Facing Fines and Crimes For Covered Plates California Cracks Down Harder In 2026

California is tightening the rules about license plates in 2026 with a new law AB 1085, aimed squarely at stopping devices and products that hide or obscure your vehicle registration. The goal is to make sure every license plate stays clearly readable to people and cameras on public roads without trickery or obstruction. This law builds on existing rules in Vehicle Code §§ 5201 and 5201.1 that already required plates to be visible and prohibited covers meant to defeat cameras or law enforcement, toll readers or electronic readers. AB 1085 takes it further by targeting the sale and manufacture of these products and increasing penalties quite dramatically.

Below, we explain what the law does, why lawmakers acted, and what penalties you can face under this new framework.

What AB 1085 Changes In 2026

Under current law, it has long been illegal to install an object that makes a license plate hard to read or recognize by sight or by electronic tools used by toll stations and law enforcement. This includes painted plates and some covers that block numbers or reflective surfaces. But enforcement largely focused on the people caught driving with a plate obstruction. It was still possible for sellers and manufacturers to make and distribute these products, often marketed online or in stores to evade tolls camera enforcement or accountability.

AB 1085 closes that loophole. Effective as part of the 2026 laws, it now makes it an infraction to manufacture in California any product or device that obscures or is intended to obscure a license plate so it cannot be read visually or by electronic means, including law enforcement cameras, toll readers, and high-occupancy toll lane or bridge scanners. It also clarifies that switching plates or adding tints, shades, flippers, or similar obstruction devices falls under this prohibition. The bill was authored by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani and signed into law in 2025.

In practical terms, that means a product that physically covers a plate, a tinted or shaded plate cover, a plate flipper that flips the plate around, or any similar product designed to defeat cameras or readers is illegal to make or sell in the state going forward.

Types Of Devices And Products Now Banned

Here are examples of devices or modifications that AB 1085 explicitly targets:

• License plate shades or tints that impair camera or visual recognition

• Plate cover devices are marketed to prevent toll system capture

• Plate flippers and mechanized covers that conceal plates when triggered

• Any product designed or sold with the intent of obscuring the plate’s characters from view or cameras

It also backs up existing rules that prohibit altering plates by painting over the reflective surface or erasing official markings. Anyone caught with these devices or selling them could be cited under this new law.

Penalties Under The New Law

AB 1085 raises the stakes in a big way. Previously, violating the plate obstruction provisions was treated as a minor infraction with fines around $250 plus court assessments. That stayed true even if someone knowingly used or sold these products.

But the 2026 rules impose significantly higher fines for those caught manufacturing or selling these illegal products in California. In many cases, the base fine for making or selling a prohibited device can be as high as $1 000 per violation, with court penalty assessments potentially pushing the total cost even higher. Some legislative summaries show estimates of penalties reaching the equivalent of many thousands of dollars per violation after assessments, even though the statutory base remains $1000.

For the driver or vehicle owner using a banned device, the violation is still an infraction and could lead to a citation. In some news reports about the law enforcement rollout, motorists have already received fines up to $250 for using a plate flipper device under the tightened enforcement rules.

Why California Strengthened These Rules

Lawmakers and safety advocates noted that plate obstruction devices were being used not just to evade traffic enforcement cameras but also to dodge tolls and to make it harder for law enforcement to identify vehicles involved in crimes. Reports from law enforcement agencies like the California Highway Patrol showed a rise in citations for obscured plates and concern that newer devices were beating older rules. The legislative intent behind AB 1085 was to make it harder for bad actors to exploit these loopholes and to discourage the sale and distribution of these products in the first place.

In addition to improving public safety and aiding enforcement, the state also expects to protect transportation revenue by cracking down on toll evasion through these devices.

How This Compares To Other States

Several other states also have tough rules against license plate obstruction devices. For example a few states ban flippers and tinted covers with high fines or even potential misdemeanor charges for repeat or purposeful evasion tactics. In Florida, a similar ban draws fines and potential jail time for offenders, and authorities use a mix of electronic enforcement and patrol checks. Other states, such as Illinois, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, have adopted or proposed plate concealment bans with fines ranging up to a few thousand dollars per device. California’s approach with AB 1085 aligns with a broader national crackdown on this issue, but adds a clear focus on curbing the manufacture and distribution side of the illegal market.

Everyday Examples Of Violations

Some common situations that could lead to a citation under this law include:

• Putting on an aftermarket tinted or smoked cover marketed to hide your plate from cameras

• Installing a flip device so your plate only shows part of the time

• Using a plate cover that reflects light so that automated readers cannot capture the digits

• Painting or altering the plate so that characters are harder to read

These are not allowed even if the goal is to avoid paying tolls a red light camera ticket or any similar enforcement action.

What To Do If You Get Cited

If you were cited for a license plate obstruction violation, you have options to challenge the citation, especially if enforcement or evidence collection was flawed. The law is technical, and sometimes you can raise defenses based on how the stop was conducted or what device was actually on your vehicle.

That is where experienced legal help can matter.

Ticket Clinic California Traffic And Criminal Defense Experience

At Ticket Clinic California, we handle violations and criminal traffic matters all over the stat,e including newly updated plate obstruction laws like AB 1085. Our attorneys know how to analyze citations that involve alleged concealment of plates and how to present defenses that protect your driving record and your rights. A license plate obstruction violation can trigger fines and court assessments that add up, and in some circumstances, it may intersect with other traffic charges that carry higher consequences. Ticket Clinic has helped thousands of drivers contest traffic tickets and navigate the complex vehicle code, so you do not face penalties alone.

If you received a ticket for using or selling a plate obstruction device or for a modification that violates California law, contact Ticket Clinic California today for a free case evaluation and personalized guidance through your options.