These new 2025 Florida driving laws affect things like license plates, DUI, and leaving the scene of an accident. Here's what you need to know so you don't get stuck with big fines.
License Plate Covers (HB 253)
Now a Second-Degree Misdemeanor
Altering, obscuring, covering, tinting, or hiding any part of your license plate, registration certificate, temporary plate, validation sticker, or mobile home sticker (or changing their original appearance) was upgraded to a second-degree misdemeanor from a noncriminal traffic infraction.
A second-degree misdemeanor in Florida can carry up to 60 days in jail, fines, or both. This covers not only physically covering the plate (covers, tints, flip-devices, etc.) but also altering the plate itself.
Possession, Manufacturing, Or Distributing
Possession, manufacturing, or distributing a “license plate obscuring device” (i.e. something designed or adapted to obscure a plate) is now a crime.
Purchasing or possessing such a device is now considered a second-degree misdemeanor. Manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, or distributing an obscuring device is now considered a first-degree misdemeanor.
Intent of Using
Using an obscuring device to assist crime or evade detection or arrest is elevated to a third-degree felony.
Separately, the law reclassifies certain uses of prohibited lighting or flashing lights intended to mimic law enforcement. If you use red, blue, or red-and-white flashing or rotating lights, especially in an attempt to pull over another vehicle, that can become a third-degree felony. If you use those types of lights simply as a prank or to try to stop someone, that action is now more serious.
Altering, obscuring, covering, tinting, or hiding any part of your license plate, registration certificate, temporary plate, validation sticker, or mobile home sticker (or changing their original appearance) was upgraded to a second-degree misdemeanor from a noncriminal traffic infraction.
A second-degree misdemeanor in Florida can carry up to 60 days in jail, fines, or both. This covers not only physically covering the plate (covers, tints, flip-devices, etc.) but also altering the plate itself.
Possession, Manufacturing, Or Distributing
Possession, manufacturing, or distributing a “license plate obscuring device” (i.e. something designed or adapted to obscure a plate) is now a crime.
Purchasing or possessing such a device is now considered a second-degree misdemeanor. Manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, or distributing an obscuring device is now considered a first-degree misdemeanor.
Intent of Using
Using an obscuring device to assist crime or evade detection or arrest is elevated to a third-degree felony.
Separately, the law reclassifies certain uses of prohibited lighting or flashing lights intended to mimic law enforcement. If you use red, blue, or red-and-white flashing or rotating lights, especially in an attempt to pull over another vehicle, that can become a third-degree felony. If you use those types of lights simply as a prank or to try to stop someone, that action is now more serious.
DUI & Test Refusal (HB 687)
Under the prior law in Florida, a first refusal to submit to a breath, urine, or blood test after a lawful DUI arrest was generally handled as an administrative or civil penalty, not a criminal offenses.
First Refusal
Starting October 1, 2025, a first refusal becomes a criminal offense, specifically a second-degree misdemeanor. Penalties can include up to 60 days in jail and fines (commensurate with second-degree misdemeanor limits).
Second Refusal
A second or subsequent refusal is elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor - as under existing statute - with harsher penalties.
Repeat Offenders
If a person has a prior conviction for DUI, BUI, manslaughter, or vehicular/vessel homicide, a subsequent offense is reclassified from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony.
The maximum potential sentence for repeat offenders rises from 15 years to 30 years.
The law also mandates that during an arrest, a person must be informed that refusal to submit to a lawful breath or urine test carries criminal consequences under the new law.
First Refusal
Starting October 1, 2025, a first refusal becomes a criminal offense, specifically a second-degree misdemeanor. Penalties can include up to 60 days in jail and fines (commensurate with second-degree misdemeanor limits).
Second Refusal
A second or subsequent refusal is elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor - as under existing statute - with harsher penalties.
Repeat Offenders
If a person has a prior conviction for DUI, BUI, manslaughter, or vehicular/vessel homicide, a subsequent offense is reclassified from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony.
The maximum potential sentence for repeat offenders rises from 15 years to 30 years.
The law also mandates that during an arrest, a person must be informed that refusal to submit to a lawful breath or urine test carries criminal consequences under the new law.
Leaving the Scene (HB 479)
Leaving Only Damage
Under prior Florida law, leaving the scene after a crash involving only property damage or vehicle damage was a crime - typically a second-degree misdemeanor - for failing to stop, provide identifying info, etc.
Now with HB 479 effective October 1, 2025, courts are authorized to order restitution (i.e. require the at-fault driver to pay for repair or replacement costs) to the owner of the damaged property in addition to fines or other penalties.
Leaving the scene if no one is hurt remains a second-degree misdemeanor, so the core criminal offense and its penalties don’t change. What changes is financial liability via restitution.
Under prior Florida law, leaving the scene after a crash involving only property damage or vehicle damage was a crime - typically a second-degree misdemeanor - for failing to stop, provide identifying info, etc.
Now with HB 479 effective October 1, 2025, courts are authorized to order restitution (i.e. require the at-fault driver to pay for repair or replacement costs) to the owner of the damaged property in addition to fines or other penalties.
Leaving the scene if no one is hurt remains a second-degree misdemeanor, so the core criminal offense and its penalties don’t change. What changes is financial liability via restitution.
Impersonating Police & False Personation
In Florida, it is a third-degree felony for a person to falsely assume or pretend to be a law enforcement officer (or even certain other public roles) and act as such or cause others to assist.
During a Felony
But if someone impersonates an officer during the commission of a felony, the offense is upgraded to a second-degree felony.
If Someone Is Injured Or Dies
If in that false impersonation someone is injured or someone dies, it then becomes a first-degree felony.
Flashing Lights
The use of red, blue, or red/white flashing lights, or devices intended to mimic law enforcement, now becomes more directly criminalized - particularly when used to pull over vehicles or impersonate a stop - as part of the “motor crimes” package.
In particular, driving a vehicle with prohibited lighting and effecting or attempting to effect a stop of another vehicle is reclassified from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony under certain circumstances.
During a Felony
But if someone impersonates an officer during the commission of a felony, the offense is upgraded to a second-degree felony.
If Someone Is Injured Or Dies
If in that false impersonation someone is injured or someone dies, it then becomes a first-degree felony.
Flashing Lights
The use of red, blue, or red/white flashing lights, or devices intended to mimic law enforcement, now becomes more directly criminalized - particularly when used to pull over vehicles or impersonate a stop - as part of the “motor crimes” package.
In particular, driving a vehicle with prohibited lighting and effecting or attempting to effect a stop of another vehicle is reclassified from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony under certain circumstances.
If you have any questions about these new Florida driving laws which take effect today, October 1, 2025, please contact a Jacksonville car accident injury attorney at Wilkes & Mee.