License plates: obstruction or alteration.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how the law will be enforced or what happens to those who already have tinted shades on their plates.

License Plates: No Obstructive Tints or Shades

AB-1085 makes it illegal to put tinted shades on license plates that block them from being read by cameras and other devices used by police, toll roads, and emission sensors. It also bans making these products in California.

What This Bill Does

• Makes it against the law to put a tint or shade on a car's license plate if it stops people from reading the plate with their eyes or electronic devices like cameras.
• Adds fines for selling or manufacturing items that block license plates, such as $1,000 per item made or sold.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers who put tinted shades on their car's license plate
• Manufacturers and sellers of products that block license plates

Terms To Know

Electronic device

A machine or tool, like a camera or computer, used to read license plates.

Remote emission sensing device

A special machine that checks if cars are polluting the air without drivers knowing it's being checked.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how much money will be spent on enforcing this law.
• The bill does not say what happens to people who already have tinted shades on their license plates when the new rule starts.
• It is unclear if there are any exceptions for certain types of vehicles or situations.

Official Summary Text

AB 1085, Stefani.
License plates: obstruction or alteration.
Existing law prohibits a person from erasing the reflective coating of, painting over the reflective coating of, or altering a license plate to avoid visual or electronic capture of the license plate or its characters by state or local law enforcement. Existing law prohibits a person from installing or affixing on a vehicle a casing, shield, frame, border, product, or other device that obstructs or impairs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote emission sensing device, as specified. Existing law also prohibits the sale of a product or device that obscures, or is intended to obscure, the reading or recognition of a license plate by visual means, or by an electronic device in
violation of the above-described provisions. A conviction for a violation of this provision is punishable by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars $250 per item sold or per violation. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime.
This bill would further prohibit a person from installing or affixing a shade or tint that obstructs the reading or recognition of a license plate by an electronic device operated by state or local law enforcement, an electronic device operated in connection with a toll road, high-occupancy toll lane, toll bridge, or other toll facility, or a remote emission sensing device, as specified. The bill would further prohibit the manufacture of these products and devices in the state and impose a $1,000 fine per item sold or manufactured for a violation of
these provisions. The bill would also make clarifying changes. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF