Helping a friend out who got a ticket for a clear license plate cover.
The FL statute says....

(1) Every vehicle, at all times while driven, stopped, or parked upon any highways, roads, or streets of this state, shall be licensed in the name of the owner thereof in accordance with the laws of this state unless such vehicle is not required by the laws of this state to be licensed in this state and shall, except as otherwise provided in s. 320.0706 for front-end registration license plates on truck tractors and s. 320.086(5) which exempts display of license plates on described former military vehicles, display the license plate or both of the license plates assigned to it by the state, one on the rear and, if two, the other on the front of the vehicle, each to be securely fastened to the vehicle outside the main body of the vehicle in such manner as to prevent the plates from swinging, and all letters, numerals, printing, writing, and other identification marks upon the plates regarding the word "Florida," the registration decal, and the alphanumeric designation shall be clear and distinct and free from defacement, mutilation, grease, and other obscuring matter, so that they will be plainly visible and legible at all times 100 feet from the rear or front. Nothing shall be placed upon the face of a Florida plate except as permitted by law or by rule or regulation of a governmental agency. No license plates other than those furnished by the state shall be used. However, if the vehicle is not required to be licensed in this state, the license plates on such vehicle issued by another state, by a territory, possession, or district of the United States, or by a foreign country, substantially complying with the provisions hereof, shall be considered as complying with this chapter. A violation of this subsection is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

Now I see this as the cover is fine as long as the plate is clearly visible from 100 feet away which it is.
But the next sentence says...
"Nothing shall be placed upon the face of a Florida plate except as permitted by law or by rule or regulation of a governmental agency."

What do you guys think?

 

"Nothing shall be placed upon the face of a Florida plate except as permitted by law or by rule or regulation of a governmental agency."

Seems simple enough to me.

 

Is it one of those that distorts camera images? I don't know that there is a way out of it. What's the fine?

 

That 2nd sentence is contradicting. It says except as permitted by law. The sentence above that says as long it's clearly visible from 100 feet away it's ok.

It's like a $76 fine. It's just a plain clear plate cover any auto store carries.

 

No it doesn't.

You are just a poor reader.

 

black and white, open and shut

This is true for Misouri as well.

 

opened and closed

 

Same here in VA, cannot have a clear cover over any plate.

 

One thing has nothing to do with the other

 

offical answer: you can't have a clear plate cover, so your friend is screwed.

it's like california tint law. One code section says you can have tints. But the other says you cannot put anything on the window. Verdict? No tints.

 

You might see it as being fine. Cops don't.

 

You freind can dipute the ticket with the DA and chances are it'll be dropped or the fine reduced. Your freind and you will see it as a win, and it it will be. But the cop already knows that although he was in his rights to write the ticket (as many on here agree), that this will probably be contested and dropped. But the inconvenience of being pulled over and having to go to court to fight it is the real lesson learned.

 

no, the law is pretty clear here...

 

Yes it is and I agree. But like it or not he could get the charges dropped or reduced.

 

but you make it seem like any clear cover ticket will get dropped or reduced because of the way the law is written...

that is not the case here, as our laws are very similar. these tickets almost always stand, unless there is some other technicality (ticket filled out wrong, etc...)

and it's an equipment violation, not a mover.

 

<---- received a ticket in Old Bridge Twp for a lightly tinted (but very transparent plate cover) while driving my Accord. I have a slightly darker tinted cover on my Maxima and Quest....and just do not go to Old Bridge anymore.

 

Never said is was an equipment or a moving violation. You read into things to much.

 

ugh

 

. . . and a victim!