TexasCHLforum.com

MrsFosforos wrote:One of my girlfriends at work was stopped for no license plate on the front, but her car wasn't made to accommodate it = and was on an "exception" list, so she didn't get ticketed. I didn't get if her car was on an exception list why she was stopped in the first place.

how many girlfriends at work do you have?

txinvestigator wrote: how many girlfriends at work do you have?

I work in a department which has predominately female employees -- so I have A LOT of girlfriends at work!

txinvestigator wrote: There is no exception list, and all passenger cars registered in Texas are required to display a front plate. It does not matter if it comes equipped with a bracket or not.

I wonder if there was some kind of grace period at the time (it's been a several months ago when she was stopped) - because it was during the stop the policeman took her DL and went to the car then came back and he told her he wouldn't cite her because her car was on an exception list but she needed to get it fixed anyway.

She said her dealership had sent her a bracket and a letter telling her she needed to, as well -- so can't say she hasn't been warned if it happens again!

How about the windshield thing though, does that cover you? The law doesn't say much about where it has to be posted.

MrsFosforos wrote:

txinvestigator wrote:
There is no exception list, and all passenger cars registered in Texas are required to display a front plate. It does not matter if it comes equipped with a bracket or not.

I wonder if there was some kind of grace period at the time (it's been a several months ago when she was stopped) - because it was during the stop the policeman took her DL and went to the car then came back and he told her he wouldn't cite her because her car was on an exception list but she needed to get it fixed anyway.

She said her dealership had sent her a bracket and a letter telling her she needed to, as well -- so can't say she hasn't been warned if it happens again!

Either she misuderstood, or the officer was just wrong.

ORRRR, the department has a list of cars they have decided to make a policy to not enforce the law.

CHL/LEO wrote:

Texas still has the most stupid law

What's stupid about it?

It's stupid, because most people get your license number by looking at the rear. To my knowledge, LEOs use the front license plate as a flat surface to shoot radar and laser against.

jnkirk1974 wrote:

CHL/LEO wrote:

Texas still has the most stupid law

What's stupid about it?

It's stupid, because most people get your license number by looking at the rear. To my knowledge, LEOs use the front license plate as a flat surface to shoot radar and laser against.

Many witnesses get plates from the front. As a cop, I recovered several stolen vehicles because either;

a) the front and rear plates didn't match and I ran the plates

b) there was no front plate, causing me to pay attention to and run the rear plate.

People would also switch rear plates when Texas had the registration sticker on the rear plate. They would do that to replace an expired plate, always forgetting to change the front one too.

CHL/LEO

What is stupid about the law? Texas is one of the few states still requiring a front license plate. Since you are a LEO and I have wondered this for 31 years of driving, can you make positive ID of the entire license number when approaching the vehicle from the other direction 100% of the time. If not then why have the front license plate. If iou have a vehicle matching the description you will turn around and ID the back license plate to confirm if possible match and act accordingly.

soccerguy59 wrote:CHL/LEO

What is stupid about the law? Texas is one of the few states still requiring a front license plate. Since you are a LEO and I have wondered this for 31 years of driving, can you make positive ID of the entire license number when approaching the vehicle from the other direction 100% of the time. If not then why have the front license plate. If iou have a vehicle matching the description you will turn around and ID the back license plate to confirm if possible match and act accordingly.

Vehicles are not always situated where the rear plate can be seen.

100% is not needed.

Additionally, the Allen LEO had written the citation to include no proof of insurance and had to mark thru it once I provided the proof. He had his mind made up that I had broken the law before I had an opportunity to prove otherwise.

Soccerguy, sorry to hear about your woes. I know its frustrating with the car being your sons but TXI pretty much covered it. For me...I always make sure my vehicle or any vehicle I drive is up to spec and meet all requirements (althought I am sure my tire tread depth was probably bad before I got new tires a few months ago.)

Having been in law enforcement myself I know there are just signs a LEO will spot. Some are more lax than others. I dont want to give anyone a reason to pull me over.

As far as the comment about Texas having a stupid law that is just something we can all be friends and agree to disagree on. I dont agree they are stupid although I can understand one might feel that way when being citied. We are human after all.

txinvestigator wrote:A person is also responsible for the condition of any vehicle they drive.

On the bright side, fix the issues and you can probably get the tickets dismissed.

"CHL clout"

CHL's to me, are like a bad hat...They "might" get you a free bowl of soup somewhere...

"Thall shall not use thy CHL in vain!"

txinvestigator wrote:

soccerguy59 wrote:CHL/LEO

What is stupid about the law? Texas is one of the few states still requiring a front license plate. Since you are a LEO and I have wondered this for 31 years of driving, can you make positive ID of the entire license number when approaching the vehicle from the other direction 100% of the time. If not then why have the front license plate. If iou have a vehicle matching the description you will turn around and ID the back license plate to confirm if possible match and act accordingly.

Vehicles are not always situated where the rear plate can be seen.

100% is not needed.

Using this logic....vehicles should be required to have a plate on each side too (drivers/passenger) . Perhaps one on top in case a helicopter is involved....and another on the bottom...should the vehicle go dirty side up.

Great forum! Silly subject.....

Finding it difficult to continue seeing a connection between license plate law and CHL

bpet wrote:Great forum! Silly subject.....

Finding it difficult to continue seeing a connection between license plate law and CHL

Probably fits better in "LEO Contacts" category, you are correct.

flintknapper wrote:

txinvestigator wrote:

soccerguy59 wrote:CHL/LEO

What is stupid about the law? Texas is one of the few states still requiring a front license plate. Since you are a LEO and I have wondered this for 31 years of driving, can you make positive ID of the entire license number when approaching the vehicle from the other direction 100% of the time. If not then why have the front license plate. If iou have a vehicle matching the description you will turn around and ID the back license plate to confirm if possible match and act accordingly.

Vehicles are not always situated where the rear plate can be seen.

100% is not needed.

Using this logic....vehicles should be required to have a plate on each side too (drivers/passenger) . Perhaps one on top in case a helicopter is involved....and another on the bottom...should the vehicle go dirty side up.