Attaching Tag Not Assigned

What happens if you were charged with attaching a tag or plate not assigned under Florida Statute Section 320.261? The criminal defense attorneys at Sammis Law Firm in Tampa, FL, represent clients charged with traffic criminal offenses including attaching a tag or plate not assigned.

Contained within Chapter 320 for Motor Vehicle Licenses in Title XXIII for Motor Vehicles, the crime of attaching a tag not assigned is found in Section 320.261 which prohibits any of the following:

• knowingly attaching to any motor vehicle or mobile home any registration license plate; or
• knowingly attaching any validation sticker or mobile home sticker to a registration license plate; or
• driving the vehicle knowing that the plate or sticker was not issued and assigned or lawfully transferred to such a vehicle.

The crime of attaching a plate or tag not assigned under Section 320.261 is charged as a misdemeanor in the second degree which is punishable as a second degree misdemeanor.

Attorneys for Attaching a Plate Not Assigned in Tampa, FL

If you were arrested or given a “notice to appear” in court for the charge of attaching a tag not assigned, then contact an experienced criminal traffic defense attorney in Tampa, FL, at Sammis Law Firm. We understand why the best result in these cases is getting the prosecutor to drop the charge or getting the judge to dismiss the charge.

We represent clients accused of driving with the wrong license plate, and driving an unregistered vehicle. We understand the harsh penalties that come with not registering your car or trailer in Florida and the best ways to avoid those penalties. In some of these cases, the law enforcement officer will allege that the license plate or tag was stolen from another vehicle.

Call 813-250-0500.

Defenses to Attaching a Vehicle Tag Not Assigned in Florida

In most of these cases, the criminal charge is dropped because the officer rarely sees a person attach the tag or plate not assigned. If the officer didn’t actually see the offense being committed. the officer usually has no lawful basis to make an arrest or prolong the detention. Evidence gathered thereafter, might not be admissible if the proper motion to suppress is filed and litigated.

As a result, charges for attaching a tag not assigned usually go along with other charges that were committed in the officer’s presence including DUI, reckless driving, racing, driving while license suspended, or a felony offense.

Learn more about the most common exceptions to the warrantless arrest requirements in Florida.

This article was last updated on Friday, November 18, 2022.