§ 15-7. Prepayment required for motor fuels.

As used in this section, prepayment means to make or tender by cash, credit card or by debit card payment to a retail service station prior to distributing motor fuel into a container or vehicle.

As used in this section, the term retail service station means a business that is engaged in the sale of motor fuels or special fuels to the public.

It shall be unlawful for an agent, attendant, employee, owner, operator or sales associate of a retail service station to allow or authorize the distribution of motor fuel without receipt of prepayment.

Every retail service station shall comply with the requirements of F.S. § 526.141, in regards to rendering assistance to physically disabled customers.

Every retail service station shall display at each self-service motor fuel pump the following notice written in English and Spanish:

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-7, CITY OF LAKE WALES CODE OF ORDINANCES, PREPAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THE PURCHASE OF MOTOR FUELS

Reports of motor fuel thefts by an agent, attendant, employee, owner, operator or sales associate of a retail service station shall be made to the police department. In addition, the person making the report shall sign a statement that the owner or operator of the retail service station will prosecute the offender for theft.

A code or law enforcement officer is authorized to issue a citation to agent, attendant, employee, owner, operator or sales associate of a retail service station when, based upon personal investigation, the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the owner or operator has committed a civil infraction in violation of this section. The to agent, attendant, employee, owner, operator or sales associate shall pay within thirty (30) days from the date a citation was issued a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) to the police department in full satisfaction of the violation. If the to agent, attendant, employee, owner, operator or sales associate chooses to contest the citation, he or she must contact the clerk of the county court within the thirty (30) days and request a court hearing.

(Ord. No. 2007-27, § 1, 8-7-07)