§ 102-92. Fortunetellers and similar occupations.

(a)

Every fortuneteller, clairvoyant, palmist, astrologer, phrenologist, character reader, spirit medium, absent treatment healer or mental healer and every person engaged in any occupation of a similar nature shall pay a license tax of $225.00. This section does not apply to Christian churches who heal the sick by prayers or regularly ordained ministers of churches who are members of the Florida State Spiritualist Ministerial Association whose charter is filed in the Library of Congress and on record in the state capitol in Tallahassee.

(b)

No license to engage in the occupation of fortunetelling or any other pursuit for which a license is required by this section shall be issued to any person unless such person holds a permit given by the board of county commissioners. No permit shall be issued until after the following conditions are fulfilled:

(1)

The applicant shall be resident of the state.

(2)

The applicant shall establish good moral character.

(3)

The application, with a recent photograph of the applicant, shall be presented to the county administrator, who shall conduct an investigation and examination of the applicant and report the results to the board of county commissioners at its next regular or special meeting.

(4)

The board of county commissioners shall consider the application and the report of the county administrator and order the permit either issued or denied. The order of the board of county commissioners shall be made in triplicate, with the original given to the applicant, one copy retained by the clerk and one by the tax collector.

(5)

All county law enforcement officers shall aid and assist the county administrator in conducting the examination of any applicant for the permit required for this subsection.

(c)

Every licensee to whom this section is applicable shall at all times while engaging in the occupation for which licensed display at his place of business both his license and the permit. Failure or refusal to do so shall be prima facie evidence of engaging in such occupation without a license.

(d)

Anyone guilty of engaging in any occupation regulated by this section without a license and the permit required in this subsection, or who shall obtain any such permit or license by fraud or deceit shall be guilty of an offense.

(Code 1970, § 16½-11(l), (m); Ord. No. 75-06, § 11, 2-25-75; Ord. No. 82-01, § 1, 1-19-82; Ord. No. 82-19, § 3, 8-24-82; Ord. No. 87-13, § 1, 4-7-87)