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State representative Doug Bankson, sponsor of statute 320.061, announced that there is already legislative text to correct the wording of the law that since October has made certain alterations to vehicle registrations a misdemeanor.
The law has, in just a few months, resulted in a significant number of fines, criminal charges, and even arrests for the use of decorative frames.
In a statement, Bankson assured that the regulation “never aimed to address or affect registration frameworks” and that, upon realizing the confusion it caused, he began working with law enforcement and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) to clarify its scope.
"The bill regarding license plate frames never aimed to address or affect the frameworks of license plates," he stated in remarks reported by the local press.
"As soon as I realized the confusion, I started working immediately, first with law enforcement at the state level and with the FLHSMV, to correct the error for both law enforcement and the public, and also to amend the wording of the statutes," he added.
The legislator detailed that they currently have "legislative text to correct this misconception and provide clarity so that no one is unjustly detained or fined for registration frames."
The proposal arises after months of contentious application of the law, which elevated to a misdemeanor—punishable by up to 60 days in jail—a violation related to any element that "interferes with the ability to record any characteristic or detail on the license plate."
An ambiguous wording and criminal consequences
Since its enactment in October, the regulation has raised questions among both drivers and police agencies.
The central question has been what is precisely considered a "feature or detail" whose obstruction turns the fact into a crime.
The case of Demarquize Dawson highlighted the issue. He was arrested because the frame of his rental car partially covered the letter "S" on the license plate.
Later, the Davie police dismissed the arrest and acknowledged that the initial wording of the law was "vague and prone to misinterpretation."
In southern Florida, the law firm Ticket Toro has documented the impact of the regulation.
Its founder, lawyer Charlie Whorton, indicated that since its implementation, around 1,000 drivers have been fined for this reason.
Using data obtained from cuts, the office created an interactive map that shows how citations are distributed by jurisdiction.
According to the lawyers, the application has been uneven.
A driver can operate within a city with a frame and face criminal charges, while in another nearby jurisdiction, they receive no penalty.
"We are not against the law that penalizes the person who wants to cover the license plate... intentionally and on purpose," affirmed lawyer Christine Whorton.
The question, explained her colleague Anna Quesada, is that if the regulation is applied "at a criminal level," it must be unequivocal.
"We are saying that if they are going to be enforced, and enforced at a criminal level, these laws must have specific requirements and be clearly articulated so that all of us who drive in the state of Florida understand what is legal and what is not legal," he pointed out.
Quesada reported that one of his clients faced misdemeanor charges for a frame installed by the dealership itself.
After successfully getting a judge to dismiss the case, they are seeking to take it to an appeals court, considering it "a matter of great public importance that requires a definitive resolution."
The official clarification: Allowed markers, but without obstructions
Amid the controversy, the FLHSMV issued a formal clarification in December: license plate frames remain legal as long as they do not obstruct essential elements.
“After widespread confusion among online users, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a clarification,” reported NBC Miami, emphasizing that the frames remain legal “as long as they do not cover key identifiers.”
The agency specified that they cannot be covered:
-The alphanumeric identifier (letters and numbers).
-The registration sticker located in the upper right corner.
The law also prohibits changing the original color of the plate, applying aerosols or dyes, using clear or tinted covers, installing LED lights that shine directly on it, or using mechanisms that conceal or alter the visibility of the license plate.
Sanctions can range from fines of 500 dollars for covering or modifying a license plate to 5,000 dollars and five years in prison if it is proven that the accessory was used to commit or facilitate a crime.
Drivers in Uncertainty
While the amendment announced by Bankson is being processed, some drivers continue to face consequences.
Iñigo Aldecoa received a fine of 176 dollars for a frame that he said was put in place by the dealership when he purchased his vehicle.
"I just bought this car and literally the dealership was the one that put this frame on for me," he explained.
In cities like Miami Beach -which, according to the map created by Ticket Toro, leads in these violations- enforcement has been particularly strict.
In light of the uncertainty, the police chief of Doral, Edwin López, offered a practical recommendation: to remove the frame if there are doubts about its legality.
With the promise of legislative correction underway, the debate now revolves around whether the amendment will successfully eliminate the ambiguity that allowed a common accessory to, in some cases, become a criminal matter.
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