PSA: Florida's new License Plate Law

[ChrisFL]

For those who haven't heard, Florida has decided to get super confusing about license plate frames and what is now considered illegal and were initially extremely very vague.

One man was arrested because his RENTAL car had a license plate frame that obscured the "S" in the bottom of the plate where it shows "Sunshine State".

Anyway, they've since SORT OF clarified the law and that as long as the numbers and the registration date/year are clearly visible then it's MAYBE ok.

I've decided to just remove mine anyway to be completely safe, but driving around...90% of cars have seem to have license plate frames on them. I've also heard this is an attempt to allow Flock Cameras to increase their surveillance activity which is another whole discussion.

 

[BrianL]

One man was arrested because his RENTAL car had a license plate frame that obscured the "S" in the bottom of the plate where it shows "Sunshine State".

He was actually arrested for that? Not just a ticket (not that it should even be that)? That's terrible.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

He was actually arrested for that? Not just a ticket (not that it should even be that)? That's terrible.

Apparently that was part of the updated law "What’s also new about this law is the penalty. It went from a non-criminal traffic infraction to a second-degree misdemeanor, which could mean 60 days in jail and a $500 fine."

So while the arrest itself was not considered legal because the license plate issue was clarified it does mean that actual infractions can result in an arrest and jail time.

 

[HopperFan]

He was actually arrested for that? Not just a ticket (not that it should even be that)? That's terrible.

"Yes, drivers are being arrested in Florida for license plate violations, especially since a new law (HB 253) took effect October 1, 2025, making it a second-degree misdemeanor (up to $500 fine/60 days jail) to obscure plates with frames, covers, or stickers, though officers are currently focused on education, with one man recently jailed over a frame covering half the "S" in "Sunshine State," causing controversy and apology from police."

Numerous reports of people being pulled over for ridiculous cause. One woman said the toll booths read her plate just fine but they pulled her over claiming she was obscuring her tag. I just love that the state of FL has made this such a priority while home insurance is drowning people, home values are rapidly declining and real estate taxes are so high.

I have plastic covers on both plates, mostly because my front plate is a collectible and I want to make it harder to remove. I went ahead and removed mine from the back and made sure the frame (which keeps my plate from flopping and getting bent) didn't cover anything important.

Lesson ~ whether you drive your own car OR RENT, make sure there is NOTHING covered on the plate.

 

[BrianL]

"Yes, drivers are being arrested in Florida for license plate violations, especially since a new law (HB 253) took effect October 1, 2025, making it a second-degree misdemeanor (up to $500 fine/60 days jail) to obscure plates with frames, covers, or stickers, though officers are currently focused on education, with one man recently jailed over a frame covering half the "S" in "Sunshine State," causing controversy and apology from police."

Numerous reports of people being pulled over for ridiculous cause. One woman said the toll booths read her plate just fine but they pulled her over claiming she was obscuring her tag. I just love that the state of FL has made this such a priority while home insurance is drowning people, home values are rapidly declining and real estate taxes are so high.

I have plastic covers on both plates, mostly because my front plate is a collectible and I want to make it harder to remove. I went ahead and removed mine from the back and made sure the frame (which keeps my plate from flopping and getting bent) didn't cover anything important.

Lesson ~ whether you drive your own car OR RENT, make sure there is NOTHING covered on the plate.

That's just nuts! Actually, it's pretty terrifying.

 

[HopperFan]

That's just nuts! Actually, it's pretty terrifying.

Very terrifying! on many levels because it's not about the plate.

 

[ChrisFL]

He was actually arrested for that? Not just a ticket (not that it should even be that)? That's terrible.

Yep, here's a news clip

 

[goofyernmost]

From my vantage point, it seems the motto for Florida should be "FLORIDA,,, The can we get anymore foolish state".

Alarmingly, I think they can and am sure they will. Until there is a positive change in Florida, I will never spend another nickel in the place until they somehow become sane again.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

This is ridiculous. If someone has done something to tamper with or not allow the plate to be read, they should be stopped, fined, and required to fix it. But this? Don't the police have a million more important things to be monitoring and working on than this? I hear the concern about rental cars, and we'll need to double check that next time we rent. But it seems like all car dealerships put a frame around the plate for advertising. Guess they better be sure it's not covering ANYthing!

