Adds a knowing element to certain violations for concealed license plates; increases the fine amounts for certain violations relating to concealed license plates to $75 - $300 for first violation, $75 - $350 for a second violation, and $75 - $400 for the third and any subsequent violations.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6249A
SPONSOR: Glick TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to violations
for concealed license plates
PURPOSE:
To further discourage the purposeful obstruction of license plates.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
to increase fines for glass or plastic, or any conceals or obscures the
image of the plate.
Section 1: Subdivision 8 of section 402 is amended knowingly covering or
coating a license plate with artificial or synthetic material or
substance that plate, or that distorts a recorded or photographic
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's transition from toll booths to electronic tolling has created
a seamless and efficient travel experience for those that drive on the
state's major roads, bridges and tunnels. Tolls generate millions of
dollars in revenue for the state annually, for the purpose of maintain-
ing the condition and safety of our infrastructure. However, the use of
automated cameras to identify license plates and issue fees to drivers
has resulted in a growth in the manipulation of this system. The
obstruction of license plates through the use of reflective sprays,
glass or plastic license plate covers, and physical distortion is a
problem which the state must act upon.
The Chief of Operations of the Bridges and Tunnels Department of the MTA
has stated that in New York City alone between nine and ten thousand
vehicles evade tolls using unreadable plates every day. In the wider
state, data from the Department of Transportation indicates that the
number of vehicles which were unidentifiable by toll cameras has risen
from one percent in 2019 to 4 percent in 2022. The fines we have at
present are too minimal to dissuade individuals from committing this
crime. We must introduce appropriate measures to discourage the unlawful
evasion of tolls, so as to guarantee that the state and its citizens are
not being deprived of revenue collected for the purpose of enhancing New
York's transport infrastructure.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the
date upon which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6249--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 3, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to violations
for concealed license plates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision
2 1 and subdivision 8 of section 402 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
3 amended by chapter 451 of the laws of 2021, are amended to read as
4 follows:
5 (i) Number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to be
6 easily readable [and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic mate-
7 rial].
8 (ii) Number plates shall not be knowingly covered by glass or any
9 plastic material or coated with any artificial or synthetic material or
10 substance that conceals or obscures such number plates or that distorts
11 a recorded or photographic image of such number plates.
12 8. A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not
13 less than twenty-five nor more than two hundred dollars, except that a
14 violation of subparagraph (ii) or subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (b) of
15 subdivision one of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not
16 less than [fifty] seventy-five nor more than three hundred dollars upon
17 conviction of a first violation; upon conviction of a second
18 violation, both of which were committed within a period of eighteen
19 months, such violation shall be punishable by a fine of not less than
20 seventy-five nor more than three hundred fifty dollars; upon conviction
21 of a third or subsequent violation, all of which were committed within a
22 period of eighteen months, such violation shall be punishable by a fine
23 of not less than seventy-five nor more than four hundred dollars.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
25 ing 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.
LBD05078-03-3
