Telemarketer tax: Florida licensure laws.

• Author: Ross, John
• Position: Citings - Brief article

IN OCTOBER police arrested Joseph Harris of Bradenton, Florida, for employing two unlicensed telemarketers at his air conditioning business. Calling people without a license is a third-degree felony in Florida, legally equivalent to cocaine possession, battery of a police officer, or burglary of an unoccupied structure. Harris faces up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

The Florida Telemarketing Act requires businesses that solicit sales over the phone to pay an annual fee of $1,5.00 and an additional $50 for each telemarketer. If salespeople use a script, it must be cleared by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The law contains 28 paragraphs of exemptions, including calls for religious, charitable, or political purposes and...