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.