Toll cheats face crackdown as lawmakers move to ban plate‑obscuring devices
Proposed legislation would also crackdown on repeat offenders.
More Stories
A new bill targets people in New Jersey who cover up license plates to evade tolls.
The Toll Evasion Prevention and License Plate Visibility Act would prohibit the sale of products that obscure license plates. It would also ban the sale of fraudulent, altered or counterfeit license plates.
"We are taking action to stop toll evaders from unfairly depriving residents of the benefits of toll revenues being reinvested into our communities, while also improving safety for law enforcement officers," said Congressman Rob Menendez, who introduced the bill. "Our legislation provides funding to track toll evasion more closely and includes a common-sense ban on products that enable toll evasion and put law enforcement officers in danger."
The bill also would direct the Federal Highway Administration to set up a grant program to help upgrade technology that tracks repeat toll evaders. If approved, the program would be backed by $10 million in federal funds.
"The rise of plate covers and materials designed to obstruct vehicle identification — and the alarming ease with which fraudulent plates can be purchased online — is eroding that capability in real time," said American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators CEO Ian Grossman. "State motor vehicle administrators work daily alongside law enforcement partners who depend on accurate, readable plates to do their jobs safely. This bill provides the tools and resources necessary to meaningfully combat a trend that puts officers — and the public — at risk."
