SCTC News Bulletins!
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RENEW YOUR BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT ONLINE!
The office of the Seminole County Tax Collector now accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express for
business owners to renew their Business Tax Receipt online. Click here to visit our online payments section.
Vehicle and Vessel News 
NEW LAWS AIMED AT BOATING SAFETY AND PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES ARE IN EFFECT
Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, any boater born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 will be required to take an approved boating safety course and possess an FWC-issued boating safety identification card. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 and purchases a boat will have 90 days from the purchase date to obtain a boating safety identification card.
Laws regarding titling, numbering and registration now apply to any vessel operated, used or stored on state waters except vessels lawfully stored at a dock or marina.
To learn more about Florida’s boating requirements, visit MyFWC.com/Boating.
SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE GIFT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
On behalf of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles we are pleased to inform you about an exciting opportunity for your organization as well as for Florida motorists. The Department has authorized the issuance of specialty license plate gift certificates. This new program allows anyone to purchase a specialty license plate as a gift for a motor vehicle registrant.
This new gift certificate program works much like any gift certificate. Upon payment of the statutorily authorized annual use fee, a gift certificate may now be purchased at an authorized motor vehicle office (e.g., state motor vehicle office, local tax collector office, or licensed tag agent) for any of the specialty license plates currently available in Florida. At the time of purchase, a receipt will be provided and a credit will be issued in the name of the gift recipient, which can then be redeemed by the recipient at the time the specialty license plate is purchased. You do not have to purchase and redeem the certificate at the same office. The gift certificate is not required to be presented to redeem the credit, just proper identification (i.e. Florida driver’s license or ID card). Once a gift certificate is purchased, the money is given to the sponsoring plate entity as specified by Florida Statutes. Therefore, refunds are not available for gift certificates.
We believe that specialty license plates will make great gifts, and that this new program will provide a great opportunity to promote the many causes and organizations represented by the plates. Please remember that in Florida, most registrations are renewed on the birth date of the registrant, so these gift certificates can also be a great birthday gift.
NEED YOUR TITLE TODAY?
Just visit any one of our 5 office locations for an original title, title transfer or duplicate title while you wait. There is an additional fee of $10.00 for this service.
If you are not the owner of the vehicle, a notarized Power of Attorney form is required.
TWO YEAR REGISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT
Effective January 1, 2008, most Florida residents are able to purchase an extended registration for their vehicles.
This extended registration period is for twenty-four (24) months. The fee is double the regular twelve (12) month fee and
non-refundable for any unused portion under any circumstances.
Hunting News
DEER HUNTERS WILL NEED NEW PERMIT THIS SEASON
Beginning with the upcoming 2010-2011 hunting season, anyone hunting deer in Florida will need a deer permit. The new permit costs $5 and is available now for purchase.
Those with a Sportsman’s License, Gold Sportsman’s License, 64 or Older Sportsman’s License, Military Gold Sportsman’s License, Lifetime Hunting License or Lifetime Sportsman’s License will not need to purchase the new deer permit, because it already is included in each of these licenses, even if they were purchased before July 1.
However, the deer permit is not included with a hunting license, combination hunting/freshwater fishing license, combination hunting/freshwater/saltwater license or a five-year hunting license. Anyone hunting deer with either of these licenses must also buy the $5 deer permit to hunt deer legally.
Funds generated by the new permit will be earmarked to support deer management and deer research. Funds also will support ongoing efforts to monitor Florida’s deer herd for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a “Strategic Plan for Deer Management in Florida: 2008-2018” in February 2008. Critical to success of this plan is establishing deer management units and a harvest-reporting system; both have been identified as top priorities by the agency and its stakeholders to better manage deer.
People can purchase all permits and related licenses from their county tax collector, retail outlets that sell fishing and hunting supplies, online at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com or by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356).
ALLIGATOR HUNTERS MUST RESUBMIT APPLICATIONS
The alligator hunt applications submitted for Phase I may not have been recorded correctly.
While preparing for the Phase I random drawing, FWC staff discovered a problem. Active Outdoors, the third party vendor that hosts the FWC’s Total Licensing System, confirmed that there was a coding error on their end that caused harvest period choices in many cases to be recorded incorrectly in the data file.
FWC and Active Outdoors combined staff tried all efforts to resurrect the original harvest period choices, but were unsuccessful. This means that the original applications received must be set aside and new applications submitted.
Active Outdoors has corrected the problem in their system, and Phase I Alligator Permit Application period has been re-scheduled to start June 1 at 10:00 AM EDT and go through 11:59 PM EDT June 14.
Anyone who submitted an application will need to re-submit their application either online at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com or at any tax collector office.
An e-mail containing this information has been sent to all who applied originally and have a valid e-mail address on file. Those without a valid e-mail address will be receiving a hard copy letter.
