Purchase of plastic bulk merchandise containers.

(1) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Bona fide purchaser” means a person who in good faith makes a purchase without knowledge of another person’s outstanding rights.

(b) “Noncash payment” means payment by a method other than coins or currency.

(c) “Plastic bulk merchandise container” means a plastic crate or shell used by a product manufacturer, distributor, or retailer for the bulk transportation or storage of goods, and includes a plastic pallet used as a portable platform upon which containers, products, or materials may be placed to facilitate handling.

(d) “Proof of ownership” means a bill of sale or other evidence showing that a person who claims to be the owner of an item is the bona fide purchaser who purchased the item for fair market value.

(2) A person who purchases five or more plastic bulk merchandise containers from one seller shall:

(a) Obtain from the seller proof of ownership of the containers.

(b) Maintain a record that contains the date of the transaction; the seller’s or consignee’s name, address, and telephone number; and a description of the containers, including the number of containers being sold, each container’s serial number, and other identifying marks.

(c) Verify the seller’s identity with a valid driver license or other government-issued photo identification card and maintain a copy thereof in the record of sale.

(d) Make a noncash payment for five or more plastic bulk merchandise containers and record the method of payment used in each transaction.

(3) The purchaser shall maintain required records for at least 2 years after the date of purchase or delivery, whichever is later. State attorneys of the judicial circuits in this state may inspect these records at any time upon reasonable notice.

(4)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “value” has the same meaning as provided in s. 812.012.

(b) A person who violates this section in a transaction valued at $10,000 or less commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(c) A person who violates this section in a transaction valued at more than $10,000 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(d) A person who violates this section is liable to the owner of a stolen plastic bulk merchandise container for three times the replacement value of the stolen plastic bulk merchandise container. The owner of the plastic bulk merchandise container may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover monetary damages and attorney fees and costs incurred in maintaining the action.

(5) This section does not apply to the collection, receipt, or recycling of plastic bulk merchandise containers by the operator of a waste management facility or an entity exempt from federal income tax under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.