Pulled over for not having front license plate (Blanco: purchase, law)

[LolaSonner]

Hey all,

Just a public service announcement from me because yesterday I got pulled over on Blanco by a constable for not having a front plate on my car. I had no idea this was required (and if you research it you'll find for a time it was not a "punishable" offense etc.) but they now impose a fine of $190 for not having one. As I sat there waiting for him to finish writing the citation, I counted no less than 10 cars drive past on Blanco without front plates.

So if you don't have one on the front of your car, just be aware that the constables are looking to ruin your Christmas this season. Slap that plate on your car and deny them a donut at your expense.

The more you know...

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by LolaSonner

Hey all,

Just a public service announcement from me because yesterday I got pulled over on Blanco by a constable for not having a front plate on my car. I had no idea this was required (and if you research it you'll find for a time it was not a "punishable" offense etc.) but they now impose a fine of $190 for not having one. As I sat there waiting for him to finish writing the citation, I counted no less than 10 cars drive past on Blanco without front plates.

So if you don't have one on the front of your car, just be aware that the constables are looking to ruin your Christmas this season. Slap that plate on your car and deny them a donut at your expense.

The more you know...

Texas doesn't give you two license plates to put on the rear, one goes on the front. If there is anything I have learned in life, it is certainly not fair. Just because others are doing the same offense doesn't mean anything or make it ok.

I have front plates on all of my cars now but I didn't in the past. It has been my personal experience that only Texas DPS patrolmen really care about the law and enforce it.

[Inventurous]

Just like I pay an occasional "efficiency tax" in the form of a speeding ticket, I'll more readily pay an "aesthetics tax" for this than drill holes into a bumper that was never meant for a plate.


Different story with the wife's SUV that already has the aerodynamics of a shoebox.


Pretty sure this has been the law for some time, but enforcement is very sporadic. In maybe 10 traffic stops (over 8 years or so), I've only even been asked about it once.

[ged_782]

Texas has always been a two-plate State.

There was a period in the mid-late 1970s, when the State switched from annual plates, to multi-year, and started issuing renewal stickers for the rear plate only. That resulted in a belief by many that the front plate was no longer required, but that wasn't the case. Just an urban legend.

More recently, when revamping the Transportation Code, the legislature inadvertanly omitted language that imposed a penalty for not displaying a front plate, but still kept the requirement for a front plate. That omission was corrected a couple of years ago, and had existed for about a year and a half up to that point.

I don't see SAPD really enforcing the front-plate requirement, but other agencies do, particularly suburban cities and small towns.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

We got a ticket for it in the 90's, from a park police officer in Brackenridge park. He said to put the front plate on, take a picture, take it to court and it would be dismissed. We did what he said, but the ticket was not dismissed. I think back then it was $110.

[ggeorgie]

Most of your hi end cars don't have front plates, even though it's Texas law. Most sports cars don't have them on either

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by ggeorgie

Most of your hi end cars don't have front plates, even though it's Texas law. Most sports cars don't have them on either

Something I've noticed, too.

I know there's a law (or at least there used to be) that all new vehicles shipped to the State, had to be supplied with a provision for mounting a front plate. If you look at new-car dealers in the area, it appears most of them have all their inventory displaying a front tag with the dealer's name and logo, which they replace with a Texas license plate, after registration.

I wonder if the dealers of high-end cars don't do this, anticipating many of their customers are going to dispense with the front plate, despite the requirement? I've always bought low-end brands, and the dealers are all too eager to provide complimentary mounting of the plates, upon receipt. They never ask whether I want the front plate mounted, they just do it, and and keep their name/logo tag for re-use, I guess.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by ggeorgie

Most of your hi end cars don't have front plates, even though it's Texas law. Most sports cars don't have them on either

Not a fancy car driver, but none of my cars for the last 20 years had a front plate. I was never bothered by a cop because of that, even when I was stopped for something else.
Still driving without one...
Some cops want their toaster really badly. They could focus on more important things.

[Azure110]

Originally Posted by ged_782

Something I've noticed, too.

I know there's a law (or at least there used to be) that all new vehicles shipped to the State, had to be supplied with a provision for mounting a front plate. If you look at new-car dealers in the area, it appears most of them have all their inventory displaying a front tag with the dealer's name and logo, which they replace with a Texas license plate, after registration.

I wonder if the dealers of high-end cars don't do this, anticipating many of their customers are going to dispense with the front plate, despite the requirement? I've always bought low-end brands, and the dealers are all too eager to provide complimentary mounting of the plates, upon receipt. They never ask whether I want the front plate mounted, they just do it, and and keep their name/logo tag for re-use, I guess.

I have bought vehicles from out of state and they did not have the mounting brackets on them which is why I didn't have front plates in the past. I got hassled over it a couple times by Texas DPS patrol but never a city cop.

The times I bought a vehicle here, the bracket was already installed. By not having one, you are just making it one step easier for that cop to perform a traffic stop on you. Front plates don't really seem to serve any other purpose.

[ggeorgie]

Originally Posted by ged_782

Something I've noticed, too.

I know there's a law (or at least there used to be) that all new vehicles shipped to the State, had to be supplied with a provision for mounting a front plate. If you look at new-car dealers in the area, it appears most of them have all their inventory displaying a front tag with the dealer's name and logo, which they replace with a Texas license plate, after registration.

I wonder if the dealers of high-end cars don't do this, anticipating many of their customers are going to dispense with the front plate, despite the requirement? I've always bought low-end brands, and the dealers are all too eager to provide complimentary mounting of the plates, upon receipt. They never ask whether I want the front plate mounted, they just do it, and and keep their name/logo tag for re-use, I guess.

Most hi end cars do not have a place for your front plate; you have to purchase a front plate mounting kit from the dealer.


Also, if you don't have a front plate, most cases you won't get pulled over. If a cop sees you and has any reason of being suspicious, for whatever reason, he will use the no front plate as a reason to pull you over, run your license, and to check you out!