The State House passed a bill to strengthen penalties with false license plates, plate decals and vehicle registration. Republican State Representative Lee Qualm says people who create fake registration or counterfeit plate decals are cheating the system. He says this bill does three things.
"First it makes it clear, that a person counterfeiting a plate or sticker/decal is guilty of a crime. Second it makes it clear that no one can transfer a plate from one vehicle to another vehicle unless the person gets the permission of the country treasurer or the DOR. Third, the bill makes it clear that you cannot forge the registration card or temporary permit," Qualm says.
Senate Bill 59 penalizes anyone who forges a license plate number or plate decal with a class one misdemeanor. If a person creates a counterfeit permanent or temporary registration for the vehicle, then they could be charged up to a Class Six Felony. This bill passed the South Dakota House of Representatives 67-1 and goes next to the Governor’s desk for a signature.
