CaliforniaLicense plates: obstruction or alteration.
What it does
Existing law prohibits a person from erasing the reflective coating of, painting over the reflective coating of, or altering a license plate to avoid visual or electronic capture of the license plate or its characters by state or local law enforcement. Existing law prohibits a person from installing or affixing on a vehicle a casing, shield, frame, border, product, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote emission sensing device, as specified. Existing law also prohibits the sale of a product or device that obscures, or is intended to obscure, the reading or recognition of a license plate by visual means, or by an electronic device in violation of the above-described provisions.
More detail
A conviction for a violation of this provision is punishable by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars $250 per item sold or per violation. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime.
This bill would further prohibit a person from installing or affixing a shade or tint that obstructs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote emission sensing device, as specified. The bill would further prohibit the manufacture of these products and devices in the state and impose a $1,000 fine per item sold or manufactured for a violation of these provisions. The bill would also make clarifying changes. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 1Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 179, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 1Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 2Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 25Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 2726.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1085 Stefani Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 17In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded Consent Calendar 2nd. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 17Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 2138.).Passed Senate
- Jul 15Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jul 14From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 19In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Jun 11Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.Major
- Jun 10From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 10).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Public Safety] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and PUB. S.Minor
- May 15In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1085 Stefani Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- May 15Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1569.)Passed Assembly
- May 8Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- May 7From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 7).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Apr 8From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Mar 24From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 24Referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Feb 21From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
- Feb 20Read first time. To print.Introduced