Fla. Stat. § 322.71

How Florida classifies this section

s. 322.71 is not within § 318.14(1)'s noncriminal-infraction list

This section is outside the list § 318.14(1) makes noncriminal, and outside chapter 316 — so the civil pay/school/hearing election does not attach to it by that route. Charges under it proceed under the charged statute's own terms (many are criminal traffic offenses). The verbatim text below, when in the corpus, is what controls; a licensed attorney is the right reader for a charge in this lane.

The statute, verbatim

322.71 Investigations; examinations; proceedings; subpoenas and other process; witnesses; oaths; rules. — (1) The department may conduct investigations and examinations of any person suspected of violating or of having violated any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted or order issued under this chapter. (2) For purposes of any investigation or examination conducted pursuant to this section, the department may exercise the power of subpoena and the powers to administer oaths or affirmations, to examine witnesses, to require affidavits, to take depositions, and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents, records, and other evidence. Such subpoenas may be served by an authorized representative of the department. (3) If a person refuses to testify; to produce books, papers, documents, or records; or to otherwise obey the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued under subsection (2), the department may petition a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the person’s residence or principal place of business is located, upon which the court must issue an order requiring such person to obey the subpoena or show cause for failing to obey the subpoena. Unless the person shows sufficient cause for failing to obey the subpoena, the court must direct the person to obey the subpoena. Failure to comply with such order constitutes contempt of court. (4) For the purpose of any investigation, examination, or proceeding initiated by the department under this chapter, the department may designate agents to serve subpoenas and other process and to administer oaths or affirmations. (5) Information received by the department as a result of an investigation or examination conducted pursuant to this section is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution until the investigation or examination ceases to be active or administrative action taken by the department has concluded or been made part of a hearing or court proceeding. The department may release information that is made confidential and exempt under this subsection in furtherance of its official duties and responsibilities or, if released to another governmental agency, in the furtherance of that agency’s official duties and responsibilities. This subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2026, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature. (6) The department may adopt rules to administer this section. History. — s. 7, ch. 2021-187; s. 4, ch. 2021-237.

sha256 db0db81d08f5056f6a78d717f868303a… · 2025 Fla. Stat., dual fetch-path pipeline · permanent corpus page →

Decoded against the 2025 Florida Statutes as ingested — dual fetch-path verified, hash-pinned. Session laws amend sections on their own effective dates; the 2026 Laws of Florida are indexed as the corpus's overlay.

History. — s. 7, ch. 2021-187; s. 4, ch. 2021-237.