- Florida Sheriffs claim their plate frame does not break the law.
- The statute bans anything that obscures plate details slightly.
- Drivers are liable, no matter who endorsed or sold the frame.
Authorities are often the ones the public turns to for guidance on the law. In Florida, a new rule now states that cars can’t have anything attached to or surrounding their license plate that obscures any part of it. No exceptions.
That includes the decorative license plate frames seen on countless vehicles across the state. Somewhat hilariously, it also applies to the ones the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) sells directly to the public on its website. Now, the FSA has stepped in to defend its own product, unintentionally making things even more confusing.
What Counts as Obstruction?
In a recent Facebook posting, the FSA stated that its official license plate frame “does not violate Florida Statute 320.061,” emphasizing that the law targets devices installed with the intent to obscure letters, numbers, decals, or identifying features.
More: Florida Just Made Your Cute License Plate Frame A Criminal Offense
By the association’s account, its frame isn’t designed to do any of that and is therefore legal, assuming it’s installed properly. That might sound reassuring at first, but you might want to hold off buying that frame for the $25 that the FSA wants for it for now.
Florida Statute 320.061 is blunt. It prohibits attaching any material “onto or around” a license plate if it interferes with legibility, angular visibility, detectability, or the ability to record any detail on the plate.
Intent isn’t the only factor; outcome matters. If even a tiny portion of a letter, word, or registration decal is obscured, the driver is technically in violation.
The Problem with Placement
And this is where things get awkward because commenters on the post pointed it out pretty quickly. Some pointed out that from certain angles, the frame appears to overlap the lettering or could interfere with the registration decal, depending on placement.
Others asked whether a screenshot of the post would prevent a citation. The FSA responded clearly to say that Facebook posts don’t supersede the law, and the association itself is not a law enforcement agency.
Also: Why These Blue Lights Are Suddenly Appearing Above Traffic Signals
So, in other words, their original post isn’t legally binding and will have zero effect on a potential ticket. Adding another layer of irony, the FSA’s sales page for the frame includes a disclaimer telling buyers to measure their plate area and ensure compliance with the statute before installing it.
That puts the burden squarely back on the driver, even when the product is sold by an organization representing sheriffs across the state. We’ve reached out to local authorities for more information and clarification.
