Over the last decade or so, toll roads in Pennsylvania and around the country have been transformed. In many places, overhead electronic scanners have replaced long rows of toll booths that used to be occupied by people or baskets where you could toss change. Many drivers use E-Z Pass transponders that allow a toll to be taken directly from their bank account or credit card. When someone does not have one of those devices stuck to their windshield, a camera is supposed to record their license plate number, and a bill will be sent to the address of the vehicle’s owner. 

As the toll enforcement process depends on the recognition of a vehicle’s license plate, some drivers have engaged in unlawful efforts to remove, conceal or alter their tags. One such example is a license plate flipper that allows drivers to press a button and activate a device that switches their actual tag with a fake plate that cannot be traced to the driver for billing purposes. In response, Governor Josh Shapiro signed a law in November imposing fines as high as $2,000 on drivers who intentionally obscure their plates with this type of mechanism. 

The "License Flipping Law" explicitly prohibits the use, possession, sale and manufacture of license plate flipping devices throughout the state. In September 2021, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, reported $105 million in lost toll revenue since transitioning to an automated toll collection system 15 months earlier. Supporters of the legislation cited the fact that this machinery not only leads to financial losses, but also poses serious public safety concerns. 

Referred to as Act 150 in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the law took effect on January 17, 2025. Motorists are advised to ensure their vehicles comply with this new law to avoid hefty fines and contribute to safer roadways across the Commonwealth. The penalty for breaking the License Flipping Law is harsh, but being found guilty of any type of traffic violation could lead to fines, higher insurance premiums and possibly even the suspension of your driver’s license. 

Don’t give up your right to challenge a traffic citation without speaking with a qualified Pennsylvania attorney. Matthew R. Zatko, Attorney at Law represents clients throughout Indiana, Bedford, Cambria and Somerset counties who are accused of breaking the new license flipping statute and other vehicle laws. Please call 814-443-1631 or contact me online for an appointment. My office is in Somerset.