One California driver decided to use a bit of James Bond-style technology to use toll roads without paying. The driver of a Volkswagen Jetta installed a Q Branch-esque plate hiding device to avoid paying Express Lane and Bay Area bridge tolls, according to the California Highway Patrol Solano Office.
How the device works
Dashcam footage from a CHP cruiser shows the black Jetta cruising past in the Express Lane with its license plate completely hidden from view. That catches the officer’s attention, and the cruiser begins following the VW. A few miles later, however, something has changed: the Jetta’s license plate has mysteriously reappeared.
After pulling the Jetta over, the driver reportedly admitted to using the device specifically to avoid paying tolls. Bodycam footage then reveals exactly how the trick works: the officer presses a button on a key fob, and a black shield moves into place over the license plate. Press the button again, and the plate reappears.
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The gadget is clever, but it is illegal. California Vehicle Code Section 5201.1 “prohibits operating a vehicle equipped with a switchable license plate frame, flipper, or other product intended to obscure a plate.” CHP Solano noted that the base fine for operating a vehicle with one of these devices is $250 per violation, before state and county penalty assessments are piled on.
Code 5201 states that the license plate must be clearly visible at all times. And 23302(a)(1) notes that it is unlawful to avoid paying tolls and doing so can result in fines as well as civil penalties and the loss of your vehicle registration. Getting caught might make those avoided tolls look like a bargain.
License plate obscuring devices are essentially mirrors of the technology used to prevent tax evasion. In those cases, the law requires that the tax base be visible for calculation. Here, the “tax” is the toll fee, and the state demands an unobstructed view of the vehicle to ensure the fee is collected. The driver might save money in the short term, but the financial penalty for the device and the tolls likely outweighs the benefit.
