Florida Statute 316.605 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

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F.S. 316.605

316.605 Licensing of vehicles.—

(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 not higher than 60 inches and not lower than 12 inches from the ground and no more than 24 inches to the left or right of the centerline of the vehicle, and in such manner as to prevent the plates from swinging, and all letters, numerals, printing, writing, 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. Except as provided in s. 316.2085(3), vehicle license plates shall be affixed and displayed in such a manner that the letters and numerals shall be read from left to right parallel to the ground. No vehicle license plate may be displayed in an inverted or reversed position or in such a manner that the letters and numbers and their proper sequence are not readily identifiable. 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.

(2) Any commercial motor vehicle operating over the highways of this state with an expired registration, with no registration from this or any other jurisdiction, or with no registration under the applicable provisions of chapter 320 shall be in violation of s. 320.07(3) and shall subject the owner or operator of such vehicle to the penalty provided. In addition, a commercial motor vehicle found in violation of this section may be detained by any law enforcement officer until the owner or operator produces evidence that the vehicle has been properly registered and that any applicable delinquent penalties have been paid.

History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 1, ch. 78-55; s. 6, ch. 84-260; s. 58, ch. 85-180; s. 10, ch. 86-243; s. 19, ch. 87-198; s. 26, ch. 91-221; s. 239, ch. 99-248; s. 2, ch. 2005-47; s. 39, ch. 2005-164; s. 18, ch. 2007-196; s. 10, ch. 2010-223; s. 14, ch. 2014-216; s. 66, ch. 2016-239.

Note.—Former s. 316.284.

F.S. 316.605 on Google Scholar

F.S. 316.605 on Casetext

Amendments to 316.605

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 316.605

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 316.605.

Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S316.605

R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S316.605 TAG - None/Obscured/Defaced/Improper display - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.605 (1) TAG - None/Obscured/Defaced/Improper display - Points on Drivers License: 0

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 316.605

Total Results: 20

AQUILINO MAYORGA v. THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2022-06-15

Snippet: JJ. PER CURIAM. Affirmed. See § 316.605(1), Fla. Stat. (2020) (providing: “Every vehicle

HERSCHELL M. WILLIAMS v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2020-05-13

Snippet: essential to a correct interpretation of section 316.605 is the phrase, “visible and legible at all times

STATE OF FLORIDA v. DYLAN MORRIS

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2019-04-24

Citation: 270 So. 3d 436

Snippet: plate frames and whether they violate section 316.605(1), Florida Statutes (2017), are challenged in

State v. Pena

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2018-05-09

Citation: 247 So. 3d 61

Snippet: all times 100 feet from the rear or front.” § 316.605(1), Fla. Stat. (2015). The trial court found that

Jermaine D. English v. State of Florida

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2016-05-12

Citation: 191 So. 3d 448, 41 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 219, 2016 WL 2755988, 2016 Fla. LEXIS 1005

Snippet: obstruction to a license plate in violation of section 316.605(1), Florida Statutes (2013), and whether the statute

Munroe v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-10-26

Citation: 177 So. 3d 320, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 15907, 2015 WL 6449374

Snippet: suppress, reading “the plain language of section 316.605(1), Florida Statutes [], to mean that a license

Calvin Eugene Baker v. State of Florida

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2015-05-26

Citation: 164 So. 3d 151

Snippet: suppress, as we read the plain language of section 316.605(1), Florida Statutes (2013), to mean that a license

State v. English

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2014-10-10

Citation: 148 So. 3d 529, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 15812, 2014 WL 5039681

Snippet: 788 So.2d 308, 309 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001). Section 316.605(1), Florida Statutes, provides in pertinent part:

Jenkins v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2012-12-14

Citation: 102 So. 3d 739, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 21517

Snippet: instead charged Mr. Jenkins with violating section 316.605, Florida Statutes (2009), requiring display of

Sowerby v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2011-10-28

Citation: 73 So. 3d 329, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 17204, 2011 WL 5109234

Snippet: the car was in violation of that part of section 316.605(1), Florida Statutes, saying that: [A]ll letters

Harris v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2009-06-19

Citation: 11 So. 3d 462, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 7773, 2009 WL 1706450

Snippet: he was improperly stopped for violating section 316.605, Florida Statutes (2006). The relevant portion

State v. Diaz

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 2003-05-15

Citation: 850 So. 2d 435, 2003 WL 21087992

Snippet: all times 100 feet from the rear or front," § 316.605(1), Fla. Stat. (2000), the Legislature has failed

Willis v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2000-07-07

Citation: 762 So. 2d 1005, 2000 Fla. App. LEXIS 8527, 2000 WL 904907

Snippet: Willis was charged with violation of section 316. 605(1), Florida Statutes (1997), failure to display

Sands v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2000-02-25

Citation: 753 So. 2d 630, 2000 WL 217529

Snippet: of at least 100 feet, a violation of subsection 316.605(1), Florida Statutes (1997). The officer testified

State v. Parrish

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1999-04-16

Citation: 731 So. 2d 101, 1999 WL 218411

Snippet: as a regular license plate. See §§ 316.221(2), 316.605(1), Fla. Stat. (1995). . . . Section 320.131(4)

Saviory v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1998-09-18

Citation: 717 So. 2d 200, 1998 WL 636978

Snippet: it difficult to read from a distance. Section 316.605(1) provides that all letters, numerals, printing

Holmes v. State

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1998-04-15

Citation: 710 So. 2d 651, 1998 WL 171456

Snippet: as a regular license plate. See §§ 316.221(2), 316.605(1), Fla. Stat. (1995).[1] The argument raised in

State v. St. Jean

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1997-08-01

Citation: 697 So. 2d 956, 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 8808, 1997 WL 428513

Snippet: This was asserted to be a violation of section 316.605, Florida Statutes (1995). A subsequent search of

State v. Garcia

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1997-07-25

Citation: 696 So. 2d 1352, 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 8494, 1997 WL 413812

Snippet: HARRIS, J., dissents, with opinion. . Section 316.605, Florida Statutes (1995), provides in pertinent

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 1984-02-06

Snippet: register the vehicle in this state." And see, s 316.605, F.S., which states that every vehicle at all times