Illinois Cracks down on License Plate tampering, toll evasion with New Law
Springfield, IL – Illinois drivers face stricter penalties for concealing or altering vehicle registration plates and evading tolls under Public Act 104-0125, signed into law today. The legislation, an amendment to existing vehicle code, elevates certain offenses to class A misdemeanors and expands prohibitions on devices used to obscure license plates.
The new law builds upon previous regulations, specifically Section 27.1 of the Toll Highway Act concerning toll evasion, and addresses emerging methods of circumventing registration and toll payment.It explicitly prohibits the use of any manual, electronic, or mechanical device intended to hide or obscure a registration plate, as well as the alteration or manipulation of registration stickers, plates, or digital registration. Any person found to be operating a vehicle with altered evidence of registration or equipped with an obscuring device will be subject to legal action.
The legislation clarifies display requirements for registration stickers, differentiating between standard vehicles and truck-tractors.Standard vehicle stickers must be displayed on the upper right corner of the rear registration plate, while truck-tractor stickers go on the upper right corner of the front plate. Affixing unauthorized objects – medallions,insignias,stickers,or tape – to any registration evidence is also prohibited.
A violation of the provisions regarding plate tampering or obscuring devices is now classified as a Class A misdemeanor in Illinois. This change aims to deter drivers from attempting to avoid toll fees or conceal vehicle identification, enhancing public safety and ensuring compliance with state regulations. The law took effect January 1, 2025, as originally outlined in P.A. 103-706.
