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DRIVERS are at risk of $2,000 fines after a new license plate law was quietly passed by a state legislature.
Officials are trying to crack down on a particular type of registration crime which can make enforcing traffic laws more difficult.
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Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro signed the new Act 150 into law yesterday with little fanfare.
The Act criminalises the use of “plate flipping” devices, which can help drivers to avoid penalties.
These gadgets, as the name suggests, are effectively a set of rotating plates.
They can be attached to the front of a vehicle and have one registration on one face and another on the reverse.
At the push of a button, motorists can effectively change their registration details.
While it’s like something out of James Bond, it’s easy to see how criminals could exploit the tech for shady purposes.
For instance, a car that was used as a getaway vehicle for a serious crime could just switch its plates and become effectively untraceable by police.
On the lower end, the devices could also be used to cheat things like speeding, toll and parking enforcement.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in particular has reported issues with fee collection after swapping to an automated system in 2020.
A similar law had already been implemented by the city of Philadelphia, with mayor Cherelle Parker introducing the rules in April.
However, there was previously some ambiguity in Pennsylvania state law as to whether plate flippers were legal or not.
Gov. Shapiro has now put the speculation to bed, as Act 150 will make it illegal to buy, sell, manufacture, install or even simply to possess one.
It will also be an offence to conceal or otherwise swap your plate to avoid detection.
Democratic state representative Greg Scott, a co-sponsor of the law, told the Pennsylvania Capital-Star: “[The Act] represents an important move toward accountability on our roads.
“By banning these devices statewide, we are closing a loophole and strengthening public safety across Pennsylvania.”
Charles Bruckner, a PI and former cop, added: “If you can’t identify a vehicle, you don’t have the legal tooth or authority to execute a stop or something.
“There’s just no law and order.
“That’s not safe for people.”
Pennsylvania’s is the latest in a string of legislatures to introduce a state-wide plate flipper ban.
Lawmakers in Texas and Washington banned the devices explicitly back in 2013.
Tennesse followed suit in April of this year, while New York has set up a task force to identify so-called “ghost cars” using the tech.
It is also against federal law to obscure or conceal your plate by any method, though there is debate over whether plate flipping falls under this category.
