February 21, 2025 - Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Feyen and James, cosponsored by Representatives Donovan, Rodriguez, Behnke, Dittrich, Goeben, Gundrum, Hysell, Kitchens, Knodl, Miresse, Maxey, Nedweski, Mursau, Murphy, Penterman, Sinicki, Spiros, Subeck and Wichgers. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB66,1,2
1An Act to create 347.495 and 347.50 (6) of the statutes; relating to:
2registration plate concealment devices and providing a penalty. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, any motor vehicle for which the Department of Transportation has issued registration plates must display those plates, along with any decals issued for the plates.
This bill prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, installation, and use of a registration plate concealment device, which is a manual, electronic, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle to 1) switch between two or more registration plates; 2) move, obstruct, or conceal a registration plate; or 3) alter the appearance of a registration plate so that the registration number cannot be seen and read. The bill also prohibits the equipment of any motor vehicle with a registration plate concealment device.
A person who violates these prohibitions may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both. Any vehicle equipped in violation of these prohibitions may be impounded, and reasonable costs for towing and impounding the vehicle may be assessed against the owner.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SB66,1
1Section 1. 347.495 of the statutes is created to read: SB66,2,52347.495 Registration plate concealment device. (1) In this section, 3“registration plate concealment device” means a manual, electronic, or mechanical 4device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle to do any of the 5following: SB66,2,66(a) Switch between 2 or more registration plates. SB66,2,77(b) Move, obstruct, or conceal a registration plate. SB66,2,98(c) Alter the appearance of a registration plate so that the registration number 9cannot be seen and read. SB66,2,1110(2) No person may possess, sell, purchase, install, or use a registration plate 11concealment device. SB66,2,1312(3) No motor vehicle may be equipped with a registration plate concealment 13device. SB66,2,1614(4) Any motor vehicle equipped in violation of sub. (3) may be impounded. A 15vehicle impounded under this subsection shall be returned to the owner upon 16payment of reasonable costs of towing and impounding the vehicle. SB66,217Section 2. 347.50 (6) of the statutes is created to read: SB66,2,1918347.50 (6) Any person violating s. 347.495 may be fined not more than $1,000 19or imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both.
