Cops Nab VW Jetta With James Bond-Style Device to Cover License Plate On the GoRoad & TrackJoe KucinskiFri, September 11, 2026 at 2:48 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleCops Catch VW Jetta With Bond-Style Plate HiderCHP - Solano / FacebookNobody enjoys paying tolls. Thus, most of us either find a non-toll route or just grit our teeth and pay the fee. However, one California driver decided to use a bit of James Bond-style technology to use toll roads without paying. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Solano Office, the driver of one Volkswagen Jetta installed a Q Branch-esque plate hiding device to avoid paying Express Lane and Bay Area bridge tolls.Dashcam footage from a CHP cruiser shows the black Jetta cruising past in the Express Lane with its license plate completely hidden from view. That catches the officer's attention, and the cruiser begins following the VW. A few miles later, however, something has changed: the Jetta's license plate has mysteriously reappeared. After pulling the Jetta over, the driver reportedly admitted to using the device specifically to avoid paying tolls. Bodycam footage then reveals exactly how the trick works: the officer presses a button on a key fob, and a black shield moves into place over the license plate. Press the button again, and the plate reappears.The gadget is clever, but also, unsurprisingly, illegal. CHP – Solano takes this opportunity to remind everyone of this fact via a post on their Facebook page. California Vehicle Code Section 5201.1 "prohibits operating a vehicle equipped with a switchable license plate frame, flipper, or other product intended to obscure a plate." CHP says the base fine for operating a vehicle with one of these devices is $250 per violation, before state and county penalty assessments are piled on.AdvertisementAdvertisementCode 5201 states that the license plate must be clearly visibly at all times. And 23302(a)(1) notes that it is unlawful to avoid paying tolls and doing so can result in fines as well as civil penalties and the loss of your vehicle registration. So, while the push-button plate hider may have saved this Jetta driver a few bucks here and there at the time, getting caught might make those avoided tolls look like a bargain.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State