New Penalties in Florida! Ron DeSantis signs law increasing fines for specific driving offenses
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed HB 253, introducing stricter laws to combat dangerous and fraudulent behaviors involving vehicle registration and license plate identification.
Florida highway safety is on the cusp of a legal transformation with Governor Ron DeSantis's latest action. The state embraces stricter measures to curb dangerous and questionable practices related to car registration and tag identification with the signing of HB 253. The policy is a landmark change in traffic offenses, red-classifying minor misdemeanors as crimes subject to criminal sanctions.
The new act is a move to maintain the integrity of the vehicle identification and the road network. Motorists who are based in Florida should note these changes that directly affect their responsibilities on the road. The act not only tackles the misuse of emergency lights that can impersonate the authorities but also documenting tampering and the visibility of the license plates, setting more stringent precedents for those who aim to evade the law.
HB 253: Reclassification of false emergency light offenses in Florida
One of the provisions of HB 253 profoundly changes statute 316.2397. A motorist who uses unauthorized red, red-and-white, or blue lights visible in front of the vehicle, especially to stop another vehicle, was formerly a first-degree misdemeanor.
The new law elevates the crime to a third-degree felony. This legislative reform is a robust affirmation to severely penalize any kind of impersonation of official identity, considering the built-in risk it poses to highway safety and trust in the authorities. The law is interested in making sure there is no deception on the roads.
HB 253 in Florida: Tougher penalties for vehicle identification tampering
HB 253 also modifies statute 320.061, escalating penalties for tampering or defacing an automobile identification. It used to be that altering the original appearance of a registration certificate, license plate, temporary plate, mobile home decal, or validation sticker, or putting something on it that will render it unreadable or detectable, was simply a non-criminal traffic infraction.
With this alteration, the individual that willfully does so shall be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor. Its intention is to prevent fraud and tax or toll evasion in order that all plates will be legible and visible to the authorities. The new sanctions reflect a zero-tolerance policy.
HB 253: Ban on license plate concealment devices in Florida
One of the most notable additions found under the new law is statute 320.262, which explicitly prohibits "license plate concealment devices." This law defines such devices as any mechanical, electronic, or manual device that is meant to change, obscure, cover, or interfere with a plate's legibility or registration purpose, such as its number or sticker of validation.
The crimes defined by HB 253 for such devices are:
- Possession or purchase: Purchase or possession of a license plate concealment device is a second-degree misdemeanor.
- Commercialization: Manufacture, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of the device is a first-degree misdemeanor.
- Use in a crime: The most severe punishment is faced by the offender if a driver uses a device to facilitate a crime or conceal or evade detection or capture. The perpetrator will be guilty of a third-degree felony in this case.
This part of the legislation reaffirms Florida's commitment to openness and accountability on the public roads. The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2025, allowing time for transition for motorists and the court system. The DeSantis administration is thus implementing a justice system designed to reduce avenues for evading justice and increase highway security for all.
