Jermaine D. English, Petitioner v. State of Florida, Respondent

Summary

The court held that the license-plate statute plainly requires a plate to remain plainly visible and legible at all times, without distinguishing between obstructions on the plate and objects external to it. Because the hanging tag light and wires obscured part of the plate, the traffic stop was valid and the evidence obtained during the stop should not have been suppressed. Justice Perry, joined by Justice Pariente, dissented, reasoning that the statute was ambiguous and that ejusdem generis limited the statute to matter physically affecting the plate.