No front license plate? Up to $200 fine as of 9/1/2013.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

http://www.dallasnews.com/investigation ... 0-fine.ece

The above link is from the Dallas Morning Snooze, 9/1/2013 edition.

The legislature had inadvertently removed the financial penalty for "no front tag" offenses.
What LEO's would waste their time writing a violation if there's no $$ changing hands from citizens to courts?

Well, the above link details how the fine has been put back into the law, "not more than $200".

Those of you who run without a front tag are now subject to being stopped by a LEO when you have
someplace you'd rather be.

Knowledge is power. :-)

SIA

[cb1000rider]

I can tell you that I was stopped in Travis county, small city jurisdiction for not having a front license plate in July of this year.
I was issued a "warning" citation - which is probably all they can do... But the law, at that time, did allow them to make a traffic stop.

[oohrah]

I've been running without a front tag for seven years (roadster). I was stopped for something else six months ago (a priggish DPS which I won't get into), and asked where my front tag was. I told him it was in the trunk ... no warning ticket. If they didn't stop me the first five years there was a fine, then I'll ride it out. I know this gives them PC to stop me, but why change now?

[misterlarry]

Well I hope that defacing the appearance of my front end is needed. I loved the looks of it without plates.

[texanjoker]

Here is another example of why people shouldn't always bag on the Peoples Republik of CA..this would be a fix it ticket... Sure PC for a stop, but you fix it, and the ticket went away after being signed off vs a fine like revenue generating TX...sure one of the FEW reasons, but still a

[Jaguar]

Here is another example of why people shouldn't always bag on the Peoples Republik of CA..this would be a fix it ticket... Sure PC for a stop, but you fix it, and the ticket went away after being signed off vs a fine like revenue generating TX...sure one of the FEW reasons, but still a

Or Okies - they don't require a front plate.

[gregthehand]

Here is another example of why people shouldn't always bag on the Peoples Republik of CA..this would be a fix it ticket... Sure PC for a stop, but you fix it, and the ticket went away after being signed off vs a fine like revenue generating TX...sure one of the FEW reasons, but still a

Most courts around here will dismiss the ticket if you put a plate on and show them.

[Commander Cody]

I am sure that all of this has something to do with CHL. Please explain.

[jmra]

I am sure that all of this has something to do with CHL. Please explain.

It is posted in "Off Topic". I would think that would not require further explanation.

[Abraham]

Why is this an issue?

You're issued two plates when the time comes for you to be issued plates - so what gives?

Are people having them stolen as a regular thing or are do some remove the front plate for esthetic reasons?

Stolen front plate - you have my sympathy.

Removed because you just don't like front plates, I'm sorry but the world is full of things I don't like either, but if it's the law, it's the law...

[Rex B]

I have front plates on all our vehicles save 2. One is a Shelby Mustang, the other is a BMW Z4.
The Mustang has no provision for a front plate, and I don't intend to devalue the car by drilling holes. There are some no drill options out there that I am considering. The Z4 is no collector car, but it looks so much better with a clean front bumper.
So far it's not been an issue.

[E.Marquez]

I have front plates on all our vehicles save 2. One is a Shelby Mustang, the other is a BMW Z4.
The Mustang has no provision for a front plate, and I don't intend to devalue the car by drilling holes. There are some no drill options out there that I am considering. The Z4 is no collector car, but it looks so much better with a clean front bumper.
So far it's not been an issue.

Just for clarification... and concur on the no drill plate mounts available..
The late model S197 and later Mustang (of which I currently own two,2005 GT, 2007 GT500) does in fact have a manufactured predetermined location for the front plate mounting. If you ever have the chance to look closely at your front bumper cover you will see the two very small dimples for the plate mount, additionally, you will see the markings on the inside as well. Aftermarket replacement bumper covers, even the OEM crash replacements sometimes do not have these markers.

It is illegal in Texas for the car to be sold without that plate mounted by the dealer though I admit it's done all the time.

The No drill plate options are nice, work and, well don't require you to drill the bumper cover. We use this option on our GT500
http://ccmustangbrackets.com/welcome-to ... -brackets/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Highly recommend

[E.Marquez]

Why is this an issue?

Amongst other things, the sheer number of new laws added to the books each year, you, I and most every other US citizen are ignorant of right up until a LEO who is familiar with at least one of them cites you for a crime you never knew existed.
in 2010,alone, more than 40,376 new lays were added to the books.. thats just a single year's stats..

So this discussion is about ONE of the new state laws that just came into effect.. it's relative to CHL, as running afoul of this law will likely cause you a contact with a LEO, with all the possibilities that in itself entails.

Specifically, the "issue" is the law is arcane, unjustified, unneeded, and just another intrusive way to take money from a citizen with no related safety need, security concern or justifiable reason.. The LEO's i have spoken to love it as well, as it provides a rock solid, simple to observe, articulable probable cause to make a stop. It can not be argued by the offender, it's not defensible and it of course leads to the ability to fish and find other tasty catch.

It also allows many LEO's I think the ability to catch and release with no more than,, "hey, ya ought to get that plate mounted"

[Rex B]

Personally I find it offensive that an LEO looks for things this harmless as a legal excuse to stop an otherwise law-abiding citizen

[Abraham]

Am I in the minority?

I've always had two plates issued for any vehicle I've ever owned in Texas.

You?

And I've always placed one fore and the other aft. Simple. I thought we were suppose to attach both, silly me, but now I find out the front one was an option. Who knew? Certainly not me and thousand and thousands of others. I've rarely seen a vehicle without a front plate.

Undoubtedly, we constantly have new laws going into place while the majority of us remain ignorant of them and yes, that's troubling..., but this front license plate turmoil is entirely frivolous.