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McNeill applauds passage of bill targeting license plate obstruction

Rep. Jeanne McNeill    September 28, 2026 | 5:34 PM

HARRISBURG, Sept. 28 – State Rep. Jeanne McNeill today announced final passage of her bill in the state House that would assist law enforcement agencies and protect traffic safety in Pennsylvania.

House Bill 2219 would prohibit the use of any license plate obscuring device that manually or electronically hides a license plate from view, is capable of changing the appearance of a license plate to appear as a different plate or inhibits the proper operation of an enforcement camera for toll collection and traffic safety, as well as license plate covers.

“The clear display of license plates is a necessary tool for law enforcement agencies to maintain traffic safety,” said McNeill. “A few years ago, my colleagues and I addressed the bad actors who would intentionally cover, hide, or obstruct a clear view of their license plate by passing Act 150 of 2024, which prohibited the use of license plate flipping devices on motor vehicles operated in Pennsylvania.

“Over the last two years, technology has outpaced that act, and these same bad actors quickly adapted and switched to other types of obstruction devices which do not necessarily flip the plate to hide it from view,” McNeill said. “Such devices include blackout plates, which simply turn a license plate black at the push of a button, as well as special license plate covers which do not alter the plate’s appearance but interfere with enforcement cameras for toll collection and traffic safety.

“This legislation was designed to help Pennsylvania keep up with rapidly changing technology by prohibiting all license plate obstruction devices developed in the past and in the future, and I am grateful to my colleagues who voted in favor of our law enforcement agencies and protecting traffic safety by moving this legislation one step closer to becoming law,” said McNeill.

McNeill also noted that if H.B. 2219 were to become law, license plate frames around the outline of the plate would still be permitted, provided they do not obstruct the license plate.

House Bill 2219 passed the state House by a vote of 197-6 and will move to the full Senate for consideration.