A new bill introduced in the state Legislature would allow drivers in the Garden State to display only the rear license plate on vehicles registered in the state.
This bill, which was introduced in the Senate by Senators Gordon Johnson and Renee Burgess, amends the current law to allow any person who was issued two registration plates to return one registration plate to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, free of charge, and display a single registration plate on the rear of the vehicle
According to the bill’s text, the single license plate must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.
A companion bill has not yet been introduced in the state Assembly.
At least 19 states in the country, including neighboring Pennsylvania, do not require front license plates.
The bill also specifies that any person who was issued two license plates prior to the effective date of the bill may return one of those plates to the commission.
Law enforcement agencies have long been opposed to such a move, noting that police stop many drivers by identifying them through the front plate via scanning technology.
There is currently a $100 fine for failing to display a front license plate in New Jersey.
A similar bill was introduced last session but did not advance.
Whats the logic behind this? So that criminals can be criminals more easily while making it harder to identify them?
It doesn’t benefit law abiding citizens.
It’s actually the cost of making the plates. Using only one plate cuts the cost in half. Also, on very expensive or exotic cars there’s often no place for a front plate to be mounted. A fews years ago I read about a state with 2 plates that was considering passing a law exempting certain vehicles from the front plate because of this issue.
Considering how many states have only one plate it must not be a big deal concerning front plates & crime.
why???
Expect an amendment to simultaneously ban “pull through” parking or “back in” parking, such as what was done in Florida, because these forms of parking render the police unable to read the rear plate when searching for specific cars in large parking lots.
I’m wondering if their are any reasons to do this.
What are the benefits this way or that way?
This is a bad legislative move. License plates should be visible in the front and rear of the car. And, license plates with protective covering should be banned, makes it difficult to read the plate. What happens if the only license plate is destroyed in a car accident. The person can drive with no license plate?
3 of the 4 states that border where I’m from have only rear plates & it doesn’t seem to be much of an issue.
p.s. If a plate gets destroyed in an accident or stolen or whatever it can be replaced.
License Plate Thieves Stage Huge Demonstration Against Proposed Bill that Would Eliminate Front License Plates
Over 50,000 NJ license plate thieves assembled together outside the offices of state senators, Gordon Johnson and Renee Burgess on Wednesday to protest a new bill proposed by the two lawmakers that would eliminate the requirement for front license plates.
“This new bill will destroy the livelihoods of thousands of hard working license plate thieves,” said Frank Gezelworth, who makes a living stealing license plates off of cars and then selling the stolen goods to his loyal customer base.”
“I suspect the autombile thief lobbyists have been paying off state senators to support this bill,” Mr. Gezelworth said, “because the proposed bill, if passed, will save the car thieves huge sums of money on purchasing stolen license plates.”
“Eliminating the requirement for front license plates also makes it easier for car thieves to steal and sell their wares,” he said
“There’s way too much corruption in politics nowadays,” the veteran license plate thief opined. “Honesty and integrity no longer exist in today’s political circles, or in today’s society in general” he added.
However, Al Steel, president of the NJ Auto Thief Association, told reporters on Wednesday that eliminating the requirement for front license plates was long overdue.
“I can’t tell you how many car thieves have gone broke in recent years because of the high costs of purloined license plates,” Mr. Steel said. “There are also thousands of car thieves who went to prison when police officers, who were driving in the opposite direction of the stolen cars, identified the stolen vehicles from the front end license plates.”
Mr. Steel added that: “I’m happy there are still some good-hearted people in the senate who understand the need to support ‘The Little Guy’, namely the small time, resourceful businessman who makes a living stealing and selling stolen vehicles,” Mr. Steel said.
I am supportive of eliminating the front license plate.
There is a disease in our state Congress where they feel the need to constantly bring up useless bills.
It makes them feel like they are doing something and gives them something to brag about, while actually doing nothing to make our lives better.
Is this going to be another Florida with one license plate on your vehicle?