12/4/08-Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill into law that allows vehicle owners to keep their plates longer. HB347 also includes a provision addressing violation of out-of-service orders.
The state will provide free new license plates once existing plates are no longer readable.
Pennsylvania law now requires license plates to be replaced every 10 years.
Drivers can contact the state when they need new plates. Law enforcement also can determine the tag cannot be read from a reasonable distance.
A separate provision in the bill focuses on violations of out-of-service orders. First-time offenders would be fined $2,500 – up from $1,100. Fines of $5,000 have been added for repeat offenders.
Anyone caught in violation of OOS orders while hauling hazardous materials would lose their driving privileges for two years.
The new rules take effect Jan. 26.