The bill would amend the Transportation Code to create an offense for possessing a license plate flipper device.  This offense would be punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, a Class B misdemeanor, or any type of felony other than a capital felony, depending upon the circumstances. 

A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed 180 days and/or a fine not to exceed $2,000.  A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year and/or a fine not to exceed $4,000.  A state jail felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of 180 days to two years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.  A third-degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of two to ten years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.  A second-degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of two to twenty years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.  A first-degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of 5 to 99 years or life and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

The bill's provisions create a new offense for possessing a license plate flipper device.  Creating a new offense is expected to increase correctional supervision and/or incarceration populations and thereby increase demands on county and/or state correctional resources. The state is responsible for confining convicted felony offenders and supervising them when released to parole. With funding support from the state, local probation departments are responsible for supervising convicted felony offenders under community supervision.  However, it is assumed that the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agency resources.