With how muddy some Florida roads can get, it’s probably not much of a surprise for Florida drivers when they get some dirt on their license plates.
But drivers should be careful, as plates that get too dirty could end up in a ticket.
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Florida law prohibits drivers from altering their license plates, whether that’s through scratching the letters, spraying it with graffiti, covering it up, or changing the color.
And yes — that means if it gets too brown, you could get pulled over.
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As part of their responsibilities, law enforcement officers have to be able to make what a license plate says, so if they’re unable to do so, that’s when the fines can pop up.
To add on, News 6′s Trooper Steve had the following to say about the issue:
“A lot of us like to think of our license plates as a little piece of our personality, but here is the thing, they actually belong to the state. They’re basically a way for law enforcement and the DMV to confirm your vehicle is legally on the road.
That means it’s up to us as drivers to keep them clean and easy to read at all times. And yes, that includes wiping off dirt! So if you’ve been off-roading, driving through messy weather, or just noticed your plate is covered in grime, take a second to clean it off. It’s a small thing, but it helps keep you in the clear.
And before you try to find the loopholes, this would include any tag cover (tinted or not) and that no trend of wrapping the tag in different colors …. Big no-no.”
Trooper Steve Montiero
For more rules of the road in the Sunshine State, be sure to check out Trooper Steve on Patrol by clicking here.
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