SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4265

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 1, 2026

      The Senate Transportation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4265.

      As reported, this bill prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle with an obstructed license plate and from selling, distributing, transferring, purchasing, receiving, or possessing merchandise that a person knows is designed or intended to obstruct a license plate, including, but not limited to, certain merchandise outlined in the bill.  Under the bill, “obstructed license plate” means a registration plate, temporary registration certificate, temporary registration plate, or registration plate insert issued by the commission that a person has purposely concealed or obfuscated in any way to evade law enforcement or a toll issued pursuant to Title 27 or Title 32 of the Revised Statutes.

     Under the bill, a person who operates a motor vehicle with an obstructed license plate or who sells, distributes, transfers, purchases, receives, or possesses merchandise that a person knows is designed or intended to obstruct a license plate is subject to:  (1) a fine not exceeding $500 for the first offense; and (2) a fine not exceeding $750 for the second or subsequent offense.  In addition, a person who operates a motor vehicle with an obstructed license plate three or more times is subject to two motor vehicle penalty points and two automobile insurance eligibility points.  However, a person who is fined pursuant to the bill is not subject to the fines issued pursuant to current law for driving with an unintentionally obstructed license plate.