California loses millions to license plate covers. This lawmaker is going after retailers

[usonian]

Shades of James Bond.

This?



No, this.

Keep an eye out for tinted license plate covers, and you’ll start seeing them on cars everywhere — unless California lawmakers put a stop to them.

The gadgets, which include electronic shields that move up and down at the click of a button, help scofflaw motorists avoid toll booth charges and evade police. State agencies say the covers are costing California millions of dollars in revenue per year and emboldening criminals.

San Francisco Assemblymember Catherine Stefani will introduce a bill this month imposing steep penalties on those who sell and manufacture the covers, including online retailers like Amazon, where they go for anywhere from $50 to $200.
Fellow thieves than you, Jeff!

...

According to the Bay Area Toll Authority, the regional agency that collects road fees, the state lost $1.4 million during the most recent fiscal year from obscured license plates on cars making 185,000 crossings at seven local bridges. But the real cost is likely much higher, since that doesn’t account for lost tolls at the Golden Gate Bridge, which sees about 16 million crossings each year. Drivers are charged between $9.25 and $10.25 for taking the bridge into the city. The figures also don’t include lost fees for use of express lanes in Northern and Southern California.

Of course, with SF's introduction of robo-cop traffic cameras, perhaps the James Bond model is the way to go.

[bbrady42]

1. I see them all the time

I don’t understand why they can’t just be pulled over and given a ticket for obstructing the license plate

[MichMan]

2. Good luck trying to fine or prosecute Temu or AliExpress.

[Auggie]

3. Bring back the toll booths with people in them?

First offense: $500 fine.

Second offense: $1000 fine and license suspension.

Third offense: Toss 'em off the bridge.

[usonian]

4. I only visit the Bay Area rarely, and I changed license plates, so

A. I don’t know what would happen if I drove through the ALPR (would it stop me?) and

B. I don’t know if toll-takers are gone entirely.

Now, there’s a research project to do.

Of course, my name and address are linked to the license plate.

TBH, I still have the old plates and i wonder if a member of my family would be billed if I

[JoseBalow]

5. There are no longer toll-takers on the Golden Gate Bridge

I'm not sure about any of the other Bay Area bridges.

No stopping. All lanes. All the time.

All Electronic Tolling makes it easy to cross the Golden Gate Bridge — no stopping, no fumbling for change.

Cash tolls are no longer collected at the Bridge. Instead, motorists can use one of four easy ways to pay a Golden Gate Bridge toll — a FasTrak Account, a License Plate Account, a One-Time Payment, or a Toll Invoice. Payment may be made using a credit card, cash, check or money order, and can be paid online, by phone, or in person at a cash payment location.

https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/tolls-payment/

[usonian]

6. Did you ever make the free round trip around the bay?

Toll-free directions on the Richmond, Golden Gate and Dumbarton bridges.

I did, and did that change? I forgot the directions.

Last visit, I borrowed my daughter's FasTrak.

[JoseBalow]

7. No, I never did that

I've never been over the Dumbarton bridge.

On the GGB, I just drive right past the empty tollbooths when entering the city, and the invoice arrives by mail a couple of weeks later. Pretty convenient.