Tennessee Senate Bill SB0296

Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/27/25
• Chaptered: 3/31/25
• Passed: 3/31/25

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38; Title 40 and Title 55, Chapter 10, relative to license plate flippers.

Summary

This bill targets the use of “license plate flippers,” devices installed on a motor vehicle that can obscure, conceal, or change the visibility of a license plate. It authorizes law enforcement officers to seize or impound a vehicle found with an installed license plate flipper as evidence, while requiring that the owner or operator, if present, be given a prompt opportunity to remove the device if it can be done safely. Officers may also direct the vehicle to a location they designate to allow safe removal. If the flipper is removed, the officer may seize only the device as contraband rather than the entire vehicle. If the vehicle is impounded, the owner is responsible for towing, impound, and reasonable removal costs. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law, reflecting an enforcement-focused approach to devices used to evade identification by law enforcement or automated traffic enforcement systems.

Impact

The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Section 55-10-210, and affects laws related to motor vehicle equipment, traffic enforcement, and seizure/impound procedures. It gives law enforcement explicit authority to treat installed license plate flippers as evidence or contraband and shifts associated towing and removal costs to the vehicle owner, thereby strengthening penalties and enforcement tools against plate-obscuring devices.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests broad support for the bill. The Transportation and Safety Committee recommended passage unanimously, 9-0, indicating little recorded opposition at the committee stage. The bill’s framing as a public safety and enforcement measure likely contributed to its favorable reception.

Contention

The main policy issue is how aggressively to respond to vehicles equipped with plate flippers. Supporters appear to favor immediate seizure or impound authority to deter concealment of vehicle identity, while the bill also includes a safeguard requiring officers to allow safe removal when possible. Any potential concern would center on the scope of law enforcement discretion, the costs imposed on vehicle owners, and whether impoundment is necessary in every case, but no recorded committee debate or vote opposition is provided here.