Florida May Require Drivers to Display Front License Plates | Carscoops

      The new legislation aims to decrease the incidence of hit-and-run incidents involving vehicles that cannot be identified.

      Florida could potentially join the ranks of 29 other states in the US that mandate the use of front license plates with the introduction of Bill SB 92. This bill, recently supported by the Agriculture, Environment, and General Government Appropriations Committee, proposes that front plates could aid in reducing hit-and-run cases where identifying vehicles is a challenge.

      The legislation may lead to the creation of the 'Lilly Glaubach Act,' named after a 13-year-old girl from Tampa who lost her life to a vehicle while cycling. Under this law, motor vehicle repair shops would be required to obtain a written crash report from customers before carrying out any repairs on vehicles involved in accidents, provided the repair costs reach a minimum of $5,000.

      Customers would be obligated to present their personal information, vehicle details, and descriptions of the damages sustained. Local authorities believe this requirement could assist in locating potential hit-and-run drivers, while mandating front license plates may facilitate investigations.

      An amendment to the bill was proposed during a Senate committee meeting last week, calling for both front and rear license plates, as reported by Click Orlando.

      Sen. Joe Gruters highlighted that other states utilize two license plates because many cameras record incidents, and they may not capture the rear plate when vehicles flee the scene. He further noted that witnesses typically observe the front of the vehicle but may miss the rear, and some repeat offenders are adept at eluding capture without their plates being visible.

      During the Senate committee discussion, Gruters mentioned that residents would pay a single registration fee for a vehicle, and the state of Florida would need to provide two license plates.

      The 29 states currently enforcing front license plate requirements include California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.