No license plates needed in Texas!!

[Sleeper]

Suckers.

[Sean88gt]

What a load of absolute fucking bullshit.

[Treadhead]

Get your front plates ready! The law has been fixed. Starting September 1st.

Operation of Vehicles without two License Plates



All officers should be familiar with HB 625, a 2013 Texas Legislative amendment to Chapter 504 of the Texas Transportation Code.



In 2011, the Texas Legislature intended to separate the Transportation Code provisions requiring license plates from those requiring the actual registration sticker. The provisions that formerly made up Transportation Code Section 502.404 “Operation of a Vehicle without License Plate or Registration Insignia” were divided and now are present in Chapters 502 and 504 (the provisions regarding registration stayed in 502 and the provisions regarding license plates went to 504). When the Legislature did this in 2011, the penalty provision for not having two plates remained in Section 502 and was not duplicated in the Section 504 provision requiring license plates. The Police Department issued a roll call training after the 2011 Legislation passed warning officers not to use this violation of law as grounds to establish probable cause for a stop. The previous roll call training recommended officers observe another traffic offense for which a penalty is prescribed to make a traffic stop.



This year, the 2013 Texas Legislature passed HB 625 to fix this issue by adding Subsection (e) to provide a penalty provision. The amendment to the law fills the gap by making failure to display both license plates on a vehicle a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200. The new law takes effect on September 1, 2013. Until then, officers should continue to operate under the old roll call guidelines. After September 1, 2013, officers may resume relying on Section 504.939 as probable cause for a stop.



Effective September 1, 2013, Section 504.943 of the Texas Transportation Code will read:



§ 504.943. Operation of Vehicle Without License Plate



(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway, during a registration period, a motor vehicle that does not display two license plates that:

(1) have been assigned by the department for the period; and

(2) comply with department rules regarding the placement of license plates.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a road tractor, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer that does not display a license plate that:

(1) has been assigned by the department for the period; and

(2) complies with department rules regarding the placement of license plates.

(c) This section does not apply to a dealer operating a vehicle as provided by law.

(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a)(1) if the defendant:

(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first court appearance; and

(2) pays an administrative fee not to exceed $10.

(e) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

You're a perfect reflection of every cop I've ever met, save one.

[03trubluGT]

He said speed traps are illegal in Oklahoma, FYI.

I know, I was being facetious.

[LANTIRN]

Are you serious?

I'm sure people get used to that sign and speed anyway....

Speed traps are illegal in Texas? Someone should have told me 20 years ago...

He said speed traps are illegal in Oklahoma, FYI.

[Pro88LX]

It would be interesting to see the stats in reference to this. I wonder what the impact has been on those states.

Fwiw I saw way more Shitty looking cars on the road in Texas than i see in California which has no vehicle inspection other than a smog check every other year.

[03trubluGT]

I like that guy that lives down the road from me who put up a "Speed trap ahead, next 4 miles" sign. The cops got all pissy about it and tried to make him take it down but they couldn't. The sign remains, and needless to say that speed trap doesn't really exist anymore.

I also like that law in OK, where speed traps are illegal. They changed it to that just before I moved up outa there dangit. The cops/hipo/sheriff are to patrol and if they see a speeder, then pull them over. No speed traps permitted.

Are you serious?

I'm sure people get used to that sign and speed anyway....

Speed traps are illegal in Texas? Someone should have told me 20 years ago...

[SMEGMA STENCH]

I like that guy that lives down the road from me who put up a "Speed trap ahead, next 4 miles" sign. The cops got all pissy about it and tried to make him take it down but they couldn't. The sign remains, and needless to say that speed trap doesn't really exist anymore.

I also like that law in OK, where speed traps are illegal. They changed it to that just before I moved up outa there dangit. The cops/hipo/sheriff are to patrol and if they see a speeder, then pull them over. No speed traps permitted.

[46Tbird]

I'm glad to hear this, I guess.

I will take the aggravation and fines for any front plate ticket I may get. It simply ruins the looks of the car. But if it gets stolen and the crooks back it in the spot, it will never be located!! I'll take that chance.

There is a cop near the 114/121 split that is notorious for watching incoming traffic at the QT to check for legal registration/inspection stickers (good) and front license plates (meh).

[Slow Five-O]

Lol

[03trubluGT]

I'm gonna run around with JUST a front plate

I'm gonna run around with NO plates.

I bet I don't get a ticket!!!

*Disclaimer*
I am a trained professional. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.

[2165 Turbo Rail]

I'm gonna run around with JUST a front plate

[03trubluGT]

My department issued a training memo on this topic for the current month.

It put a whole new spin on the situation, not saying that the punishment had been removed, but stating that the whole issue of having plates was removed.

I looked it up:

Transportation Code 502.473

[(b)] A person commits an offense if the person operates on
a public highway during a registration period a [passenger car or
commercial] motor vehicle[, other than a vehicle assigned license
plates for the registration period,] that does not properly display
the registration insignia issued by the department that establishes
that the license plates have been validated for the period. (b) [(c)] A person commits an offense if the person operates
on a public highway during a registration period a road tractor,
motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer that does not display [a
license plate, attached to the rear of the vehicle, that has been:
[(1) assigned by the department for the period; or
[(2) validated by] a registration insignia issued by
the department that establishes that the vehicle is registered for
the period.

So, as interpreted, you could run with just the windshield validation sticker and be legal as long as you have the plates in the car. It says nothing about having them displayed. Somebody seriously dropped the ball on this one.

We'll see how this pans out.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

All I really know is that anyone with a license plate or registration viol;ation should contest it, either by yourself, or with an attorney. Most prosecutors will dismiss it without a fight.

Why would they?