MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Illegal customized license plates are catching the eye of Florida law enforcement, leading to a statewide crackdown by the Florida Highway Patrol.
And the problem? Nearly 80% of the violations are in South Florida.
At a recent exotic car show at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, altered license plates stood out as much as the high-end vehicles themselves—personalized, stylish, and undeniably unique, but illegal.
“We are trying to stop the current trend that we are seeing,” said Lt. Alex Camacho of the FHP.
Florida law prohibits altering state-issued license plates in any way, including changing colors, airbrushing designs, or applying vinyl wraps. The reflective coating is essential for readability and safety, according to Camacho.
“If you put this tag on your car, we are going to seize that tag. You are going to get your vehicle towed and get an infraction for it,” warned Camacho. “It’s bigger than people saying it’s not a big deal.”
The numbers back him up. Citations for unlawful plate alterations have surged over 98%.
Of 893 tickets issued statewide this year, 702 were written in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
A business called Platemakrs in Oakland Park boasts a large social media following, advertising customizations to plates from across the country. Local 10 News Investigator Jeff Weinsier made multiple attempts to reach them via email, but Local 10 received no response.
Earlier this week, Weinsier confronted someone outside the business.
“I wanted to talk to you guys about Platemakrs?” Weiniser asked a man getting out of a car that has been parked outside the business several days.
“Who is you guys?” the man asked Weinsier.
“Platemakrs,” Weinsier replied.
“I have nothing to do with that,” the man claimed.
But Local 10 News has learned the man who was confronted is John Georgetti.
State records list Georgetti as one of the owners of Platemakrs.
On the back of Gerogettli’s car, an altered personalized license plate that reads PL8MKRS.
County Court show Georgetti was cited in January in Miami Beach for an altered plate on a Ferrari.
“We’re aware of the issue,” said Camacho when asked about businesses like Platemakrs. “Our Bureau of Investigations handles follow-ups to ensure companies know they’re violating the law.”
As for Georgetti, he refused to comment further.
“We’ll have our attorney reach out,” he said, telling Weinsier with a grin, “I’m a big fan of you.”
“This is illegal. This cannot be done,” Camacho emphasized.
Local 10 News has also learned another South Florida business called M4WRAPS is also offering customized license plates on social media.
ALTERING A LICENSE PLATE IS ILLEGAL IN ALL STATES. THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES OFFER OVER 100 DIFFERENT SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATES FOR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.THE MONEY RAISED FROM THE SALE OF THOSE LICENSE PLATES GOES DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATION.
LINK TO FLORIDA SPECIALTY TAGS: https://www.flhsmv.gov/motor-vehicles-tags-titles/personalized-specialty-license-plates/specialty-license-plates/