HB2504 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 06551 LNS 16587 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2504

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/3-413

from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-413

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Prohibits a person from purchasing or possessing a license plate flipper and makes a violation of such a Class B misdemeanor. Prohibits a person from manufacturing, selling, offering to sell, or otherwise distributing a license plate flipper and makes a violation of such a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a person who violates either such provision shall also have the person's vehicle registration automatically suspended. Defines "license plate flipper".

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 3-413 and by adding Section 11-1433 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-413) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-413)

Sec. 3-413. Display of registration plates or digital registration plates, registration stickers or digital registration stickers, and drive-away permits; registration plate or digital registration plate covers.

(a) Registration plates or digital registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, autocycle, trailer, semitrailer, truck-tractor, apportioned bus, or apportioned truck shall be attached thereto, one in the frontmost and one in the rearmost. The registration plate or digital registration plate issued for a motorcycle, autocycle, trailer or semitrailer required to be registered hereunder and any apportionment plate issued to a bus under the provisions of this Code shall be attached to the rearmost thereof. The registration plate or digital registration plate issued for a truck-tractor or an apportioned truck required to be registered hereunder shall be attached to the frontmost thereof.

(b) Except for vehicles with rear loaded motorized forklifts, every registration plate or digital registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging and at a height of not less than 5 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained in a condition to be clearly legible, free from any materials that would obstruct the visibility of the plate. A registration plate or digital registration plate on a motorcycle may be mounted vertically as long as it is otherwise clearly visible. Registration stickers or digital registration stickers issued as evidence of renewed annual registration shall be attached to registration plates or displayed on digital registration plates as required by the Secretary of State, and be clearly visible at all times and displayed as prescribed in subsection (k). For those vehicles with rear loaded motorized forklifts, if the rear plate is securely fastened in a horizontal position as prescribed, the plate and registration sticker shall not be required to be clearly visible at all times as a result of the rear mounted motorized forklift obstructing the view.

(c) Every drive-away permit issued pursuant to this Code shall be firmly attached to the motor vehicle in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of State. If a drive-away permit is affixed to a motor vehicle in any other manner the permit shall be void and of no effect.

(d) The Illinois prorate decal issued to a foreign registered vehicle part of a fleet prorated or apportioned with Illinois, shall be displayed on a registration plate or digital registration plate and displayed on the frontmost of such vehicle in the same manner as an Illinois registration plate or digital registration plate.

(e) The registration plate or digital registration plate issued for a camper body mounted on a truck displaying registration plates or digital registration plates shall be attached to the rearmost of the camper body.

(f) No person shall operate a vehicle, nor permit the operation of a vehicle, upon which is displayed an Illinois registration plate or plates or digital registration plate or plates or registration stickers or digital registration stickers, except as provided for in subsection (b) of Section 3-701 of this Code, after the termination of the registration period for which issued or after the expiration date set pursuant to Sections 3-414 and 3-414.1 of this Code.

(g) A person may not operate any motor vehicle that is equipped with registration plate or digital registration plate covers. A violation of this subsection (g) or a similar provision of a local ordinance is an offense against laws and ordinances regulating the movement of traffic.

(h) A person may not sell or offer for sale a registration plate or digital registration plate cover. A violation of this subsection (h) is a business offense.

(i) A person may not advertise for the purpose of promoting the sale of registration plate or digital registration plate covers. A violation of this subsection (i) is a business offense.

(j) A person may not modify the original manufacturer's mounting location of the rear registration plate or digital registration plate on any vehicle so as to conceal the registration or to knowingly cause it to be obstructed in an effort to hinder a peace officer from obtaining the registration for the enforcement of a violation of this Code, Section 27.1 of the Toll Highway Act concerning toll evasion, or any municipal ordinance. Modifications prohibited by this subsection (j) include but are not limited to the use of an electronic device. A violation of this subsection (j) is a Class A misdemeanor.

(k) Registration stickers issued as evidence of renewed registration by the Secretary shall be displayed on the upper right corner of the rear registration plate or in a manner otherwise provided by the Secretary. However, registration stickers issued to truck-tractors shall be displayed on the upper right corner of the front registration plate or in a manner otherwise provided by the Secretary.

(l) No person shall affix to any registration plate, temporary registration plate, digital registration plate, registration sticker, or other evidence of registration issued by the Secretary any medallion, insignia, sticker, or other object not issued or approved by the Secretary. No person shall alter, manipulate, apply, or otherwise manipulate any evidence of registration issued by the Secretary in any manner from the original condition as was received when issued by the Secretary. It is unlawful to operate any vehicle that displays evidence of registration altered in any manner or displaying any medallion, insignia, sticker, or other object as prescribed in this subsection.

(m) As used in this Section, "license plate flipper" means a manual, electronic, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle that either:

(1) alternates between 2 or more license plates for the purpose of allowing a motor vehicle operator to change the license plate displayed on the operator's vehicle; or

(2) hides a license plate from view by flipping the plate, making the license number not visible.

A person may not purchase or possess a license plate flipper. A violation of this subsection (m) is a Class B misdemeanor and shall result in an automatic suspension of the person's vehicle registration by the Secretary of State.

(n) A person may not manufacture, sell, offer to sell, or otherwise distribute a license plate flipper. A violation of this subsection (n) is a Class A misdemeanor and shall result in an automatic suspension of the person's vehicle registration by the Secretary of State.

(Source: P.A. 103-706, eff. 1-1-25.)