Florida legislators are considering a bill that would require motorists to display license plates on both the front and rear of their vehicles. The proposal, introduced by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), seeks to enhance the identification of vehicles involved in hit-and-run incidents. Gruters emphasized that many cameras capture only the front of vehicles, making rear-only plates insufficient for identification purposes.
Bill Has Some Support
Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) supports the initiative, noting that witnesses often see only the front of fleeing vehicles. She also highlighted that repeat offenders might exploit the lack of front plates to avoid detection.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government has approved the bill, which now awaits further review by the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee. Gruters aims to minimize costs associated with the additional plates for both motorists and the state.
If enacted, Florida would join 29 other states that mandate dual license plates. The bill is part of the “Lilly Glaubach Act,” named after a 13-year-old girl who was fatally struck by a vehicle while cycling home from school.
At the time of this writing, it is unknown what position, if any, Governor Ron DeSantis has on this bill.
Other Reqirements Of The Bill
In addition to the requirement for front license plates in the Sunshine State, the proposed legislation also includes provisions requiring motor vehicle repair shops to request written crash reports from customers when repair costs exceed $2,500. The bill also calls for requiring a motor vehicle repair shop or the vendor that processes repair estimates for the motor vehicle repair shop to transmit a copy of the finalized repair estimate within a specified timeframe to a database to be established and maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement, if a customer does not provide a written crash report, in addition to the new license plate requirement.
Discussions regarding the potential costs to drivers for the additional plates are ongoing. Senator Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) inquired about possible increased fees, to which Gruters responded that efforts are underway to determine the most cost-effective solution.
No doubt that “cost-effective solution” will involve higher costs to Florida drivers, as license plates don’t make themselves at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, where prisoners create the plates for vehicles in the Sunshine State.
Another “cost” will be the loss of any personalization on the front-end of your vehicle. Have a front plate with your favorite sports team on it? It will have to go. No more “Go Bucs” for you, bucko.
The bill must pass through one more committee before being considered by the full Senate. If approved, the new requirements would take effect on July 1, 2025.
As always, if you feel one way or the other on this bill, please let your state representatives know. You can start here: Florida Find My Representative. You can also comment here, and let us know where you stand.
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