patrol car and had the driver sit in the right front seat of the patrol car. Mathis then left the left front seat of the patrol car to obtain the vehicle identification number from the automobile and returned to the patrol car where the driver or violator was sitting. Mathis then called the radio dispatcher for a "check for wanted" personal (10-29). Trooper Mathis was looking down and when he looked up the automobile he had stopped was gone, driven obviously by the passenger who was left seated in the stopped vehicle. The driver of the automobile seated in the patrol car with Trooper Mathis told Trooper Mathis that he didn't see his car leave and that he had picked up the white male passenger hitchhiking on State Road 400 at the Turnpike. Trooper Mathis then proceeded west on State Road 400 in hopes of finding the car. He also called the station and asked radio operator Roundtree to copy a vehicle identification number without asking for a "check for wanted" 10-29. Radio operator Roundtree ran the first vehicle identification number (1Y27D 57106363) given by Trooper Mathis and it came back nothing on file. (The second vehicle identification number (1Y27D5T1O6367) later came back registered to the following: Eva Kuhn, 25 North Westview Avenue, Feasterville, Pennsylvania, on a 1975 Chevrolet, license number A02326.) Radio operator Roundtree then ran the tag number for 10-29 thinking that both vehicle identification numbers he had run were negative for wanted. The tag came back negative. After a search of the area and not locating the vehicle Trooper Mathis asked to meet with a deputy sheriff. The meeting with the deputy was for his passenger to make a "stolen car" report. When the violator finished his report with the deputy he advised Trooper Mathis that he had relatives visiting at Disney World and would like to be dropped off there. Trooper Mathis then brought him to Disney World and left him there. It was later found that the driver-violator had stolen the vehicle. Appellee, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, contends: Trooper Mathis was negligent and should be Punished for (1) failing to ask for a proper 10-29 ("check for wanted") on the vehicle identification number; (2) failing to keep the stopped vehicle under surveilance so that the passenger was able to drive it away unnoticed; (3) failing to require identification from the violator-driver before believing the violator's story. Appellant, C. W. Mathis, contends: (l) that under the circumstances it was excuseable that he failed to immediately ask for a proper 10-29 "check for wanted"; (2) that the traffic was very heavy and he was obliged to go very fast if he were to properly find the violator and do the job for which he was paid; (3) that the radio operator was inexperienced and should have made the proper calls which would have notified Trooper. Mathis that the driver-violator was not the owner of the stopped vehicle.
Recommendation Dismiss appeal; the suspension was for just cause. DONE and ORDERED this 4th day of August, 1977, in Tallahassee, Florida. DELPHENE C. STRICKLAND Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Carlton Building, Room 530 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 4th day of August, 1977. COPIES FURNISHED: Mrs. Dorothy Roberts Appeals Coordinator Department of Administration Room 530, Carlton Building Tallahassee, Florida 32304 C. W. Mathis 1409 Lukay Street Ocoee, Florida 32761 Enoch J. Whitney, Esquire Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Neil Kirkmam Building Tallahassee, Florida 32304
The Issue Whether Respondent's sign violates Florida Law as alleged in the Administrative Complaint and, if so, what further action is required.
Findings Of Fact At all times material hereto, Respondent was the owner of an unpermitted sign erected within 25 feet of the intersection of Krome Avenue and State Road 997 in Dade County, Florida. State Road 997 is within the State Highway System and is a federally aided primary highway and the property on which the sign is located is zoned "GU Intrem," an agricultural zoning classification of Dade County, Florida. On March 21, 1989, the sign in question was posted with a violation sticker indicating that the sign was subject to removal by the Department after thirty days from the date of the posted notice. Also, a written violation notice dated March 21, 1989, was sent to Respondent. Prior to the hearing, the face of the sign was removed by Respondent and the structure supporting the sign was taken down by Petitioner. Respondent admitted that she did not have a permit for the sign and that one was required. The sign at issue did not qualify for a sign permit nor for any exemption from the requirement therefor. Further, the property on which the sign was located was in an ineligible zoning classification. The removal of Respondent's sign was appropriate.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Department of Transportation issue a Final Order providing that the subject sign was in violation of the permitting requirements of Chapter 479, Florida Statutes, and that the removal of the subject sign was proper. DONE and ENTERED this 7th day of August, 1989, in Tallahassee, Florida. JANE C. HAYMAN Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 7th day of August, 1989. APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER, IN CASE NO. 89-2697T Petitioner's proposed findings of fact are addressed as follows: Addressed, in part, in paragraph 1. Addressed in paragraph 2; in part, subordinate to the result reached. Addressed in conclusions of law. COPIES FURNISHED: Vernon L. Whittier, Jr., Esquire Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Building, M.S. 58 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458 Rosa Thomas Thomas' Promises Farms 18990 S.W. 152nd Street Miami, Florida 33187 Mr. Kaye N. Henderson Secretary Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Building, M.S. 58 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458 Thomas H. Bateman, III Genera1 Counsel Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Building, M.S. 58 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0458
Conclusions This matter came before the Department for entry of a Final Order pursuant to an order closing the file at the Division of Administrative Hearings. The record reflects that the parties have settled their dispute and entered into a Settlement Agreement. Having reviewed the stipulation and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, it is therefore ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that: The Settlement Agreement entered into between the parties dated January 14, 2010, a copy of which is attached, is approved and incorporated into this Final Order. The parties are directed to comply with its terms, DONE AND ORDERED this 5 day of February, 2010, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. yf) SANDRA C. LAMBERT, Director Division of Driver Licenses Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Neil Kirkman Building 2900 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Driver Licenses this 4442 day of February, 2010. + NOTICE OF APPEAL RIGHTS Judicial review of this order may be had pursuant to section 120.68, Florida Statutes, in the District Court of Appeal for the First District, State of Florida, or in any other district court of appeal of this state in an appellate district where a party resides. In order to initiate such review, one copy of the notice of appeal must be filed with the Department and the other copy of the notice of appeal, together with the filing fee, must be filed with the court within thirty days of the filing date of this order as set out above, pursuant to Rules of Appellate Procedure. Copies furnished: Judson M. Chapman, Esquire Senior Assistant General Counsel Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Neil Kirkman Building, Rm. A-432 2900 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0504 Frederick C. Morello, Esquire 111 North Frederick Ave., 2" Floor Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 James H. Peterson, II Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060
The Issue Whether the subject sign, owned by Calusa Campground Condominium Association, Inc. (Calusa), is illegally erected because it is (1) located in the right-of-way of the Florida Department of Transportation (the Department) on U.S. Highway 1 in Monroe County, Florida, and/or (2) it does not have a required permit.
