Drivers in Florida need to think twice before putting a personal touch on their license plates. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is increasing enforcement on illegally altered tags, targeting plates that have been airbrushed, vinyl-wrapped, or otherwise modified which, could lead to a $60 fine plus additional county-set fees and three points on your license, as reported by the NBC Miami news release.
The push for greater compliance is a reaction to these customizations violating state laws requiring tags to maintain certain levels of reflectivity for safety. The Florida Highway Patrol explained that altered tags can affect the visibility of the yellow validation stickers, a critical aspect of a plate's legality. Since 2020, incidents of unlawful license plate alterations have surged over 98%, prompting this state-wide crackdown.
Section 320.061 of the Florida Statutes outlaws using altered license plates on public roads, emphasizing the legal mandate for vehicle tags to adhere to standardized safety specifications. As reported by the CBS12 news, troopers may even seize tags deemed non-compliant, forcing the owner to seek a replacement from the local tax collector's office.
