Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Issues Strong Warning Against Illegal License Plate Modifications And Affirms Zero Tolerance For Individuals Profiting From Violating Florida Law.

As your Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, I want to deliver a strong and clear message to our entire community. Your license plate must remain clean, fully visible, and unobstructed at all times. This is essential for safety, transparency, and accountability in Miami-Dade County, and our Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office is here to ensure every resident understands and follows these laws.

Florida Statute 320.061 makes it unlawful to alter the original appearance of a license plate, including changing its color, mutilating it, or applying any spray, film, coating, or covering that affects its legibility, visibility, or detectability. The law also prohibits adding reflective materials, illuminated devices, or any accessory around the plate that interferes with its readability.

A recent amendment, effective October 1, 2025, expands these rules to include "license plate obscuring devices," such as flipping mechanisms, rotating plates, retractable systems, smoked covers, or any device designed to hide or change a plate. The amendment also creates criminal penalties for manufacturing, selling, possessing, or using these devices.

Violations can result in fines of up to $500 dollars and up to 60 days of jail time. More serious cases involving the use of obscuring devices in the commission of a crime can carry penalties of up to $5,000 dollars and up to five years. I am here, together with our Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office, to make sure every resident understands that these laws exist to protect our community and support law enforcement in keeping Miami-Dade County safe.

And let me be absolutely clear: we will not allow individuals to violate the law or turn these illegal practices into a business. Anyone attempting to profit from modifying, hiding, or altering license plates will face the full consequences established by state law. We are committed to protecting our residents, supporting our police, and ensuring that Miami-Dade County remains a safe community for all.

God Bless Miami-Dade County and God Bless the United States of America

Dariel Fernandez

Tax Collector

Miami-Dade County