Unlawful to alter motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, temporary license plates, mobile home stickers, or validation stickers or to obscure license plates; penalty.

(1) A person may not alter the original appearance of a vehicle registration certificate, license plate, temporary license plate, mobile home sticker, or validation sticker issued for and assigned to a motor vehicle or mobile home, whether by mutilation, alteration, defacement, or change of color or in any other manner. A person may not apply or attach a substance, reflective matter, illuminated device, spray, coating, covering, or other material onto or around any license plate which interferes with the legibility, angular visibility, or detectability of the license plate number or validation sticker or interferes with the ability to record the license plate number or validation sticker. A person who knowingly violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) The use of a license plate frame or decorative border around a license plate is not an offense under this section, provided that the frame or border does not obscure the visibility of the following:

(a) The alphanumeric designation or license plate number.

(b) The registration decal or validation sticker located in the upper right corner.