Overview
- HB 253 has been in effect since Oct. 1, 2025, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says roadside enforcement will be stepped up on highways and checkpoints.
- Altering, covering or possessing devices to hide a plate is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
- Manufacturing, selling or distributing concealment mechanisms is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Using plate-hiding gear to commit or facilitate another offense is a third-degree felony with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Prohibited items include sprays, films, tinted or smoked covers, reflective accessories, added lights, obstructive frames, and retractable or rotating flipper devices, and plates remain state property that must be returned when insurance is canceled, a vehicle is sold or registration ends.