Legal Question in Traffic Law in Florida

Motor Vehicle Registration

Altamonte Springs, FL

A sticker has been placed on my vehicle threatening towing at my expense from the condos I live in for being illegally parked with expired registration.

I found that city ordinance sec. 24-43 defines abandoned vehicles as ''vehicles or parts of vehicles that are... incapable of being operated... or without current state license tag if required.''

Also, Florida statute 320.02 (1) says, ''No registration is required for any motor vehicle which is not operated on the roads of this state during the registration period.''

My vehicle certainly hasn't been driven since the tag has expired, so, as I understand it, my vehicle is not illegally parked.

Furthermore, when this threatening sticker appeared, I went to the office to gather more information, since none of my copies of documents (lease agreement, bylaws, etc.) mentioned anything about vehicle registration. They were able to produce a paragraph in a book that said my vehicle must be registered with the association and have a parking decal in the back window (which it is and has). However, there was nothing that specifically required my vehicle to be registered with the state.

Do I have a case if my vehicle does, in fact, end up towed?


Asked on 6/11/08, 9:32 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Brent Rose The Orsini & Rose Law Firm

Re: Motor Vehicle Registration

I'm not familiar with the ordinances in Altamonte Springs, but many Florida cities and counties have laws forbidding the parking of vehicles with expired tags. The idea is that the city doesn't want to look like one big parking lot, and people tend to let cars fade and rust if they aren't being driven and registered.

Florida law requires, with certain exceptions, such as if you are a student, all vehicles brought into the state to be registered in the state. Your best bet may be to just register the car. I'm not saying you are wrong because, like I said, I haven't read the exact ordinance you're being cited under, but this battle may not be worth it. I don't think the Altamonte ordinance is unlike many others I've seen, which makes me think the city is probably right.

I will say this, though, if you do want to fight city hall, don't do it without a lawyer.

Read more
Answered on 6/11/08, 11:49 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Traffic Law questions and answers in Florida