Do you remember Knight Rider? A 1980’s-era crime drama, it starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight, the sleek crime fighter and his right-hand man—err, car—KITT. The latter was an artificial intelligence system, equipped with a license plate flipper. If Michael was in a bind and needed some automotive anonymity, KITT could flip its license plate to a different one, hiding the “real” plate. For around $200 you can buy your own license plate flipper and skip out on toll charges, etc. Well, the states are wising up, and some are making them illegal.
Pennsylvania joins other states with its license plate flipper ban
Pennsylvania has a new law that bans the use of license plate flippers. New Jersey is following suit. Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed a bill into law that explicitly prohibits the use of these devices across Pennsylvania. The state joins Tennessee, Texas, and Washington in outlawing the use of license plate flippers.
The issue of license plate flippers first gained attention earlier this year in Philadelphia, where they were identified as a significant problem. In April, the city council passed legislation banning the devices within the city limits, imposing fines of up to $2,000 for anyone caught purchasing, installing, possessing, or selling them.
With the new state law, Pennsylvania extends the ban on license plate flippers to the entire commonwealth. The law defines a license plate flipping device as any manual, electric, or mechanical device installed on a motor vehicle that can conceal the vehicle’s registration plate by flipping it. Starting January 17, it will be illegal in Pennsylvania to possess, operate, purchase, install, manufacture, sell, or distribute a license plate flipper. Violators face fines of up to $2,000.
New Jersey “flips” over $40 million revenue loss, some from flippers
In neighboring New Jersey, lawmakers are working to curb the use of license plate flippers to avoid paying tolls. Sponsored by Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Burlington) and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-Bergen), Assembly Bill 3751 (A3751) aims to ban these devices and impose harsher penalties for their use.
The state is rightly concerned. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported a loss of approximately $40 million in toll revenue in 2022 due to vehicles with obscured or missing license plates.
“This bill targets those who try to avoid paying tolls through illegal means, ensuring that individuals who attempt to evade tolls face appropriate penalties,” Murphy said. She also emphasized the public safety concerns, noting that these devices make it harder to track or identify drivers involved in accidents or crimes, potentially endangering others and hindering law enforcement efforts.
A3751 defines a license plate flipper as any device or technology that allows a vehicle’s registration plate to change to a different plate with distinct identification marks, either manually or electronically.
Under current New Jersey law, anyone convicted of displaying a fictitious number on a registration plate faces a fine of up to $500 or up to 60 days in jail. If the new bill passes into law, the fine for using a license plate flipper would increase to a maximum of $750, with the possibility of up to 60 days in jail. If the offense is committed in connection with another crime or violation, the fine could rise to $1,500, and the offender could face up to 90 days in jail.
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I evade paying tolls by not taking toll roads in the first place. Only way I’ll go through a tollbooth is if it’s unavoidable without going a REALLY long way out of my way (like, crossing the Mackinac Bridge to go the the Upper Peninsula vs. going south, and then through northern Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin around Lake Michigan). I’d rather take a slower scenic route than take a toll road.
Same here always try to avoid toll roads. My wife and I have experienced some of the most scenic back road small towns with communities, parks, museums and US historical sites. Many of the small mom-and-pop restaurants have the best food. Fortunately we don’t have any toll roads on the west coast, mid-west and north-west.
I’ll send you some William we’ve got plenty on the east coast, east of the Mississippi you’ll sure to hate. Living at one point in NM and AZ the traveling without toll roads was pure heaven.
I totally agree plate flippers should be illegal and severely fined!! But how can you find them? Can you recognize a plate that has been flipped?
Excellent question! I think only if a corporation is handling the toll programs and if that corporation has a contract with the flipped state- in this case illustration, California and Texas would both have contracts and the corporation would be able to run both license plates
I have taken ‘scenic’ routes many times. Heading for Mobile, Alabama we took U.S. 45 south from Chicago, stopping in the many towns along the way, such as Tupelo, MS to see the boyhood home of Elvis Pressley. It was a relaxing drive with few semi-trucks and just the ‘locals’ going to town. It reminded me of the olden days when U.S. highways were the only way to travel, such as U.S. 16 for 200 miles across Wisconsin from Milwaukee to Tomah. Now I use the old highways from Wisconsin to Florida twice a year. Very pleasant drive. If you have a limited amount of time take the Interstate. Otherwise take the U.S. highways.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! My goodness! I had no idea. Interesting that it took so long to outlaw these. Happy new year and safe travels! 🙂
While I don’t agree with dodging tolls, I can definitely see the utility of these devices. The very rural county I live in here in Central Texas has just contracted with “Flock Safety” to install cameras at every road crossing the county line.
The “Flock Safety” camera is a bulk license plate capture device that gobbles up every plate passing by, in or out of the county. How is that going to make me any safer? I get the argument that my cell tower data will give away my travels too, but generally they need a warrant or court order to get that information.
This device has my interest now!
To continue:
I have a Toll Tag for each of our vehicles – including the motor home, so the discussion of toll theft in my case would be moot.
I, for one, want our laws enforced…fairly and completely.
It is about time that my state, for instance, gets back to basic governmental duties. License plate fees and tags, tickets for speeding and unsafe driving, smoked windows, loud mufflers etc.
I never heard of such a thing but, there again I don’t look at break laws or stealing.