After being a happy TX resident for only 15 mos., I was tagged the SECOND time this past weekend for NO FRONT PLATE. No, I was not stopped for speeding or any other infraction either time. Each time the State Trooper was courteous and only issued me a WARNING ticket.

Having traveled and driven all over the country, I have the impression that the LEOs in most other areas are focused on more urgent issues. It is my understanding that there is currently no provision for a fine (at this time) so I am really baffled about the priority being given to this aspect of law enforcement (in TX). I guess I am about ready to succumb to the harassment and commit the unpardonable sin of getting a front plate mount. Can anyone enlighten me as to the current law, penalties, and reasons for this???

 

Not sure about Texas, but in CA its about Red-Light violation cameras that will take a picture of the front of your car.

 

Everytime it comes up in Missouri to get rid of the front tag, the highway patrol gets it voted down because they claim the front plate is a safety issue.

I guess that's the reason why motorcycles are more dangerous then cars as they don't have a front plate.

 

Where in Texas? I recently passed DPS at slow speed and he just nodded his head at me. Just outside of New Braunfels.

 

So YOU decide to ignore the law by not following the front plate mandate, and the cop is a tool for pulling you over. Simple solution... put your front tag on!

 

Boy, it didn't take long for the flamethrowers to start

 

I don't live in Texas, but I'm going to guess that if you're being repeatedly pulled over for no front plate then it's very likely required by Texas law.

In California, certain jurisdictions enforce this provision of state law more than others. In San Francisco, for example, you'll get a citation from meter maids while you're parked. On the other hand, I know another city where the police told me flat-out that their department does not issue front plate tickets.

I wound up buying the Fast-On/Fast-Off quick release plate frame sold by West Coast Corvettes. To remove the plate, you just pull it straight back and the holder un-snaps from the mount which is hidden inside the grill. You don't have to drill anything.

 

It was my understanding the law stating we had to have a front plate was left out of the rules...so to my understanding you don't have to have it.

 

He never said the Cop was a tool read his post. But I will say it the Cop was a tool, feel better now.

 

GM did not add a place on the C6's for a plate,like they did on the older vettes.I've been driving for many yrs in TX. & only been pulled over twice ( DPS ONLY) They looked at the front end & agreed that GM should of added a place for a front plate ( No Ticket) & i have never been pulled over by the local PD.Up until 2 yrs ago we could put it on the dash,but the new law it must be up front on all vehicles. So don't worry about it!!

 

Post 10..All vehicles require a front plate.

 

I drove in WA (my home state) and others while on road trips for at least two years without being stopped. Then one day about 25 miles from home I was stopped by a small town policeman who said that no front plate was a 'hot button' for him. I told him that had a removable front plate bracket installed and that the plate was in the back so he asked me to put in on immediately which I did. I drove with the front plate from that time on.

I think that anywhere you drive you are taking a chance on getting stopped.

 

from a Google news search:

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/traffic/...ate-law-011112



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adapted for Web by Tracy DeLatte | myFOXdfw.com
DALLAS - Vehicles in Texas must display both front and back license plates. It’s been a state law since 1934. But lawmakers in rewriting the state transportation code recently made what could be a serious omission.
“Absolutely it is a potentially very big problem,” said Robert Gregg, a criminal defense and personal injury attorney. “The issue is not whether it is a fine. That’s where we start. The issue is whether or not it’s a crime.”
The old law read, “A person commits an offense if the person operates… a passenger car or commercial motor vehicle that does not display two license plates at the front and rear of the vehicle.”
In the new bill passed into law on the last day of the session that language was accidentally struck from the measure.
“Problem is they didn’t move it over to the new section, therefore it’s not a crime,” Gregg said.
And if the offense is no crime, law enforcement officials may no longer be able to pull people over for it.
“It is fairly common. Unfortunately in this state people don’t really adhere to the two plate rule like they should. They put a lot of their school logos or their favorite football or baseball team and it is against the law. It is a crime,” said Sgt. Don Pertiz with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
Pertiz said the law is often used as a tool to stop criminals on the streets.
“You’d be surprised how many offenses we uncover that start with no front license plate,” he said.
Trying to rectify the wrong, El Paso lawmaker Joe Pickett, who wrote the bill, has asked the attorney general for an opinion on whether it is a Class C misdemeanor not to display two license plates on a motor vehicle.
“Most times they don’t give you a ticket for this so the issue of not having a fine is not really it. The issue is they’ve taken out that it’s an offense. It’s not an offense. They can’t use it to pull somebody over, which they use it every day all day long,” Gregg said.
Pertiz said officers will likely continue to issue tickets based on the original law and let the courts worry about it.

 

From the Texas Transportation Code:

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.

(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.

This information is "current through the 1st Called Session of the 82nd Legislature, July 2011." Unless something has changed, it sounds like passenger cars are required to display two plates in Texas.

Full text of Section 504.

 

I live in the D/FW area. And last year when I ordered my 2012 Vette, the dealer said at the time IF it was required in the state of Texas, GM would automatically build my car with a front bracket from the factory.

And my car arrived without a front bracket on it. So I'm guessing it's not the law. At least not a state law.

Overall, I'd guess in my area around 20-25% of the cars don't have front plates on them.

And why should they - it's a really stupid waste of taxpayer money, at a time when no state can afford to squander money on needless duplification.

 

Another example of a self appointed "Moderator".

BJK

 

I too was stopped by Texas DPS for no front plate -- gave in and put a Top Flight front bracket on the car -- not beatutiful but not bad.
I was talking to a LEO just this past week who said that giving a warning ticket "counts" for the officer just the same as a ticket and is much less hassle -- so they still give easy warnings even though there is that problem with the fine. "Counts" does not imply a quota but they still have a record of being on patrol which apparently makes a difference...this came directly from a LEO.

 

It is (or at least it was in 2011). Don't go by what a car dealer guesses GM would have done. Refer to the text of the law itself.

 

Lived in Austin, TX all my life. I have never run a front plate on any of the Vettes I've owned. From what I have seen and heard, TX DPS troopers will be the ones to call you out on this and usually only when outside of city limits. Austin PD and/or the County Sheriff have never messed with anyone I know regarding this.

As far as the law goes, I agree that it is supposedly a gray area currently after the code was re-written.

 

yes - the Texas law still requires 2 plates -- but when they re-wrote the motor vehicle code last year they left out the sentence that stipulates the fine for such an infraction -- so you won't get fined but they are still technically correct in stopping you .... may just need a reason to check you and your car out.

My car is a DD and my daily path to work is Very heavily patroled -- so I put a plate on to avoid the hassle.