Hit-and-Run Cases in the High Desert: Why California’s License Plate Obstruction Crackdown (AB 1085) Matters
Hit-and-run accidents are a serious problem in California, and the High Desert has its own challenges that make the situation even worse. Long stretches of highway, high speed limits, stretches with limited lighting, and few potential witnesses make it more likely that a hit-and-run will never be solved. In many cases, holding someone accountable or having to pay for your losses alone comes down to whether or not you can see their license plate. That’s why having an aggressive California car accident attorney is so important.
The team at Ewaniszyk Law Firm is committed to helping accident victims like you seek justice after losses caused by another party’s negligence. Our team includes many renowned lawyers, including attorney Vickie Cartony. With over 20 years of experience in personal injury law, this long-time High Desert resident understands the challenges that local residents face after a hit-and-run. Call our car accident law firm at 760-245-7310 to explore your next steps now.
What You Need to Know About AB 1085
This bill, which took effect in 2026, builds on California’s existing prohibitions on license plate obstruction. Existing laws prohibit the erasure of a license plate’s reflective coating or otherwise attempting to make the license plate illegible to law enforcement and electronic devices on toll roads.
AB 1085 goes one step further and prohibits the installation of a shade or tint that makes a license plate illegible and unrecognizable to electronic devices operated by state and local law enforcement agencies. This also includes electronic devices used on toll roads or other toll facilities. This law makes it a crime to manufacture or sell these products within California, with a $1,000 fine per item sold or manufactured.
Why License Plate Obstruction is a Major Problem in Hit-and-Run Accidents
Car accident lawyers and local residents hope that this change will make it easier to track down reckless drivers who cause hit-and-run accidents. In these cases, obscured plates are rarely accidental. Drivers who use paint or a special casing to make their license plate illegible do so because they want to avoid paying for tolls or being held accountable for collisions they’re involved in.
In areas like the High Desert that have their own logistical challenges with these collisions, an illegible license plate can cause an investigation to die completely. While victims may be able to identify a vehicle’s color and body type, that’s generally not enough to track down a driver. Even catching a few digits of a license plate can mean the difference between tracking down the at-fault driver and giving up on compensation.
Challenges of High Desert Hit-and-Run Accidents
High Desert hit-and-run cases can be harder to solve than those in the dense, urban parts of California. Many roadways have limited lighting, and surveillance cameras are fewer and farther between due to lower traffic. Emergency personnel may also be slower to respond due to the larger geographical areas they have to cover.
Quiet roads also tend to have higher speed limits, which may mean that injuries are more severe and outcomes are worse. This ramps up the risk of an at-fault driver fleeing the scene out of fear of being held responsible for severe or fatal injuries.
In this environment, anything that makes it harder for a victim or electronic device to capture a license plate—in this example, an obscured license plate—makes everyone a little less safe.
How AB 1085 Changes Investigations
There are multiple ways that AB 1085 can change investigations and help car accident attorneys protect their clients. First, it makes the manufacturing of devices and equipment that obscure license plates illegal. This targets not just the drivers who use these tools, but the companies and individuals who manufacture and sell them. At a fine of $1,000 per sale, that’s enough to cause manufacturers to go broke or at least give up selling in California.
In turn, this makes it harder for reckless California drivers to obscure their license plates, increasing the likelihood that a victim or surveillance camera will be able to identify the license plate.
Obscured plates can also serve as evidence when drivers are sued by car accident lawyers. Proof that someone knowingly broke the law to hide their plates may strengthen the victim’s lawsuit.
Explore Your Legal Options With Ewaniszyk Law Firm
The team at Ewaniszyk Law Firm is ready to help you explore your compensation options. Call our car accident law firm at 760-245-7310 or reach out online to set up a time to meet with our team now.
Mr. Ewaniszyk was first admitted to practice law in 1982 and he lived and raised his family in the High Desert since 1986. He has successfully represented hundreds of clients each year suffering from serious and catastrophic personal injuries, those accused of criminal offenses, people going through divorce and family law matters, and families facing bankruptcy. Mr. Ewaniszyk has tried many cases in both Federal and State Courts during his extensive career and previously served for five years as the City Attorney for the City of Adelanto. Learn more here.