Digital license plates just became legal for everyone in California, expanding a first-in-the-nation pilot program to include all residents of the Golden State, according to The Hill.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson wrote the legislation, AB 984, which was signed into law last week by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom.
"AB 984 strikes a necessary balance between innovation and privacy while digitizing the only thing on our cars today that remain antiquated, license plates," Wilson said in a press release.
Established in 2018, California's pilot program included 175,000 participants, according to The Hill. Millions of licensed drivers are now able to install the digital devices on their vehicles.
Technology company Reviver developed the digital plate, which uses an electronic ink-style display, similar to those used on e-readers.
"Californians are known to be early adopters of emerging innovative technologies," Neville Boston, Reviver Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, said. "We welcome new opportunities to automate and integrate as many parts of our lives as possible, enabling us to streamline mundane tasks and stay connected. Our cars are no exception."
The digital plates can display emergency messages, such as AMBER Alerts or stolen vehicles alerts, and a built-in location tracker will allow police to locate and recover vehicles that have been stolen, according to the company.
A "self-installed model" is available for all vehicles at $19.95 per month with a replaceable 5-year battery, while a hardwired version is currently "only offered to commercial businesses." It features a "professionally installed model with integrated telematics features and a backlit display" for $24.95 per month.
In addition to safety features, the digital plate offers drivers myriad options for customization, including color choices and border displays similar to a license plate frame. The plate hardware links to an app that also gives owners the ability to renew their registration without the need for stickers or visiting a motor vehicle agency.
According to Reviver, at least 10 other states are considering digital license plates. Georgia, Illinois and Colorado have approved the plates, but integration with the state motor vehicle agencies has not yet been completed, and New Jersey and Pennsylvania are likely to approve digital plates in the near future.
Along with California, Arizona and Michigan currently allow digital license plates, while Texas only allows them for commercial vehicles, according to The Hill.
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