"Don't let photo tickets drain your wallet," declares an ad for one manufacturer that sells covers from $26.99 and up.
"Our design is effective, inconspicuous and successful against most types of traffic cameras," says another.
Such covers, even if they are clear plastic, have long been illegal in New York state, and they can lead to a fine of up to $150. But there is no law against selling them or giving them away — as promotional items, for example.
A pair of Capital Region lawmakers, Democratic Assemblyman Phil Steck and Republican Sen. Hugh Farley, are sponsoring the measure.
"Many people are not aware" the covers are illegal, Farley said.
"It's kind of a trap for the unwary," Steck said.
There are several types of license plate covers, and they use a variety of camera-blocking technologies.
Some allow plates to be clearly seen when viewed straight on, but add a prism effect to obscure the license number when seen at any kind of angle.
There also are sprays that are advertised as creating enough of a reflection to obscure photographic images.
Another uses an "overhead protector," like the bill of a baseball cap, to block photos taken from above — such as red light cameras, which tend to be mounted high on poles.
A quick search on the Internet turns up plenty of manufacturers, although none responded to calls and emails seeking comment Thursday.
Steck said he got involved in the proposed legislation after a constituent contacted his office to complain about the devices' wide availability, despite being illegal.
The lawmakers insisted the measure, first introduced last year, wasn't related to the new red light cameras going up in Albany. The city is on track to have cameras set up this summer in 20 intersections.
Red light cameras have been in use since the 1960s; New York City has had them since the 1990s. Other communities using the devices include Yonkers, Rochester and Mt. Vernon.
Nassau County last year canceled a controversial program that would have placed speed cameras in school zones following complaints and problems with the devices, such as tickets being issued for days when school wasn't in session.
Opponents say speed and red light cameras are used more to raise revenue from fines than to enhance traffic safety. Farley believes the general motivation for city leaders balances both of those imperatives.
The for-profit charge has been leveled in Albany, although Mayor Kathy Sheehan has said she sees them as safety devices rather than moneymakers.
On Thursday, Sheehan said the cameras will likely generate $1 million in 2015 rather than the $2 million that had earlier been budgeted, because the cameras weren't expected to be installed until July — midway through the calendar year.
In addition to being outlawed, using license plate covers may not be wise from a purely mercenary criminal defense standpoint, noted Peter Gerstenzang, a Capital Region lawyer specializing in traffic-related matters.
If a motorist using a cover were to get into a red light-related accident, the presence of the device might not look good in court.
"If you are really dedicated enough to buy this, it would imply that you regularly run red lights," Gerstenzang said.
©2015 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
