Is Your License Plate Legal? South Florida Cracks Down on Illegal Customization

Is Your License Plate Legal South Florida Cracks Down on Illegal Customization
Image: Pensacola News Journal

Florida law enforcement is taking notice of illegal customized license plates, and the Florida Highway Patrol is launching a statewide crackdown.

What’s the issue? South Florida accounts for about 80% of the infractions.

Modified license plates were as noticeable as the expensive cars themselves at a recent exotic car exhibition at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise. They were elegant, individualized, and unquestionably one-of-a-kind, but they were also against the law.

“We are trying to stop the current trend that we are seeing,” Lt. Alex Camacho of the FHP stated.

It is illegal in Florida to make any changes to state-issued license plates, including putting vinyl wraps, airbrushing patterns, or changing colors. According to Camacho, the reflective coating is crucial for both safety and reading.

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“If you put this tag on your car, we are going to seize that tag. You are going to get your vehicle towed and get an infraction for it,” Camacho stated. “It’s bigger than people saying it’s not a big deal.”

He is supported by the numbers. Illegal plate altering citations have increased by more than 98%. This year, 702 of the 893 tickets that were issued nationwide were in the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.

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Melissa Sarris is a dedicated local news reporter for the West Palm Beach News. She focuses on accuracy and public interest when she covers neighborhood stories, breaking news, and changes in local government. Melissa likes to explore new places and help out at neighborhood events when she's free.