Front License Plates in Texas News.

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A case from my city brings up the issue of front license plates. The legislature almost got rid of them a while back, but didn't follow through.

A guy got stopped for a front plate on the dash, not on the bumper, couldn't hold his pants up (not in this story, but from a local source), had no driver's license, got frisked, and was then caught with drugs. He maintains the law was vague, invalidating the stop and the search.

"His car, a Chevrolet Impala, was described in court documents as having blue sparkle paint, white racing stripes and large wheels. The spot on the bumper where a license plate would go instead had a decorative silver chrome plate."

So, it's not even a bracket issue on his donk, bubble, or whatever they call it ...

So his lawyer tried a slick move designed to invalidate the traffic stop that started the whole chain of events which led to the discovery of half a pound of booger sugar which didn't work.

Agreed. He didn't have a front plate where it should be. Not having a mount is one thing, having one with another plate on it is another.

This guy shouldn't get off based on that. However, if the judges had said his plate was legal, I'd say let him walk.

Conviction on the cocaine charge stemming from the license plate stop in 2006 got him 60 years.

He's at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hughes Unit in Gatesville and becomes eligible for parole consideration in 2013.

He got 60 years in 06 and is parole eligible in 2013? No wonder there are so many repeat offenders.

I don't understand why Texas CARES if your vehicle has a plate on the front AND back....ALL the vehicles I see with Texas plates DON'T have expiration dates/stickers, what's up with that?

Texas, and I lived there for 3 years, is REALLY as stupid as "King of the Hills".

the state troopers, county and local PDs say its a safety issue, because they might not be able to get your plate if you do something like a hit and run or something, but the reality is that the reflective paint on the perfectly flat plates they have now makes a killer laser speed gun target.

don't you think that if there were a federal police out enforcing speeding, that they'd try to mandate a strip of reflective tape across the front and back of every car if they could pass it off as a safety concern?

In reply to integraguy:

They're in the windshield Bob Costas.

Strizzo wrote: the state troopers, county and local PDs say its a safety issue, because they might not be able to get your plate if you do something like a hit and run or something, but the reality is that the reflective paint on the perfectly flat plates they have now makes a killer laser speed gun target. don't you think that if there were a federal police out enforcing speeding, that they'd try to mandate a strip of reflective tape across the front and back of every car if they could pass it off as a safety concern?

http://www.laserveil.com/

Tommy Suddard wrote: http://www.laserveil.com/

What I don't get is that it's illegal for an Ohio resident to drive in Ohio without a front plate, but it's legal for someone from Pa. to drive in Ohio without one. Now, I certainly don't want more federal government involvement in state laws, but this front plate thing should be a nationwide law.

it's not based on what's legal in one state for an out of state car, it's based on what's legal in the state the car is titled in. NC cars can drive without a front plate all day in VA and not get pulled because NC doesn't require a front plate

Heh, they're illegal in MN, and most of the people I know run w/o one. Generally the only time you get hassled is when they think you're up to no good. I got tagged for no plate once, because the cop wanted to see who was in the car... my windows are a little dark. Baffled the hell out of him when it turned out to be a 30 year old guy, and not some punk ricer.

Off-but-on topic.... Ok, so you're driving a shiny ass donk. Hate to say it, but you tend to stereotype yourself into a certain demographic with that one.... and cops are probably going to want to take a look anyhow, even if it's just going to be a ticket for a 20-sack of purple. Then you go ahead and GIVE them an excuse to pull you over by having no front plate properly displayed (it's illegal in MN to leave it in the windshield, something about visibility).... you're dumb enough to give them probable cause to search you and the aformentioned vehicle, and get caught with a key of columbian, and you wanna get out of jail based on the fact that the search wasn't done properly? Hello, you're a dumbass. If you're going to transport drugs, at least be smart enough to do so in a fashion that does not include a giant berkeleying flag that says PULL ME OVER I'M DOING STUPID E36 M3.

Just sayin'.

bravenrace wrote: What I don't get is that it's illegal for an Ohio resident to drive in Ohio without a front plate, but it's legal for someone from Pa. to drive in Ohio without one. Now, I certainly don't want more federal government involvement in state laws, but this front plate thing should be a nationwide law.