 

[leebee]

Just an excuse to stop people and check their identity...

 

[Simba's Mom]

Another reason why I'm glad that whether I'm with DH or I'm solo, always take an Uber from the airport to the hotel and don't rent a car. I imagine that if we get stopped in an Uber, it would be the Uber driver who gets arrested, not us.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Another reason why I'm glad that whether I'm with DH or I'm solo, always take an Uber from the airport to the hotel and don't rent a car. I imagine that if we get stopped in an Uber, it would be the Uber driver who gets arrested, not us.

You never know. You might be flagged as an accomplice in that situation!!!

 

[EACarlson]

One cop in Miami decided to be a jackwagon and arrest someone. I hope he sues and wins for a false arrest. But this is far from a systemic issue and certainly not something I'm going to be concerned about when I get to Orlando in two weeks.

 

[ChrisFL]

One cop in Miami decided to be a jackwagon and arrest someone. I hope he sues and wins for a false arrest. But this is far from a systemic issue and certainly not something I'm going to be concerned about when I get to Orlando in two weeks.

I have a feeling a lot of businesses are not happy about this, like car dealers, etc. and like I said, a vast majority of the cars I've seen around here have license plate frames and even though they've "clarified" it's still a bit vague IMO

 

[HopperFan]

Just an excuse to stop people and check their identity...

Law gives them just cause for …. whatever.

 

[EACarlson]

https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statute...ng=&URL=0300-0399/0320/Sections/0320.262.html
Here is the updated statute. Seems pretty clear to me.

 

[ChrisFL]

https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statute...ng=&URL=0300-0399/0320/Sections/0320.262.html
Here is the updated statute. Seems pretty clear to me.

"Covering, obscuring, or otherwise interfering with the legibility, angular visibility, or detectability of the primary features or details, including the license plate number or validation sticker, on the license plate; or
(d) Interfering with the ability to record the primary features or details, including the license plate number or validation sticker, on the license plate."

What constitutes "primary features" though? In the case above, part of the "S" in "Sunshine State was partially covered, yet that was enough to arrest the person (which is wildly insane to me)

 

[EACarlson]

"Covering, obscuring, or otherwise interfering with the legibility, angular visibility, or detectability of the primary features or details, including the license plate number or validation sticker, on the license plate; or
(d) Interfering with the ability to record the primary features or details, including the license plate number or validation sticker, on the license plate."

What constitutes "primary features" though? In the case above, part of the "S" in "Sunshine State was partially covered, yet that was enough to arrest the person (which is wildly insane to me)

To anyone with a functioning brain, primary features would be the state of issuance, identification number and registration sticker. But obviously a functioning brain is not a requirement to be a law enforcement officer in Davie, FL.

 

[hardcorestitch]

"Yes, drivers are being arrested in Florida for license plate violations, especially since a new law (HB 253) took effect October 1, 2025, making it a second-degree misdemeanor (up to $500 fine/60 days jail) to obscure plates with frames, covers, or stickers, though officers are currently focused on education, with one man recently jailed over a frame covering half the "S" in "Sunshine State," causing controversy and apology from police."

Numerous reports of people being pulled over for ridiculous cause. One woman said the toll booths read her plate just fine but they pulled her over claiming she was obscuring her tag. I just love that the state of FL has made this such a priority while home insurance is drowning people, home values are rapidly declining and real estate taxes are so high.

I have plastic covers on both plates, mostly because my front plate is a collectible and I want to make it harder to remove. I went ahead and removed mine from the back and made sure the frame (which keeps my plate from flopping and getting bent) didn't cover anything important.

Lesson ~ whether you drive your own car OR RENT, make sure there is NOTHING covered on the plate.

Another lesson… this is the Sunshine State, not the UNshine State! You’re looking for New York State or New Jersey…

 

[Genie+]

Another lesson… this is the Sunshine State, not the UNshine State! You’re looking for New York State or New Jersey…

Heyyyy I’m from NJ and we’re the Garden State Parkway State!