Bill > A490

Introduced Session

This bill prohibits the use of license plate flipping devices and increases the penalty for displaying a fictitious plate number if a flipping device was used. Current law provides that a person convicted of displaying a fictitious number on a motor vehicle registration plate, also referred to in statutory law as a license plate, is subject to a fine of up to $500 or a term of imprisonment of up to 60 days. The bill provides that a person convicted of displaying a fictitious number through the use of a license plate flipping device: (1) would be subject to a fine of up to $750, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 60 days, or both; (2) if the offense is committed in a residential district or school zone, would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000; imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 60 days, or both; and (3) if the offense is committed during or to aid in the commission of a crime, offense, or another violation under Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, would be subject to a fine of up to $1,500, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, or both. The bill defines a "license plate flipping device" as a device that enables a registration plate to be changed to another registration plate with different identification marks either manually or electronically. Under the bill, the term also includes technology that is capable of changing the appearance of a registration plate to appear as a different registration plate. It is the sponsor's intent that this bill deters drivers from using license plate flipping devices to evade paying tolls, avoid identification by traffic cameras, or engage in any other prohibited activity on the roadways of this State.

Committee Categories

Carol Murphy (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/11/2022)

Official Document