For the same reason that car that passes inspection in its home state is not instantly illegal the moment it crosses into a state with more stringent inspection laws.

In reply to Slyp_Dawg:

Yeah, I know. But if you look at the reasons behind the law, such as being able to see the plate of an oncoming vehicle, that reason would apply to ALL vehicles on the road, not just vehicles registered in that state.

I don't understand the point of front mount license plates.

I got a fix it ticket for no front plate in CA. I'm a big rule follower, but the car was 13 years old and never had the front plate installed. $20.00 and a few drill holes & I'm now a bit further away from probable cause. When I got here on another vehicle on TX plates, I just ran the rear, pues, I had a spare if one walked away.

bravenrace wrote: What I don't get is that it's illegal for an Ohio resident to drive in Ohio without a front plate, but it's legal for someone from Pa. to drive in Ohio without one. Now, I certainly don't want more federal government involvement in state laws, but this front plate thing should be a nationwide law.

Hey, hey, hey. Don't be pushing your ugly front plates into our state. I don't have a problem if Ohio wants to loose the front plate but don't go sticking 'em on my cars.

4cylndrfury wrote:

Tommy Suddard wrote: http://www.laserveil.com/

http://www.radarbusters.com/2005veilstealthcoatingarticle.cfm

I'm not saying it will stop you from ever getting a ticket, but it's a simple concept. It just makes stuff less reflective.

The front plate is not mandated in Texas as a reflective surface for lasers. The sole reason is so that officers can see your license plate as you pass and run you for stolen and expired tags.
The inspection and registration stickers are affixed to the inside of the windshield because of past problems with stickers being stolen from license plates. Now the registration stickers are unique to your vehicle and are trackable. And dont bother with the veils, covers, sprays, or any other junk on your plate. Sprays and similar things dont work at all. On the other hand anything that actually would work to hide your plate is a violation. This means that you would be giving an absolute freebie to the cop looking for a quick and easy ticket.

96DXCivic wrote: I don't understand the point of front mount license plates.

So cops only EVER approach your car from behind it?

I get the concept of a front plate, but I don'r neccesarily support it. Fact of the matter is for the most part, a cop is going to see your front plate (speed trap, etc) before they see your back plate. Now whether or not they can memorize it in that time span, I don't know. Personally, I figure if a cop sees you ridin' dirty, they ought to be able to get out and on you before there's an issue where they're going to need the plate.

I've gotten pulled over in Ohio for no front plate.

Of course, Indiana law says only rear, and in fact, they only issue you ONE plate.

What baffled me was that i had to ARGUE with the officer that i didn't need a front plate. That was eye-opening.

mndsm wrote: Fact of the matter is for the most part, a cop is going to see your front plate (speed trap, etc) before they see your back plate. Now whether or not they can memorize it in that time span, I don't know.

Cars are parked longer than they are driven, so often the exposure time isn't that important.
Plates on both ends give the cops (and toll road companies, and red-light camera companies, and speed camera companies, unfortunately) more options. License plate scanners, for one. No matter what direction the car is driving or how it's parked, it can be ID'd.

I don't mind having front plates, but I'm not going to miss them if they go away.

Here In Montana, we get 2 plates when we license a car, but when we RENEW the license the next year, we get only 1 tax sticker, to place on the rear plate. The stated reason for only 1 tag? Why, to save money, of course!

More than one rancher around here has found a loose plate on the road, and called the boys in blue to report it, only to find it's his very own front plate, gone walk-about. There's usually a little embarrassment, but very little hassle. My own DD's front plate became entangled in the rear bumper of a car I was pushing. I picked it off the ground, tossed it on the driver's binnacle of the Aerostar, and there it lays still. It is fairly well visible, about the same height as thw windshield wipers. The incident of the pushed car was a couple years ago, and I've had no untoward attention from the local constabulary. But then, I do little to attract attention, since I earned enough in my younger, dumber years.

I believe that keeping a low profile may be key to peace in a small town.

Duke wrote:

96DXCivic wrote: I don't understand the point of front mount license plates.

So cops only EVER approach your car from behind it?

If they can't see, my rear license plate that is their own damn problem.