New Florida law on license plate frames causes confusion
CONFUSION TONIGHT OVER A NEW STATE LAW MEANT TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM OBSTRUCTING THEIR VEHICLES LICENSE PLATES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE FRAMES THEY GIVE YOU OUT A CAR DEALERSHIP OR WHAT YOU ADD FOR DECORATION OR TRAFFIC ANCHOR? YASMINE JULMISSE EXPLAINS WHAT’S ALLOWED AND WHAT BREAKS THE LAW. FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICIALS ARE CLARIFYING A LAW ABOUT THE FRAMES AROUND YOUR LICENSE PLATE. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS OR SEEN REACTION TO IT ONLINE. A LAW WENT INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST, INCREASING THE PENALTY FOR USING, QUOTE, LICENSE PLATE OBSCURING DEVICES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. DOING SO COULD RESULT IN A SECOND DEGREE MISDEMEANOR. THE GOAL TO ENSURE PLATES CAN BE READ BY TOLLS AND TRAFFIC CAMERAS SAYS THE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT. THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT AND REMOVING THEIR FRAMES AROUND THEIR LICENSE PLATES, BUT AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, DAVE KERNER, THE HEAD OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES, SENT A LETTER TO ALL FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CLARIFYING THE RULES. IT INCLUDED THIS PICTURE SHOWING THE PROPER USE OF FRAMES AND THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES. AS LONG AS THE FRAME DOES NOT COVER THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS OF YOUR PLATE NUMBER, AND AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T COVER THE DECAL ON THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER, YOUR FRAME IS OKAY. THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST THING FOR THE TOLLS AND FOR THE POLICE, AND I THINK IT’S FAIR FOR EVERYBODY, BUT NOT IF THAT’S WHAT THEY’RE SAYING. I MEAN, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE. AND OFFICIALS SAY A FRAME THAT TOUCHES THE TOP OF YOUR LICENSE PLATE IS ALSO OKAY. AS LONG AS LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE YOUR PLATE IS FROM.
A new Florida law has left drivers across the state confused about the legality of using decorative license plate frames, prompting clarification from officials. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25As of October, covering your license plate is considered a second-degree misdemeanor. This has led to uncertainty about whether frames featuring college logos or other custom designs are permissible on vehicles.In response to the confusion, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recently issued guidance to reassure drivers. The department clarified that decorative frames are allowed as long as they do not cover the alphabetical and numeric plate identifier or the decal on the top right-hand corner of the plate.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
A new Florida law has left drivers across the state confused about the legality of using decorative license plate frames, prompting clarification from officials.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
As of October, covering your license plate is considered a second-degree misdemeanor. This has led to uncertainty about whether frames featuring college logos or other custom designs are permissible on vehicles.
In response to the confusion, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recently issued guidance to reassure drivers. The department clarified that decorative frames are allowed as long as they do not cover the alphabetical and numeric plate identifier or the decal on the top right-hand corner of the plate.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.