What's happening
This bill increases fines for purposefully covering or altering license plates to obscure them or distort their image.
Why it matters
Targets deliberate actions to obscure license plates, not just accidental ones. by specifying that knowingly covering or coating plates to conceal or distort their image is a distinct violation, the bill aims to deter intentional evasion of law enforcement, tolls, or automated cameras.
Raises the financial stakes for offenders. by increasing the maximum fine for knowingly obscuring or distorting license plates from $200 to $300, it could discourage attempts to avoid detection and make enforcement more meaningful.
Clarifies what counts as a violation. the new language makes it clear that any artificial or synthetic covering or coating that interferes with plate visibility or photographic capture is prohibited, reducing ambiguity for drivers and law enforcement.
Preserves exceptions for legitimate uses. the bill maintains an exception for officially issued electronic toll collection devices, ensuring that lawful and necessary equipment does not result in unintended penalties.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Raise Penalties for Blocked Plates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
411
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. M. G. MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to penalties for purposefully obstructed license plates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 and subdivision 8 of section 402 of the vehicle and traffic law, paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 109 of the laws of 2005, and subdivision 8 as amended by chapter 61 of the laws of 1989 and as renumbered by chapter 648 of the laws of 2006, are amended to read as follows:
(b) (i) Number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to be easily readable and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic material[, and].
(ii) Number plates shall not be knowingly covered or coated with any artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or obscures such number plates or that distorts a recorded or photographic image of such number plates[, and the].
(iii) The view of such number plates shall not be obstructed by any part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon, except for a receiver-transmitter issued by a publicly owned tolling facility in connection with electronic toll collection when such receiver-transmitter is affixed to the exterior of a vehicle in accordance with mounting instructions provided by the tolling facility.
8. [The] A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than two hundred dollars, except that a violation of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than three hundred dollars.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03062-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.