Findings Of Fact The Department is an agency of the State of Florida responsible for regulating outdoor advertising signs within 660 feet of certain road systems, including federal-aid primary highways. Calusa is the owner of the subject sign, which is located in Monroe County, Florida, on U.S. Highway 1. The subject sign is located in the Department's right- of-way. U.S. Highway 1 in Monroe County is a federal-aid primary highway, and it has been designated as a scenic highway. With the exception of an "on-premises sign," a permit issued by the Department is required for signs located within 660 feet of a federal-primary highway. The subject sign is not an "on-premises sign." A permit is required for the subject sign. The subject sign does not have the required permit. Calusa was issued a "Notice of Violation - Illegally Erected Sign in Right of Way" on February 23, 2011, and an "Amended Notice of Violation - Illegally Erected Sign in Right of Way" on July 10, 2012. The violations were based on two reasons: (1) the sign lacks required permits, and (2) the sign is unlawfully in the Department's right-of-way. Both notices contained the following: This sign is illegal and must be removed within 10 days from the date of this Notice, pursuant to s. 479.107(1), F.S. If it is not removed within that time, it will be removed and disposed of by the Department without further notice. PLEASE NOTE: If the sign is removed by the Department, all costs associated with the removal will be assessed against the sign owner. . . .
Recommendation Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Florida Department of Transportation enter a final order finding that the subject sign is illegal and ordering its removal. DONE AND ENTERED this 6th day of November, 2012, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. CLAUDE B. ARRINGTON Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 6th day of November, 2012. COPIES FURNISHED: Kimberly Clark Menchion, Esquire Department of Transportation Mail Station 58 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Michael Healy, Esquire The Silver Law Group, P.A. Post Office Box 710 Islamorada, Florida 33036 Deanna Hurt, Clerk of Agency Proceedings Department of Transportation Mail Station 58 Haydon Burns Building 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Gerald B. Curington, General Counsel Department of Transportation Mail Station 58 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Ananth Prasad, Secretary Department of Transportation Mail Station 57 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399
The Issue The central issue in this case is whether Respondent is guilty of the violation alleged in the Notice of Illegal Sign dated September 17, 1987; and, if so, what penalty should be imposed.
Findings Of Fact Based upon the testimony of the witnesses and the documentary evidence received at the hearing, I make the following findings of fact: On September 17, 1987, the Department issued a Notice of Illegal Sign on Right-of-Way for an outdoor sign located in the water and adjacent to U.S. 1 approximately 1.39 miles north of Jewfish Creek Bridge, Monroe County, Florida. The sign in dispute was visible from the road and stated the following: Egan's Waterway Restaurant Gas Good Fast Food. Tourist Info M M 107 1/2 (Right after bridge) The sign did not have a state outdoor advertising permit attached to it. The sign was located approximately 85 feet from the centerline of the road. U.S. 1, also known as State Road 5, is designated as a federal aid primary highway in Dade and Monroe Counties. Egan Adams is manager and president of Egan's Waterway. Mr. Adams admitted he is the owner of the sign in dispute. The sign was mounted on a pontoon-type vessel and was anchored in knee- deep water. The vessel had been registered as a boat and identified by Florida 7454 FG. Prior to issuing the Notice of Illegal Sign, the Department's employee had warned Mr. Adams that the sign was located within the right-of-way. On or about September 19, 1987, Mr. Adams moved the sign further away from the road and removed the orange violation sticker which had been posted on it. The right-of-way in the vicinity of the sign in dispute is 200 feet wide. The centerline of the right-of-way corresponds to the centerline of the road.
Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED: That the Department of Transportation enter a Final Order assessing a fine of $75.00 against Egan Adams pursuant to Section 479.107, Florida Statutes (1987). DONE and RECOMMENDED this 1st day of April, 1988, in Tallahassee, Florida. JOYOUS D. PARRISH Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The Oakland Building 2009 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 1st day of April, 1988. APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER, CASE NO. 87-4495T Rulings on Petitioner's proposed findings of fact: Paragraph 1 is accepted. Paragraphs 2-6 are accepted. The first sentence of paragraph 7 is accepted. The rest of paragraph 7 is rejected as a conclusion of law, argumentative. Paragraphs 8 and 9 are accepted. COPIES FURNISHED: Charles G. Gardner, Esquire 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Egan Adams Manager/President of Egan's Waterway Box 2, M.M. 107.5 Key Largo, Florida 33037 Kaye N. Henderson, Secretary Department of Transportation Haydon Burns Building 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450
