Getting a ticket is never enjoyable, but does Florida’s new license plate law go so far that it violates the U.S. Constitution? A recent lawsuit filed in federal court argues that the answer may be “Yes.” The legal service Ticket Toro officially filed the complaint, specifically challenging Florida Statute 320.061.
The law prohibits drivers from altering or obstructing their license plates, but it does not clearly define what qualifies as an alteration or obstruction. Ticket Toro argues that this lack of clarity leaves both drivers and law enforcement to interpret the rule in their own ways, which it says is unacceptable.
Ticket Toro also claims that the vagueness violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The group is seeking a statewide injunction to stop enforcement of the statute and wants any citations issued under it to be expunged.
In a related motion filed in Miami-Dade County Court, Ticket Toro is also challenging the law there. Since the statute took effect, that county alone has issued more than 400 tickets connected to the rule. (One even resulted in an arrest in December 2025 after police said a decorative frame partially covered the letter “S” in the phrase “Sunshine State.”) Ticket Toro argues that the high number of tickets highlights why the law violates the constitution: Criminal laws must provide clear notice and consistent standards for enforcement.
This battle over plates has been raging for months now
Florida Statute 320.061 has caused plenty of confusion for drivers over the past year. The first changes took effect in October 2025, and then Florida revised the law again in December. The updated rule made it illegal for drivers to use anything that blocks, distorts, or even slightly obscures a license plate (including tinted covers, reflective sprays, LED attachments, or decorative frames). Just as drivers were beginning to adjust to the language introduced in October, the confusing license plate frame law changed again two months later.
Florida is taking the issue seriously. Knowingly driving with an obscured plate counts as a second-degree misdemeanor that can carry penalties of up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine. The license plate frame obstruction law also imposes tougher penalties on anyone who manufactures plate-blocking devices or uses them during criminal activity.
Supporters of the law say it will help law enforcement and toll agencies identify vehicles far more easily than before. However, critics argue the statute still lacks clear definitions. For now, everyone is waiting to see whether the courts agree.
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