Florida Police Issue ‘Friendly Warning’ That $500 License Plate Fines Have Arrived
If you’re in the Sunshine State and have an old, yellowing license plate cover, take it off now. In a post that’s making the rounds on social media, the Sarasota Police Department just told Florida drivers exactly what’s coming.
If your Florida license plate is covered, tinted, or even slightly obscured, you could face criminal charges
The post, published with a megaphone emoji and a “PLEASE SHARE” plea, reminded followers that as of October 1, 2025, blocking your tag isn’t just a traffic infraction.
It’s a second-degree misdemeanor.
Police warned that enforcement is on the way, calling this message a “friendly warning.”
The tone might’ve been polite, but the penalties aren’t. The post explained that officials could fine violators up to $500, sentence them to up to 60 days in jail, and require those charged to appear before a judge.
It’s true
House Bill 253, signed into law earlier this year, is what’s behind the buzz.
The bill updates several sections of Florida’s vehicle code and bumps up the punishment for tampering with or obscuring a license plate.
In other words, what used to be a simple noncriminal traffic ticket is now a criminal offense.
Under the new statute, any substance, spray, or device that makes a plate harder to read or capture, whether by human eye or traffic camera, counts as an obscuring material.
The law doesn’t just target drivers; it also takes aim at the manufacturers and sellers of license plate-hiding gadgets.
Simply owning or purchasing one of these devices is a second-degree misdemeanor. Selling or distributing them is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Using one to evade detection or commit a crime means a third-degree felony, carrying the kind of penalties usually reserved for far more serious offenses.
A Florida defense attorney who weighed in on the change confirmed that the first offense alone could indeed mean up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine:
The police department said their focus for now is on education. But Florida drivers should start removing any plate covers or tinted protectors before they get pulled over, since the violation is already “fair game” for a traffic stop.
If you’re a Florida driver and missed the initial memo about the new traffic law, wherever the state formally announced it, I found this ClickOrlando list of every law passed in your state this year. The outlet updated it on November 3, so I’m off the hook from there.
