TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers on Wednesday moved to clear up confusion they created last year over the use of vehicle license plate frames.
A transportation bill heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis clarifies that decorative license plate frames on vehicles are perfectly legal — as long as they don’t obscure the license plate number or the registration sticker in the plate’s right-hand corner.
The Legislature created a mess last session when it passed legislation to crack down on motorists who deliberately hide or obscure their license plates. The law stated that “covering” or “obscuring” the “primary features” on a license plate was a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
It prompted almost immediate confusion about what constituted “primary features.” License plate frames, like the ones given by a dealer, often cover details at the top and bottom of the tag, like the state name and the name of the county on older plates.
NBC6 South Florida reported that about 1,000 people were ticketed for violations since it took effect in October — and one person was wrongfully arrested.
In December, two months after the law took effect, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued a memo clarifying that the only “primary features” are the plate number and the decal in the top right corner.
Clarification on Florida Statute 320.262 regarding penalties for obscuring license plates with frames or covers that went into effect October 1st, 2025. pic.twitter.com/P6dyrJYosq
— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) December 15, 2025
A provision tucked in SB 488, passed Wednesday, makes that guidance the law.
Sen. Ralph Massullo, an Inverness Republican who sponsored the bill, said fixing the legislation was one of the top issues he heard from constituents — including police — during his special election campaign last year.
“They wanted it clarified, just to make sure that you’re not going to get stopped,” Massullo said.
