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Originally Posted by MokSpeed
The Texas law regarding front plates was revised this past September 2014. I'm too lazy to find the link for the exact article, but as of now it states that a front license plate is only required when operating a vehicle on the freeway/highway. On occasion I will get pulled over for not having my front plate at all, but I'm pretty sure they're just seeing if they can get me for anything else while I'm stopped. They always say they're "letting me off with a warning", but I know my rights. Also seeing as I have yet to get pulled over on the freeway for not having my plate, I'm well within them.
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In Texas you are required to have a front license plate on ANY public road. You are correct that Tex. Trans. Code § 504.943 states:
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Sec. 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.
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Emphasis added.
However, see Tex. Trans. Code § 502.001(35):
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(35) "Public highway" includes a road, street, way, thoroughfare, or bridge:
(A) that is in this state;
(B) that is for the use of vehicles;
(C) that is not privately owned or controlled; and
(D) over which the state has legislative jurisdiction under its police power.
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Accordingly, you can be ticketed for driving without a front license plate, whether you're on a highway or surface streets.