SPORTSMEN SAVE MONEY IF THEY BUY EARLY
There will be an increase in the cost of some of Florida’s hunting and saltwater fishing permits, beginning July 1. If sportsmen act now, however, they can beat the price increase.
On July 1, 2010, the cost of a turkey permit will go up from $5 to $10 for Florida residents and from $100 to $125 for nonresidents. In addition, Florida waterfowl permits will increase as well, from $3 to $5.
The cost of two saltwater fishing permits also will go up July 1. The snook permit will increase from $2 to $10, and lobster permits will increase from $2 to $5.
Until July 1, though, sportsmen can buy all of these permits at the current prices, and all permits are valid for one year after the date of purchase.
There also is a new deer permit that will be required whenever hunting deer in Florida, beginning during the upcoming 2010-2011 hunting season. The permit will cost $5 and will not be available for purchase until July 1.
Those with a Sportsman’s License, Gold Sportsman’s License, 64 or Older Sportsman’s License, Military Gold Sportsman’s License, Lifetime Hunting License or Lifetime Sportsman’s License will not need to purchase the new deer permit because it has already been included in each of these licenses, even if they were purchased before July 1.
However, the deer permit is not included with a hunting license, combination hunting/freshwater fishing license, combination hunting/freshwater/saltwater license or a five-year hunting license. Anyone hunting deer with either of these licenses must also buy the $5 deer permit to hunt deer legally.
All permits and related licenses can be purchased at county tax collectors’ offices, retail outlets that sell fishing and hunting supplies, online at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com or by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356).
APPLY FOR ALLIGATOR HUNTING PERMITS ON MAY 5
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will begin accepting applications May 5 for a chance to obtain highly coveted permits to participate in the statewide alligator harvest.
In Phase I, applications will be accepted for a random drawing from 10 a.m. (EDT) May 5 through 11:59 p.m. (EDT) May 18. Approximately 6,000 alligator harvest permits will be available.
During the Phase I random drawing, each person can submit only one no-cost application, which provides the option of prioritizing up to five hunt area and period choices. All those seeking a harvest permit must be at least 18 years of age by Aug. 15. A permit allows the harvest of two alligators on a designated area.
People can submit applications at any county tax collector’s office, license agent (retail outlet that sells hunting and fishing licenses), and at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com. Drawing results will be posted at MyFWC.com/Hunting; click on “Limited Entry Hunts,” then “Check Permit Availability and Drawing Results.”
Successful applicants must make their trapping license fee payments at the application locations list above by June 7.
Any permits remaining after June 7 will be offered during Phase II on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. (EDT) June 9 through 11:59 p.m. (EDT) June15. Those who purchased a permit during Phase I may not apply. Applicants in Phase II are limited to one permit.
If permits are available after Phase II, the FWC will offer them during Phase III on a first-come, first-served basis, while they last, beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) June 16. People who purchased a permit in Phase I or II may apply for additional permits during Phase III.
Successful applicants must submit payment for an alligator trapping license and two alligator harvest tags, or provide proof of a valid alligator trapping license (must be valid through Nov. 1) and pay the fee for two harvest tags. No other hunting licenses are required.
The cost for a resident alligator trapping license and alligator harvest tags is $271.50, and nonresidents pay $1,021.50. The cost for each additional alligator hunting permit is $61.50, regardless of residency. All fees are nonrefundable. Tags and permits are nontransferable.
An alligator trapping agent license is also available for $51.50; it allows the license holder to assist permitted trappers in taking alligators.
The alligator hunting season will run 11 consecutive weeks from Aug. 15 through Nov. 1.
To educate participants on the how-to’s and rules and regulations of the hunts, the FWC offers a no-cost, three-hour training and orientation program, which is held at various locations throughout the state. Permit recipients are not required to attend, but the FWC strongly encourages first-time participants to go. Courses will be offered in July and August, and permit holders will receive, by mail, permit packages listing dates and locations.
For more information about these alligator hunts, visit MyFWC.com/Gators.
DOVE CLUB PERMITS
Five special-opportunity dove fields will be open to the public this season through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s special-opportunity Dove Club Program.
Sportsmen can purchase Dove Club permits by submitting a completed Special-Opportunity Dove Club Permit Worksheet to any county tax collector's office or authorized license agent. Permits also are available online at www.wildlifelicense.com or by calling toll-free 1-888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356). Worksheets are on the Web at MyFWC.com/hunting under “Limited Entry Hunts.”
Dove Club permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and as long as they remain.
The permit allows one adult and one youth (under age 16) to participate in all scheduled hunts (up to eight days) for a designated dove field. These Saturday half-day hunts cost $150 and enable both the permit holder and youth to take daily bag limits of birds.
