§ 14-6. Objects of historical, cultural or archaeological value.

(a)

Purpose. The purpose of this section is to preserve and protect objects of intrinsic historical, cultural or archaeological value in Lake County.

(b)

Definitions. When used within this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)

Object of historical, cultural or archaeological value means any object of past human life, activities or culture which is of historical, cultural or archaeological significance, including but not limited to artifacts, specimens, relics, physical remains, ruins, coins, arrowheads, inscriptions, shards, pottery, basketry, bottles, weapons, weapon projectiles, tools, and structures or portions thereof.

(2)

Person means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, company, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality, public corporation or any other legal or commercial entity.

(c)

Prohibited activity. It is a violation of this section for any person to excavate, appropriate, injure, disturb, probe, remove or attempt to remove, deface, damage, loot, destroy, or otherwise alter any object of historical, cultural or archaeological value located on, under or upon any land within Lake County owned or controlled by another person without the express written permission of the owner or their designee.

(d)

Penalties.

(1)

Criminal penalties. The Sheriff of Lake County, Florida and his or her deputy sheriffs are hereby authorized and empowered to investigate and to arrest any person when there is probable cause to believe that person is violating this section. Pursuant to F.S. § 125.69, any person who violates this section shall be subject to prosecution in the name of the state in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted, and upon conviction, such person shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(2)

Code enforcement special master. The Lake County Code Enforcement Special Master shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this section.

(3)

A violation of this section which causes damage, injury, annoyance or inconvenience to the public health, safety or welfare is hereby declared a public nuisance, and may be subject to abatement by a restraining order or injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. Each separate occurrence shall be a separate violation.

(4)

The penalties listed herein shall in no way limit or supersede any other remedy or penalty available at law or in equity, including, but not limited to, criminal theft, civil theft, and civil restitution.

(Ord. No. 2011-37, § 2, 7-19-11)