Bill Text: CA AB2111 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 2111

Bill Title: License plates: obstruction or alteration.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-07-02 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 59, Statutes of 2024. [AB2111 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2111-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 2111

CHAPTER 59

An act to amend Section 5201.1 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

[ Approved by Governor July 02, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State July 02, 2024. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2111, Wallis. 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. A violation of this provision is an infraction.

This bill would prohibit these acts to avoid visual or electronic capture of the license plate or its characters generally without regard to their capture by state or local law enforcement. By expanding the definition of a 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.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 5201.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

5201.1.

(a) A person shall not sell 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 as prohibited by subdivision (c) of Section 5201.

(b) A person shall not operate a vehicle with a product or device that violates subdivision (a).

(c) A person shall not erase the reflective coating of, paint over the reflective coating of, or alter a license plate to avoid visual or electronic capture of the license plate or its characters.

(d) A conviction for a violation of this section is punishable by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per item sold or per violation.

SEC. 2.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.