HB 543: RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2025-02-05
Current Status:
Failed
(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices. Establishes a minimum fine of $250 and a maximum fine of $2,000 for each separate violation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices. Establishes a $2,000 fine for each separate violation.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
543 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that license plate flipping devices are manual, electric, or mechanical devices that can be installed on motor vehicles in order to switch between two or more license plates or hide a license plate from view. The legislature further finds that these devices can be used to prevent law enforcement from identifying a vehicle. These devices create a significant nuisance for law enforcement officials and pose a threat to public safety.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the use of license plate flipping devices.
SECTION 2. Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§286- License plate flipping devices; prohibited. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle with, possess, purchase, install, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise distribute a license plate flipping device.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any person who violates this section shall be fined no less than $250 but no more than $2,000 for each separate violation.
(c) For the purpose of this section "license plate flipping device" means a manual, electric, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle that:
(1) Switches between two or more license plates for the purpose of allowing a motor vehicle operator to change the license plate displayed on the operator's motor vehicle; or
(2) Hides a license plate from view by flipping the license plate so that the plate number is not visible."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
License Plate Flipping Device; Prohibition; Fine; Motor Vehicles
Description:
Prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices. Establishes a minimum fine of $250 and a maximum fine of $2,000 for each separate violation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
543 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to License plates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that license plate flipping devices are manual, electric, or mechanical devices that can be installed on motor vehicles in order to switch between two or more license plates or hide a license plate from view. The legislature further finds that these devices can be used to prevent law enforcement from identifying a vehicle. These devices create a significant nuisance for law enforcement officials and pose a threat to public safety.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prohibit the use of license plate flipping devices.
SECTION 2. Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§286- License plate flipping devices; prohibited. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle with, possess, purchase, install, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise distribute a license plate flipping device.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any person who violates this section shall be fined no more than $2,000 for each separate violation.
(c) For the purpose of this section "license plate flipping device" means a manual, electric, or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle that:
(1) Switches between two or more license plates for the purpose of allowing a motor vehicle operator to change the license plate displayed on the operator's motor vehicle; or
(2) Hides a license plate from view by flipping the license plate so that the plate number is not visible."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
License Plate Flipping Device; Prohibition; Fine; Motor Vehicles
Description:
Prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices. Establishes a $2,000 fine for each separate violation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Feb 6, 2025 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ward excused (1). |
| Feb 6, 2025 | Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 201) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. |
| Jan 28, 2025 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. |
| Jan 24, 2025 | Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 01-28-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 2 |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Jan 28, 2025 | The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Department of Transportation | *** Support | Jan 27, 2025 |
| Department of Transportation | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 201
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 543
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 543 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the use of license plate flipping devices.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.
Your Committee finds that the use of license plate flipping devices, which allows drivers to switch or conceal their license plates, has become a growing concern for law enforcement. These devices enable individuals to evade identification, obstructing efforts to enforce traffic laws and compromising public safety. This measure seeks to take a proactive approach to prevent the potential use of license plate flipping devices to ensure law enforcement can effectively track and identify vehicles involved in illegal activities.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Establishing a minimum fine of $250 for violating the prohibition on license plate flipping devices; and
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 543, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 543, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,
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____________________________ DARIUS KILA, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Jan 27, 2025 | HB543_TESTIMONY_TRN_01-28-25_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
45SEC
House Standing Committee on Transportation
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
