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View Full Version : I was just seeing if someone could clarify Texas HB657 (Front License Plate) issue.



TexasDfwS4
09-02-2013, 05:51 AM
This has been going on for years but I believe that this is good news for us folks in Texas. This comes with a caveat, I've been wronged by the DPS before on this so I would love to hear a definitive answer on this before quoting out of my ass to the Police.

83R4379 VOO-D

By: Lavender H.B. No. 657




A BILL TO BE ENTITLED


AN ACT

relating to the number of license plates to be issued for and
displayed on motor vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 504, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 504.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 504.011. ISSUANCE AND DISPLAY OF LICENSE PLATE. (a)
Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary, the
department shall issue only one license plate for attachment at the
rear of the vehicle for which the plate is issued.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary, a
person is entitled to operate on a public highway a vehicle that
displays only one license plate if the plate is attached at the rear
of the vehicle. A person may operate on a public highway a vehicle
that displays two license plates if both plates were assigned by the
department for the registration period as a set of plates.
(c) In any provision of this code that relates to the
issuance or display of "license plates," "plates," or a "set of
plates," the term means only one license plate.
SECTION 2. Section 504.943, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(b) A person commits an offense if the person operates on a
public highway during a registration period a passenger car, light
truck, 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.
(e) In this section, "light truck" and "passenger car" have
the meanings assigned by Section 541.201.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act regarding the
issuance of license plates by the Texas Department of Motor
Vehicles applies only to the issuance of license plates by the
department for a registration period beginning on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

shonseb
09-02-2013, 06:00 AM
As long as it's a bill, it's not law. It has to be made an act before it can become law. Similar bill is also in NYS and has been there for years.

TexasDfwS4
09-02-2013, 06:15 AM
I guess I need to go back to the Saturday morning cartoons "I'm just a Bill an ordinary Bill etc..." to answer my own questions, thanks.

Tweakophyte
09-02-2013, 06:22 AM
...but today I am still just a bill...

My kids are watching those as a part of school.... amazing how much I can still sing with them.

brbarrett
09-02-2013, 10:30 AM
Fellow Texan here, I have been trying to research this issue as well. My car currently does not have the mounts for the front license plate, therefore I have only been running the rear plate. I talked with a friend that is a DPS officer, he stated while that it is still in essence illegal, the probable cause to make a traffic stop is no longer there. Basically if you aren't doing something else illegal you won't have any issues, but I imagine that county to county each department will interpret it slightly different. He didn't sound completely certain with the exact ruling on the matter though either. I bet the whole thing is in Limbo.

jran76
09-02-2013, 11:32 AM
Starting September 1, the law is back in full effect after a brief hiatus due to some unintended changes to the law. $200 fine for no front plate....

With the above said, I have never run a front plate in Texas (13 years) and have never even been asked about it. I intend to continue to go plateless on the front unless something really changes this go around.

SanMiguel
09-02-2013, 01:10 PM
Looks like the bill never passed and it died in session. See below, the annotations read "left pending in a committee" and "Adjourned Sine Die".

http://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB657/id/702802