For many years it has been a violation of New York state Vehicle and Traffic Law, section 402, to cover a vehicle’s license plate with basically anything, including a clear plastic cover. Effective Sept. 1 of this year, this section and subsections of VTL have been revised to increase sanctions for these violations.

Section 402(1)(b) is amended by adding a new subparagraph (ii-a) that prohibits plates being covered by glass or any plastic material, or anything appearing to be a plate with numbers or letters, but which has not been lawfully issued by New York state or any other jurisdiction.

Section 402(7) is amended by adding a new paragraph (b) to make it unlawful to sell, offer for sale or distribute any plate cover, material or anything that is intended to be installed on, around or near a license plate that will obscure any part of the plate.

VTL section 402(7) is also amended to add a new paragraph (c) to make it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or distribute any material that appears to be a number plate for display as proof of a lawful registration, but has not been lawfully issued by New York state or any other jurisdiction (fake plates).

In short, section 402 makes it illegal to place anything on your license plates, and makes it illegal to sell, offer for sale, or distribute anything that will cover your plates. It also makes it illegal to sell, offer for sale, or distribute any license plate not lawfully issued by New York state or any other jurisdiction.

VTL section 402(8) raises the fines for the above violations. The minimum fine is now $100 and can be up to a maximum of $500, plus applicable surcharges.

Lastly, section 510 of VTL is amended by adding a new subdivision 4-h that allows for the suspension of the registration of the motor vehicle for 90 days should that vehicle’s owner be convicted for the above violations three or more times within five years. Furthermore, subsection 4-h (b) provides that DMV may suspend the registration of the motor vehicle if the owner has failed to comply with the above violations until the DMV is notified by the court that the owner has corrected the violation(s).

Some vehicle owners violate this section of VTL by placing a clear plastic covering on the license plates, with the intention of keeping the plates in good condition, without knowing that they are in violation, but this is illegal and has been for years. Others may try to flout tolls or deceive enforcement officers that are trying to check a vehicle’s license plates for wants and warrants. Thus, sanctions for knowingly obscuring your license plates are now higher.

Be advised that if you have anything covering or obscuring any part of your license plates, remove it now or risk getting stopped for a traffic violation. It is also “probable cause” for enforcement to pull you over.