The five special-opportunity dove fields are:
- Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Martin County
- Caravelle Ranch WMA (Putnam County)
- Combs Farm Public Small-Game Hunting Area (PSGHA) (Baker County)
- Hilochee WMA (Lake County)
- North Newberry PSGHA (Alachua County).
Dove hunting opportunities are in high demand, and these special hunts provide the perfect social setting for friends and family to hunt together. Interested hunters are encouraged to purchase permits early because the most popular fields sell out fast, and hunters who purchase these season-long permits save more than half the cost of buying individual daily dove permits for the season.
Daily dove permits cost $35 and enable one adult and one youth (under age 16) to hunt together on one half-day hunt but allows only one bag limit of birds between the two hunters.
For more information on these great public land dove hunting opportunities, click on MyFWC.com/dove.
RESIDENT MILITARY GOLD SPORTSMAN'S LICENSE
In appreciation of our residents who are serving or have served in the armed forces, the Resident Military Gold Sportsman's License will be available for purchase at tax collector’s offices only .It will have the same privileges as the current Resident Gold Sportsman's License, but at a reduced cost, and it can only be purchased by Florida residents who are either active or retired military.This license may not be purchased by military dependents .The Resident Military Gold Sportsman's License is good for one year from the selected start date and will include the following privileges: Hunting, Saltwater and Freshwater Fishing Licenses and Wildlife Management Area, Archery, Crossbow, Muzzleloading Gun, Turkey and Florida Waterfowl, Snook and Crawfish Permits. The cost is $20.00.
You must provide a valid Florida driver’s license or military orders showing that you are stationed in Florida as proof of residency and one of the ID cards referenced (white, blue or red) as proof of active or retired status.
Fresh and Saltwater Fishing News
NEW RED GROUPER, DOLPHIN AND WAHOO RULES NOW IN EFFECT
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds anglers that new rules are now in
effect to manage red grouper, dolphin and Wahoo.The daily recreational bag limit for red grouper now is two fish per person (within the five-fish aggregate
grouper limit) in Gulf of Mexico state waters. This limit also applies in Gulf federal waters. Florida state
waters extend nine nautical miles offshore in the gulf, and federal waters extend beyond state waters.
The new limit on recreational red grouper harvest is intended to help rebuild red grouper stocks in the gulf.
The minimum size limit for red grouper remains at 20 inches total length, and the daily recreational bag
limit in Atlantic Ocean state waters is still five fish per person (under the five-grouper aggregate limit).
In addition, new management rules are in place for dolphin and Wahoo. These rules are intended to be consistent with recently implemented regulations for dolphin and Wahoo in Atlantic Ocean federal waters,
which were developed to prevent over-fishing of these species. The FWC has also implemented other
measures to protect dolphin and Wahoo in state waters.
The new rules:
- Designate dolphin and Wahoo as restricted species.
- Establish a 20-inch fork length minimum size limit for all harvest of dolphin on Florida's Atlantic coast.
- Establish a statewide maximum recreational harvest limit of 60 dolphin per vessel (except 10 dolphin per paying
passenger on for-hire vessels) - Establish a statewide daily two-fish recreational bag limit and a 500-pound commercial daily vessel limit for Wahoo.
- Require commercial vessels, harvesting dolphin and Wahoo on the Atlantic coast, to have a federal permit.
- Prohibit the sale of recreationally caught dolphin or Wahoo (except qualified for-hire vessels may sell recreationally
harvested dolphin). - Require all dolphin and Wahoo to be landed in a whole condition.
Other FWC rules that continue to apply for dolphin include prohibiting the commercial harvest and sale of dolphin less than 20 inches fork length, a 10-fish daily bag limit for recreational harvest of dolphin and limiting dolphin harvest to hook and line, long lines (outside of state waters) and spearing.
FWC APPROVES NEW RULES FOR STONE CRAB AND BLUE CRAB
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a series of rules regarding the
stone crab and blue crab fisheries.
The new rules prohibit blue crab trapping beyond three miles from shore in the area north and west of the
Suwannee River Sept. 20 - Oct. 4 each year. Commissioners approved the action to prevent use of blue crab
traps to target stone crabs prior to the start of the stone crab trap soak season, which will begin Oct. 5.
The rules also prohibit the use of all traps in the stone crab-shrimp trawl seasonal closure areas in Citrus and
Hernando counties where stone crab traps are not allowed during certain times each year. These closure
areas were originally developed to eliminate conflicts between shrimp and stone crab fishermen in these
counties, and the new rule is intended to ensure fishermen will not be able to avoid compliance with area
season closures by using trap gear for other fisheries.
Another new rule repeals an obsolete law that limits the number of stone crab traps that fishermen can use from
vessels in Citrus, Dixie, Levy and Taylor counties.
In addition, new rules extend the Stone Crab Advisory Board through June 30, 2008 as an advisory board only
and adjust the board’s membership qualifications and prohibit partial payment of stone crab trap certificate fees.
