Front license plate in TX
 

does anybody know what is the law for the front license plate in TX? my husband just got a ticket driving my car cause it did not have a front license plate. i know they havent changed the law yet but i thought that it was only frowned upon for the front license plate.
that really sucks cause according to the "officer.com" website quote "We can technically stop for it, but there is no punishment anymore. During the last legislative update they removed the punishment on some oversight. Our DA/Courts won't take it and our Sgt's won't approve arrests stemming from that as the PC for stop"... and quote "we are not allowed to pull vehicles over based on this offense"...
so why are they giving out tickets for it????

Better yet, ziptie it on in the front, take a picture, then take it off. Take it to court and get it dismissed. Screw that mess. Keep it off. I've had no front license plate for 7 years.

lol thanks. thats a good idea i ll put it on with tape and take a picture of it. i am def getting a lawyer for this too. i dont want to put a front license plate on my car but it still sucks cause since they cant do that why are they giving out tickets for it?? so people can lose a whole day by going to court??

you can leave it off but if you don't want to be harassed then put it on.

Because they are assholes. The law is changing in September last I read. They would just pull people over to use it as a reason to fish for warrants, otherwise, give you a ticket that's bullshit. It's mostly the cops that are complete ****s that do it. I've got white side markers and white turn signals with no front license plate and Tom's tail lights. Still waiting for that moment when I do get pulled over.

It really does depend on the officer. I was involved in an accident a few years ago and the cop never said a word about the front license plate missing from my car.

If the state has chosen not to enforce the law, then there's a chance that the ticket will get dismissed by the judge who reviews it. Otherwise, be prepared to something like stated above :sigh:

In some 15 years driving in Texas, and countless stops, not once have I ever been ticketed for it. A handful of times it's been mentioned just as a passing comment, but never any more than that.

As for why they give tickets for it -- Note that, on the post that you quoted, the officer very specifically states that, while the law doesn't come into effect until later this year, their particular city chose to stop writing tickets for it immediately. Doesn't stop others from doing so. It remains a valid offense until September.

I thought the bill got left pending in the committee.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillL...83R&Bill=HB657

Doesnt it have to get past the process for it to become law?

Thing is that most people don't know that it got left pending. So cops will give out the ticket but there is no fine listed in the books for this. Although that's the case I'm sure your county will have some kind of made up number to charge you with if you don't contest it.

I haven't had a front plate in houston for 7 years. only got one warning about it when speeding through a small town. forget the plate. forget a lawyer. just show up in court and it'll get thrown out. bring a printout of the soon to be law for the judge. and a picture of the front plate "attached" to the car.

I just got a speeding ticket in Irving (I know I know but I was late for work...) with no front license plate. The officer didn't say a word about not having one. YMMV.

I got pulled over for no front plate by local DPS. I did the whole good stop routine. (turn off car, roll down windows, keep hands in sight, etc..) He thanked me for being respectful, gave me a warning, and told me I to get it fixed.

A couple weeks later I was at the gas station, and he pulled up to fill the cruiser right in front of me. He had full view that I still didn't have a plate. I smiled and waved, and he did the same. I think he just wanted to look at the car.

Look man, Ill put it to you straight.

I drove around without a front plate for a LONG time in texas and most of the time the cops do not give a crap. They will pull you over, smack you on the hand and tell you to put it on. From my TSX to my FR-S I didnt give a crap. Then, one day, I got pulled over by a trooper for not having it on and I had some not so reputable things in my car ... one thing lead to another and I am now on probation. SOOO, moral of the story is, just put it on the car. I know you may not be like me, but you never know when something so small will turn into a larger problem

It just has to be DISPLAYED in the front of the car, it does not have to be on the bumper. I place mine in my front window in the passenger side corner. Just go to walmart and use two suction cups to hold it on. Simple, out of the way, and keeps you out of trouble.

Just trying to save you from any issues! Just my 2c :]

My dealership told me law had changed and it is no longer required. I don't buy that but I don't run one anyways. Never have.

I've been pulled over twice for no front plate. Once I got a warning the next time I received a TEN dollar ticket. Yes,$10.

It's really just a "shake down" violation. Expect to get pulled over for this after midnight or odd hours when a cop would be more likely to come upon "not so reputable items" as the guy above me put so eloquently. If you're not drug dealer though, you should be ok.

This car, like most others, looks way better without the front plate. Most states don't require it anymore

Lol, or don't have any illegal shit in your car... problem solved.

To the OP, I haven't ran a front plate for 10 years, and never will.

True, but my point is still valid. It is not like it looks terrible in the windshield

This made me laugh lol Never have, never will be

It does look terrible in the windshield. Every single time I see that I chuckle and walk away.

To each his own :iono:

If you read the law, the front plate is required to be on the front (bumper)of the vehicle. Even if the plate is in the windshield you could still get pulled over and ticketed for it.

Also with it being in your windshield, you could also receive a ticket for driver obstruction. So if its in your windshield you could get two tickets.

Yeah I went and did some research last night. Could have sworn it was not bumper specific but now that I know, probably will just remove the damn thing with the exception of long road trips (just to have it there).

Thanks for the info.

Due to some legislative oversight, while it's technically an offense there's no penalty attached to it -- courts / DAs won't do anything with citations for them. A lot of cops in this cop forum are saying that they're being advised not to pull people over for it and that sergeants won't approve arrests stemming from that as probable cause.

And this bill goes in effect on Sept 1st:

EDIT: bill died on July 1st. RIP :(

That bill was still left pending last time I checked

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Oops, yeah looks like you're right. I wonder if since the house was moving in this direction if they passed another bill that reinstated the penalty.

Hate to burst bubbles (including mine), but as of Sept 1 there is a fine not to exceed $200.

http://openstates.org/tx/bills/83/HB625/

I looked back at previous years and this bill has been left pending for three years. It gets resubmitted every year but they dont pass it.

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Well this takes care of the argument :p

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I still dont use a front plate, but for those that are interested in the legislative update effictive for 9/1/13

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps694c5371.jpg