California could fine you $10,000 for selling this one car gadget

Sacramento, California – A growing trend among California drivers is catching the attention of state lawmakers: tinted and electronic license plate covers designed to help motorists evade tolls, traffic enforcement cameras, and police. These devices, which can cost between $50 and $200 online, are being used to obscure plates with the push of a button—prompting concerns over safety, lost revenue, and accountability.

This month, San Francisco Assemblymember Catherine Stefani plans to introduce Assembly Bill 1085, which would crack down on the sale and manufacturing of such devices. The proposed legislation would impose a steep $10,000 fine for each plate cover sold, targeting both retailers and manufacturers.

“These devices have become a tool for lawbreakers,” Stefani said in a statement. “This bill ensures that enforcement can keep pace with technology designed to deceive.”

While it’s already illegal to obscure a license plate in California, Stefani’s bill aims to close a loophole by holding sellers accountable. According to her office, state patrol officers issued 1,300 citations in 2024 for license plate obstruction.

The devices are already having a financial impact. The Bay Area Toll Authority estimates the state lost $1.4 million in revenue over the past fiscal year from 185,000 illegal bridge crossings using obscured plates. That figure doesn’t include toll losses at the Golden Gate Bridge—traveled by 16 million vehicles annually—or in California’s expanding express lane network.

Transportation advocates support the legislation. “Manufacturers of license plate obstruction devices put our communities at risk,” said Marc Vukcevich of Streets For All. “This bill is an important step toward safer streets.”

San Francisco officials say the devices are undermining efforts to reduce speeding and traffic violations. A new program using automated cameras to catch speeders has been affected, though the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency declined to specify how many violators may have evaded detection due to obscured plates.

Online retailers are already feeling the pressure. Both eBay and Walmart said they prohibit the sale of these items, while Amazon and Etsy did not respond to inquiries. In 2023, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu sent cease and desist letters to the four platforms demanding they stop selling the covers.

Stefani’s proposal follows similar efforts elsewhere. In 2022, New York City partnered with Amazon to restrict sales of tinted covers to New York addresses only.

Whether California can enforce similar controls remains to be seen.