New JerseyNew Jersey would penalize drivers and sellers who obstruct license plates
Drivers would face fines for deliberately hiding plates to evade law enforcement or charges, and people who knowingly handle plate-obstructing merchandise would also face penalties.
What it does
Drivers would be barred from driving with plates deliberately hidden to evade law enforcement or payment of tolls and other charges. Fines could reach $500 for a first offense and $750 for later offenses.
People would be barred from knowingly handling merchandise made to obstruct plates, including certain covers and devices. Fines could reach $500 for a first offense and $750 for later offenses.
Argument forBarring deliberate plate obstruction could help law enforcement identify vehicles and collect tolls or other charges.
Argument againstDrivers could face fines and, after a third or later plate offense, motor vehicle and insurance eligibility points.
More detail
A person would be barred from driving a motor vehicle with a plate deliberately hidden or obscured to evade law enforcement or payment of tolls or other charges. This covers a person operating a motor vehicle with a registration plate, temporary registration certificate, temporary plate, or commission-issued insert purposely concealed or obscured for that purpose. A person fined under this section would not also face a fine or penalty under R.S.39:3-33 for specified visibility problems caused by blurring matter or a frame or holder concealing certain commission-issued plates or documents. The act would take effect immediately.
A person would be barred from knowingly selling, offering, distributing, transferring, buying, receiving, or possessing merchandise designed or intended to obstruct a license plate. Examples include retractable holders, reflective spray, covers that prevent reading a plate number, and devices that change a plate's appearance or identifying marks. A newspaper would not be liable under this section for accepting or publishing classified ads for such merchandise. The act would take effect immediately.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 14Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations CommitteeLatest
- Jun 30Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities CommitteeMinor
- Jun 30Passed by the Senate (40-0)Passed 1st Chamber
- Jun 24Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd ReadingMinor
- Jun 1Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Jun 1Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd ReadingMinor
- May 14Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation CommitteeIntroduced
Public SafetyTransportation