§ 15-8. Fraud and retail theft prevention training required; penalties.

As used in this section, the term retail sales establishment means a business that is engaged primarily in the retail sale of consumer goods or services. Convenience stores and retail service stations are included in the definition of a retail sales establishment.

The owner or operator of a retail sales establishment shall provide proper fraud and retail theft prevention training to their agents, attendants, employees or sales associates annually.

Fraud and retail theft prevention curriculum shall be submitted in writing to the police department. The police department shall review and approve or disapprove the curriculum within thirty (30) days after receipt. Approval shall be given to a curriculum which trains and familiarizes agents, attendants, employees or sales associates with:

(1) Procedures for conducting non-cash transactions;

(2) Procedures for identifying retail theft;

(3) Procedures for identifying forged checks, drafts or money orders;

(4) Procedures for reporting crime to the Lake Wales Police Department.

Any curriculum approved by the police department shall be subject to reapproval two (2) years from the anniversary of initial approval and biennially thereafter.

Written documentation that agents, attendants, employees or sales associates of the retail sales establishment have attended and successfully completed the training shall be provided to the police department annually.

A code or law enforcement officer is authorized to issue a citation to an owner or operator of a retail sales establishment 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 person 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 person 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. 2009-19, § 1, 7-21-09)