S 4265 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Prohibits purposeful obstruction of license plate and possession or transfer of merchandise that obstructs license plate.

This New Jersey bill prohibits drivers from operating vehicles with intentionally obstructed license plates and bans the possession or transfer of merchandise designed to hide or alter license plates. The legislation specifically targets items like retractable plate holders, reflective sprays, blackout covers, and plate-flipping devices, while exempting newspapers that publish classified ads for such goods. Violators face fines up to $500 for a first offense and $750 for subsequent offenses, along with penalty points on their driving record for third or later violations.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced May 14, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill moved from introduction to first reprint after Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee action on June 24, 2026. The most substantive change is to the definition of 'obstructed license plate,' which now requires specific intent ('with the intention of evading') rather than merely concealing a plate 'in any way to evade,' and broadens toll evasion language from 'a toll' to 'payment of tolls or other charges.' A typo in the repealed statute citation was also corrected (P.L.2025 changed to P.L.2015).

DEFINITION

The definition of 'obstructed license plate' now requires that a person concealed or obfuscated the plate 'with the intention of evading' law enforcement, adding a specific intent element. Previously it only required that the plate was concealed 'in any way to evade.'

The toll-related language in the 'obstructed license plate' definition was broadened from 'a toll issued pursuant to Title 27 or Title 32' to 'payment of tolls or other charges issued pursuant to Title 27 or Title 32,' potentially covering more types of highway charges.

TECHNICAL

A citation error was corrected: the bill now correctly references P.L.2015, c.49 (the law being repealed) instead of the erroneous P.L.2025, c.49.

Several definitions in R.S.39:1-1 (motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, school crossing) were reorganized into separate numbered paragraphs for clarity, with no change to their substantive content.

SCOPE

Senator Moriarty was added as a co-sponsor of the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee

lower

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (40-0)

upper

Jun 1, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

May 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor