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Subcommittee advances bill authorizing impoundment for vehicles fitted with license-plate flippers
Summary
House Bill 300, amended in committee, gives officers discretion to direct drivers to a safe location to remove illegal license-plate flipper devices and authorizes impoundment and offender payment of reasonable impound costs when devices cannot be safely removed on site; it passed 8-1.
The House Transportation Subcommittee on Tuesday voted 8-1 to advance an amended House Bill 300, which addresses law enforcement response to vehicles equipped with illegal license-plate “flipper” devices.
Representative Rick Martin, sponsor of the bill, told the committee HB 300 builds on legislation passed last year (House Bill 2145) by clarifying what officers may do when they encounter a vehicle with a flipper device. Martin said the amendment authorizes officers to impound a vehicle “fastened with a license plate flipper if the device cannot be quickly or safely removed by the owner or operator of the vehicle” and requires the offender to pay reasonable costs associated with impoundment. He also said the bill clarifies an officer may direct a driver to relocate the vehicle to a safer location if the driver wishes to remove the device.
Martin described the genesis of the bill as a law enforcement request to provide clearer options that prioritize officer and public safety. He said the Legislature previously made manufacturing or distributing the devices a class A misdemeanor and possession a class B misdemeanor; this bill focuses on on-scene discretion and post-encounter handling of vehicles. Martin said the Department of Safety helped craft additional language in the amendment to clarify that officers may direct drivers to a safer location if removal is possible.
Committee members asked about the scope and application. Representative Renaud asked whether the count of incidents justifies harsher penalties; Martin responded that last year’s bill established the penalties and this measure provides direction and discretion to officers for removal or impoundment. Representative Renaud also noted some car enthusiasts use flippers at shows; Martin replied the bill is not targeted at shows but responds to law enforcement concerns and future enforcement in “choice lanes.”
Representative Butler asked whether the change actually creates an opportunity for drivers to avoid costly towing; Martin said that discretion is intended to allow officers to direct a safe removal location in lieu of impoundment where appropriate. After amendment adoption (drafting code 3424) the subcommittee voted; the clerk recorded eight ayes and one nay. The bill now goes to full committee.
The discussion centered on officer discretion, safety, and the mechanics of removing devices; no changes to the criminal classifications adopted last year were presented in subcommittee.
