Pennsylvania Enacts $2,000 Fine for License Plate Flippers
Harrisburg, PA (UPI) — In a bid to enhance road safety and prevent toll evasion, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed a new law imposing a hefty $2,000 fine on anyone using or selling license plate flippers. The legislation, known as Act 150, will take effect in 60 days.
License plate flippers allow motorists to conceal or alter their vehicle’s license plates at the push of a button, enabling them to evade automated tolls and speed cameras. Once a common accessory at auto shows for displaying decorative plates, these devices have recently gained notoriety for being utilized in illegal activities on public roads.
Co-sponsors of the bill, state representatives Greg Scott and Pat Gallagher, emphasized the detrimental impact of such devices in their proposal. “When affixed to vehicles, these devices can be used to conceal a license plate, modify its appearance or switch one license plate to another. This allows drivers to evade identification, not only for toll evasion but also reckless driving or other criminal activities,” they stated.
The rising use of license plate flippers correlates with increased losses in toll revenue, as seen in the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s report of $105 million in lost tolls following the implementation of automatic toll collection in September 2021.
As automated enforcement measures, such as speed and red-light cameras, become more prevalent, lawmakers believe that stricter regulations are essential to maintain road safety. “With the increase in technology for evading these safety measures on the roads, we must act decisively to safeguard the public,” Gallagher added.
The new law represents a significant step by Pennsylvania to crack down on the misuse of technology in circumventing traffic laws.
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