Authorities in Florida are at present coping with an epidemic of the automotive selection. Automobile house owners everywhere in the area are customizing their license plates to the acute and so they’re violating Florida state legal guidelines whereas doing it.
Miami’s ABC 10 reviews that Florida Freeway Patrol have been coping with an increasing number of violations involving personalized plates. These plates are extra than simply customized digits you’ll be able to decide up on the DMV; the entire plate itself is being modified. As Florida Freeway Patrol identified, it’s a violation of the state’s automobile legal guidelines.
At a current unique automobile present at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Dawn, altered license plates stood out as a lot because the high-end autos themselves—personalised, trendy, and undeniably distinctive, however unlawful.
“We are attempting to cease the present pattern that we’re seeing,” stated Lt. Alex Camacho of the FHP.
Florida regulation prohibits altering state-issued license plates in any approach, together with altering colours, airbrushing designs, or making use of vinyl wraps. The reflective coating is important for readability and security, in response to Camacho.
“When you put this tag in your automobile, we’re going to seize that tag. You’re going to get your automobile towed and get an infraction for it,” warned Camacho. “It’s larger than folks saying it’s not a giant deal.
The issue is a big deal in South Florida. Citations there have surged 98 p.c; authorities say of the 893 citations issued throughout the state in 2024, 78 p.c (702) have been issued within the South Florida counties of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Seaside.
Complicating issues are companies that exist solely to customise license plates. One of many larger names within the enterprise is named Platemakrs, which is doing a few of the most excessive license plate designs I’ve ever seen. Need an airbrushed plate in purple that reads “HELLYEA” with a picture of Dodge’s Hellcat emblem? That is the place for you. They’ll even do plates for different states. Sadly they’re serving to contribute to the criminal activity. ABC 10 reached out to Platemakrs and obtained no response so that they tried to confront somebody popping out of the enterprise.
Earlier this week, Native 10 Information Investigator Jeff Weinsier confronted somebody exterior the enterprise.
“I wished to speak to you guys about Platemakrs?” Weiniser requested a person getting out of a automobile that has been parked exterior the enterprise a number of days.
“Who’s you guys?” the person requested Weinsier.
“Platemakrs,” Weinsier replied.
“I’ve nothing to do with that,” the person claimed.”
The person did have one thing to do with it. ABC 10 discovered the person’s identify is John Georgetti. State information present that Georgetti is certainly one of Platemakrs’ house owners. He additionally has personalized plates of his personal as ABC 10 noticed one on the again of his Ferrari. Court docket information additionally present that he was ticketed for the plate earlier this yr.
As a reminder, Florida solely permits particular, state-sanctioned personalized plates accessible solely by the DMV. And once I say particular, I imply issues that vary from corny like “Golf Capital Of The World” with a picture of a golfer in mid swing to issues that border on political like “Assist Legislation Enforcement” or “Select Life.” You’ll get about so far as sovereign residents for those who attempt to jazz up your locations any extra.
