A bill that recently passed through the New York State Assembly would raise the fines from $200 to $300 for intentionally obstructing or defacing license plates.
The goal of the legislation is to keep motorists from making license plates hard to read to avoid tolls or even being spotted by law enforcement.
“As New York moves to adopt “cashless tolling” on all its toll roads, bridges and tunnels, it is critical that cameras be able to properly read license plate numbers,” said New York Assemblyman William Magnarelli.
“When a motorist intentionally defaces or obstructs the plate, it makes it difficult or impossible for the Thruway Authority or other entity to send a bill for tolls. This passes additional costs down to all motorists using these thoroughfares,” Magnarelli added to LocalSyr.com.
Lawmakers say this is also a crucial component to identifying those who perpetrate hit-and-runs and other traffic offenses.
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