Legislation that would strengthen New Jersey’s laws against intentionally obscured license plates was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan, would prohibit motorists from deliberately concealing or altering license plates to evade law enforcement, traffic cameras, or toll collection systems. It would also ban the sale, purchase, possession, transfer, and distribution of devices designed to obstruct license plate visibility.

Diegnan, a Middlesex County Democrat who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said the measure is intended to address a growing problem involving drivers who attempt to avoid accountability by hiding their vehicles’ identities.

“Drivers who intentionally hide their license plates are undermining public safety and fairness,” Diegnan said in a statement. “Whether the goal is avoiding tolls, evading traffic enforcement, or escaping responsibility for dangerous driving, these practices make it harder for law enforcement and transportation agencies to do their jobs.”

Under the proposal, an obstructed license plate would include any registration plate, temporary registration certificate, temporary registration plate, or registration plate insert that has been purposely concealed or altered to avoid detection by law enforcement or toll collection systems.

The legislation specifically targets products marketed to conceal license plates, including retractable plate holders, reflective sprays, tinted or blackout license plate covers that prevent identification, and mechanical devices that flip or alter the appearance of registration plates.

Motorists found in violation would face fines of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $750 for subsequent offenses. Drivers convicted three or more times of operating a vehicle with an intentionally obstructed license plate would also receive two motor vehicle penalty points and two automobile insurance eligibility points.

The bill would consolidate several existing provisions of state law into a single statute governing license plate obstruction and concealment devices. It would also repeal and replace an earlier law concerning obstructive license plate merchandise, creating what supporters describe as a more comprehensive enforcement framework.

Diegnan said the legislation is aimed at drivers who deliberately attempt to evade detection rather than motorists whose plates may be temporarily obscured by dirt, weather conditions, or normal wear.

“Most New Jersey drivers comply with the law and display their license plates properly,” Diegnan said. “This bill focuses on those who deliberately attempt to avoid accountability by hiding their vehicle’s identity.”