I noticed in the now daily Democrat media promotion an entry concerning a bill (SB 296 *Gardenhire; HB 0300 *Martin G) which addresses license plate flippers installed on vehicles. Can anyone give me a reason for a flipper except to avoid police?
I completely agree with the first sentence authorizing the seizing or impound of the vehicle. What I question is the second sentence which says the owner or operator of the vehicle must be allowed to remove the flipper. Does that mean no penalty?
At a minimum, the vehicle should be impounded for 30 days (at owners expense) to allow for an investigation of the vehicle, having used multiple tags by the flipper, for any possible crimes by the owner or operator. The vehicle should be considered as being possibly involved in any unsolved crimes in which the same make/model/color or closely matching or similar look vehicle has been identified. The existence of the flipper should be recognized as a reason in possible search warrants coming from any investigation.
I personally believe that the vehicle should be permanently seized unless the owner can show they were not aware that the flipper existed on the vehicle and completely cooperate with police and prosecutors in prosecuting the person(s) who installed the flipper or used the flipper at all, or used the vehicle for any illegal activity, including running from police.
Could always add a state registration if anyone can come up with a honest/legal reason to have a flipper. I doubt that can be found, but if so, the owner should have to request authorization and registration of each tag to be used. Multiple registrations/tags should be noted and costs for updating systems to allow multiple tags for a vehicle to be noted on all police and other enforcement systems should be included in any bill that would authorize it. The only possible reason I can come up with is undercover or unmarked police vehicles, but I can’t really think of any need for that. Maybe police have such a need, but that would need to be identified.
Bottom line for me is that use of a flipper is premeditation for committing a crime and should be severely punished.
Jim Hill
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I've been around for a lot of years, but truth be told, I had never heard of a "license plate flipper" until Jim Hill opined. Thank you, Mr. Hill. I had to look it up, but I'm thinking if I didn't know, others probably don't know either.
A license plate flipper is defined as a manual, electronic or mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle to alternate between multiple plates or to hide a license plate from view by flipping the plate to conceal the license number. In my research, I found that these are readily available from multiple sources, online. I wonder if pipe bombs shouldn't be available too, not.
Our different law enforcement officers have a hard enough job to begin with. They are my heroes, as they make it safer for me to go outside my home. There is a shortage of officers and firefighters, and that should be fixed. They are not doing those jobs just for a paycheck, rather they have a servant heart to make life better for us.
Thank you, State Senator Todd Gardenhire and State Representative Greg Martin for sponsoring HB 0300. Again, thank you, Jim Hill, for making me aware.
J. Pat Williams
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Dang guys, did you not ever watch Knight Rider? It was imperative for Michael Knight and Kitt in their pursuit of justice to have their tag flipper operational. And thanks a lot, you just took me back 40 years and just reminded me of how old I am.
Chris Morgan