09/19/2024
New Regulation in New York Make These Illegal
A new ban in New York has made it illegal to use license plate covers, with fines of up to $500 for violators. This crackdown is part of the state's efforts to tackle toll evasion and ensure drivers are paying their fair share for the use of public infrastructure.
The ban, which went into effect on September 1, 2024, prohibits the sale of license plate covers and also increases penalties for anyone convicted of obscuring a license plate to avoid detection or toll collection. This measure is targeted at drivers who attempt to evade tolls on bridges, tunnels, and toll roads by covering, disguising, or altering their license plates.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul launched a multi-agency task force earlier in the year to crack down on "ghost" plates and "ghost" cars using fake or altered plates. The ban on license plate covers is a further step in this crackdown, aiming to hold drivers accountable for using illegal tactics to avoid toll payments.
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYSDMV), the banned covers, typically made of glass or plastic, distort a camera’s image of the plate, making the vehicle undetectable and allowing drivers to avoid paying tolls.
Mark J.F. Schroeder, the DMV Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, emphasized that the new law is intended to ensure that everyone using public infrastructure is paying their fair share and to crack down on criminals who attempt to avoid detection when committing crimes using ghost plates or license plate coverings.
Drivers caught using plate covers can expect fines ranging from $50 to $500, and may be required to surrender the cover. Additionally, repeat plate-covering offenders risk having their vehicle registration suspended for up to 90 days.
By making license plate covers illegal, the state aims to ensure that drivers are abiding by toll regulations and contributing to the maintenance of public infrastructure through their fair share of toll payments.
10 New York State License Plate Laws
Doing any of these ten things are a violation of the license plate rules in the state of New York and could earn you a license plate ticket and a fine.
👉No Window Plates
Let's say you understand that in New York, your license plate must be firmly attached to your vehicle but you don't want to put it on the car. As long as it's firmly attached anywhere, it's okay, right? No. NY VTL 1213 states that it is illegal to have anything blocking any part of a driver’s front or rear window.
👉You Must Have Two Plates
Some states allow their vehicle owners to only have one plate on their car. New York is not one of those states. In New York, you must have a license plate on the front and the back of your vehicle.
👉License Plate Height Is Important
The height at which your license plate hang is important. In New York, a license plate can't be any higher than 48 inches above the ground and it can't be less than 12 inches from the ground.
👉Your License Plate Must Be Lit Up
There are small lights where your license plate sits and if they're not on or bright enough for your plate to be read in the dark, you can be given a ticket.
👉Must Be Secure
Some people believe that it's okay to drive around with their license plate propped up in their back window or front dash. It it not. In New York, your license plate must be firmly attached to your vehicle. If your license plate can move, you can receive a ticket.
👉No Covers Allowed
Some stores sell plastic or glass covers for license plates. These are illegal in New York. As a matter of fact, the law in New York states, NY’s statute specifically states that a license plate “shall not be covered by glass or any plastic material, and shall not be knowingly covered or coated with any artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or obscures such number plates or that distorts a recorded or photographic image of such number plates.”
👉No Dangling Things (windows)
While not license plate specific, we figured since we mentioned that the law states that it's illegal to have anything blocking any part of a driver’s front or rear window, including a license plate, that we'd mention font or back window stickers or even things hanging from the rearview mirror would be considered an obstruction.
👉Frames Are Okay With An Exception
It's perfectly legal to put a frame around your license plate in New York. However, the frame cannot cover any part of the letters or numbers. This includes the portion of the plate that reads "New York" or the bottom portion that reads either "Empire State" or "Excelsior."
👉Snow Must Be Removed
You'll want to make sure you remove all the snow and ice from your license plate because all of the letters and numbers must be visible at all times. This goes for mud, too.
👉 Keep Your Plate Right Side Up
Your license plate must be displayed right side up, not upside down or sideways.
Credit: Traci Taylor/92.1 Big Cat
