TX license plate law??
03-13-2006, 10:38 PM
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TX license plate law?? Hey guys i just got pulled over last night for no front license plate. I had it on the dash but the SOB pig said it had to be mounted to the front bumper. I checked online under TXdps and it said that a vehicle requires 2 plates(back&front) but it also does say that mounting or placement is not defined. Has anyone been cited for this and how did it end up in court? I took pics of the car that it shows my front license plate after the cop left.
03-13-2006, 11:41 PM
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Texas is a 2 plate State, but like you said it doesn't explain the mounting, just as long as you can see it from the front of the car. Did he write you a ticket?
03-13-2006, 11:49 PM
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It says something along the lines of forward facing and being seen from 50 ft away. I got pulled over on thursday on the way back to lubbock and he said he didnt see my plate in the window, but once he saw it he was kewl with it. He ended up giving me a warning for my eyebrow tint being past the ASI line instead.
03-14-2006, 12:03 AM
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I just talked to a friend of mine who is a peace officer and the said that the license plate is supposed to be on the most forward part of the car, which is the bumper. But he also said its open to interpretation and really up to the cop.
03-14-2006, 12:04 AM
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When I got pulled over for no front plate I asked the dick head kid cop if I could mount it on the dash and he said no. He gave me the same crap about state law requires that you mount in on the bumper.
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03-14-2006, 06:36 AM
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This is the texas law:
Many judges have upheld that the windshield is not "at the front". Even my plate location (see sig below) is questionable.
§ 502.404. OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT LICENSE PLATE OR REGISTRATION INSIGNIA. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a passenger car or commercial motor vehicle that does not display two license plates, at the front and rear of the vehicle, that have 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.
(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.
(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.
(d) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a dealer operating a vehicle as provided by law.
(e) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(d) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a dealer operating a vehicle as provided by law.
(e) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
03-14-2006, 08:05 AM
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That's BULL ****!!!
I just bought little suction cups with hooks on them so I could mount mine on the window (cause the state trooper said it was o.k.) and I have to say it looks ugly as sin mounted in the window. Hell, it looks like I'm trying to show the whole world my licence plate number. I might as well just take my grill off and put it back on the front bumper. At least then it wont look so out of place as it does on the windshield. Oh well...no use bitching over it....you'll just end up getting pulled over AGAIN like I have.
I just bought little suction cups with hooks on them so I could mount mine on the window (cause the state trooper said it was o.k.) and I have to say it looks ugly as sin mounted in the window. Hell, it looks like I'm trying to show the whole world my licence plate number. I might as well just take my grill off and put it back on the front bumper. At least then it wont look so out of place as it does on the windshield. Oh well...no use bitching over it....you'll just end up getting pulled over AGAIN like I have.
03-14-2006, 08:32 AM
#10
There was another law I saw posted before stating the "front most part of the vehicle". Every cop I know agrees that putting the plate in your windshield isn't valid.
I just run without one and pay the tickets when I get them. Maybe 1 per year at $75 a pop. Its worth it not to look like crap.
I just run without one and pay the tickets when I get them. Maybe 1 per year at $75 a pop. Its worth it not to look like crap.
03-14-2006, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Nine Ball
There was another law I saw posted before stating the "front most part of the vehicle". Every cop I know agrees that putting the plate in your windshield isn't valid.
I just run without one and pay the tickets when I get them. Maybe 1 per year at $75 a pop. Its worth it not to look like crap.
I just run without one and pay the tickets when I get them. Maybe 1 per year at $75 a pop. Its worth it not to look like crap.
03-14-2006, 09:37 AM
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yeah stupid law, lol 
ive never had my front plate on except for the first month i had the camaro.
i have never once gotten pulled over in the city for it. ive gotten one speeding ticket and the cop never said anything about the plates.
i got pulled over in castroville, tx twice for no front plates...but they just gave me a warning both times.....but castroville cops are **** as hell too.
ive never had my front plate on except for the first month i had the camaro.
i have never once gotten pulled over in the city for it. ive gotten one speeding ticket and the cop never said anything about the plates.
i got pulled over in castroville, tx twice for no front plates...but they just gave me a warning both times.....but castroville cops are **** as hell too.
BOSS APPROVED!
03-14-2006, 01:48 PM
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I love austin, cops around here do not care about the front plate. I've never had one on any of my vehicles, and never been warned/cited for it when pulled over for other circumstances.
03-14-2006, 07:30 PM
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The freakin law doesn't specifically state where in the front. Like I said before it says mounting and placement not defined. It seems like all their saying for it to display in both the front and rear. I ain't paying for no freaking ticket. I got a clear record and I'm also an insurance agent. Screw that I'll just get extensions if the judge don't dismiss it and maybe they'll eventually clear it.
03-14-2006, 09:02 PM
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So for those who haven't been cited I assume you have your front lp on the dash. This is BS for them to pull you over whenever they feel like it.
03-14-2006, 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Nine Ball
There was another law I saw posted before stating the "front most part of the vehicle". Every cop I know agrees that putting the plate in your windshield isn't valid.
I just run without one and pay the tickets when I get them. Maybe 1 per year at $75 a pop. Its worth it not to look like crap.
I just run without one and pay the tickets when I get them. Maybe 1 per year at $75 a pop. Its worth it not to look like crap.
03-14-2006, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by alfm
This is BS for them to pull you over whenever they feel like it.