Related videos:
Florida drivers face much harsher penalties for altering, manipulating, or installing devices that modify vehicle plates starting October 1, when Bill 253 (HB 253), known as "Motor Vehicle Offenses," came into effect.
The new regulation makes it a criminal offense, rather than just a traffic violation, to make any changes that affect the legibility or appearance of the license plate.
The law prohibits changing the color of the license plate, applying coatings, aerosols, dyes, or films, using transparent or tinted covers, installing lights that point towards the plate, or placing mechanisms that flip or hide it.
The purchase, possession, manufacture, or distribution of devices designed to conceal it is also punishable, as well as the use of these devices to commit crimes.
Penalties range from 60 days in jail and fines of $500 for the manipulation or possession of devices, to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for manufacturing or selling them.
If used to facilitate crimes, the charge can escalate to a third-degree felony, with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of $5,000.
Authorities insist that drivers must keep their license plates clean, visible, well-lit, and free of any accessories that obstruct numbers or stickers.
Increase in violations and prior state operation
The legal crackdown comes after a significant increase in drivers altering license plates in Florida.
In November 2024, the state Patrol (FHP) launched an operation against altered license plates.
Lieutenant Alex Camacho warned that a vehicle with an illegal license plate could be confiscated and towed, in addition to receiving a fine. He stated that the problem is "much greater than people think."
Fines for violations had increased by more than 98% in a year, with around 80% concentrated in South Florida. Out of 893 state violations, 702 occurred in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.
The official also noted that businesses advertising illegal license plate personalization services had proliferated on social media, and that the FHP's Investigative Office was already monitoring those activities.
Another debate: the Lilly Glaubach Law and the proposal for dual enrollment
The adjustment of the regulations comes after another unsuccessful attempt to strengthen the rules to improve road safety in Florida.
In December of last year, the SB-92 project, "Lilly Glaubach Act," was introduced, named in memory of a 13-year-old girl from Tampa who was fatally struck by a vehicle while returning home from school.
The proposal aimed to require repair shops to request a written accident report if the damages exceeded $5,000, in order to detect hit-and-run drivers.
It also required two mandatory license plates -one front and one rear- to facilitate the identification of vehicles involved in hit-and-run incidents.
State Senator Joe Gruters defended the measure, arguing that its aim was to prevent claims under false identities; however, despite its initial progress in committee, the bill did not receive final approval.
More changes in the vehicle system
The new regulation on the handling of license plates coincides with two other laws recently approved:
HB 403: expands the catalog of specialized license plates, with annual fees ranging from 15 to 20 dollars that will fund improvements in road infrastructure and registration systems.
HB 431: allows individuals with medically certified disabilities to register their condition on their identification to facilitate their interaction with authorities in emergency situations.
As the state increases criminal penalties to protect the readability of license plates, Florida continues to debate pending changes such as dual registration, highlighting that vehicle control—from identification to public safety—has become a priority issue within the legal system.
Filed under: