Tennessee Cracks Down on Plate Flippers

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Tennessee House of Representatives has passed House Bill 300, a measure aimed at strengthening enforcement against the use of license plate flippers.

The devices in question allow drivers to obscure or alter their license plates at the push of a button. 

The bill, sponsored by Representative Greg Martin, gives law enforcement the authority to seize license plate flippers and impound vehicles found using them. 

License plate flippers have long been used at auto shows for aesthetic purposes, but law enforcement says criminals have used them to evade tolls, speed cameras, and even police investigations.

In Tennessee, a law that went into effect last July banned the sale, purchase, and possession of these devices. 

Texas and Washington outlawed them in 2013, and similar crackdowns are happening in Pennsylvania.

The bill’s companion legislation, Senate Bill 296, unanimously passed in the Tennessee Senate earlier this week. 

With bipartisan support, the measure is expected to be signed into law soon. 

Law enforcement officials say the tougher penalties will help them crack down on offenders, but some critics question whether impounding vehicles is too harsh a punishment. 

As the bill moves closer to becoming law, we’ll continue following this story and its potential impact on drivers across Tennessee