New Texas Law?

[texas*princess]

I'm a little confused and need some clarification here!

I just recieved this:
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http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/909...al_plates.html

A new law was passed on September 1st that it is illegal to have a bracket around your license plate. Brackets such as; dealership, sports team, college alumni. No brackets are allowed of any sort! If a police officer pulls you over for having a bracket around your license plate it is a $200 fine. Yes $200...thanks for the notice!

Marvin Zindler (of Houston's ABC News) had a special report on this last night. People are being pulled over and given tickets that had no idea about this new law. Pass this message on to co-worker, friends and family

And here is more

http://www.texasmotorists.org/new_laws/default.asp
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Why are no brackets allowed? Brackets are usually thin, and don't obscure the license plate info?

Is this for real? I just bought an ADPi bracket that I wanted to put on my car this weekend

[MereMere21]

well it says only if it obstructs the license plate numbers or letters

I had no idea though this was a LAW! we here in Dallas have been too obsessed with Prob. 12 lately

[DeltAlum]

They say that ignorance of the law is no excuse, but it's pretty tacky to just start enforcing this without giving out some warnings for a few weeks or months.

Is the Texas economy that bad?

[Kristin AGD]

I haven't pulled over yet . I don't have a plate on the front of my car, the article says that is illegal too. And I have no clue how to go about getting one on there. There is no place to put it, I bought my car in Okla.
If I did have a plate on the front, I am sure I would have another AGD frame there too.

[texas*princess]

I've seen many GLO plates in the fronts of cars while I'm at work (i.e. instead of a regular license plate, there is a plate in the GLO's color & the greek letters -- just to avoid confusion)

So I'm guessing that's against the law too?

[bafromkc]

I know Ohio has similar laws. i think they are stupid. as long as your plate is visible you should be able to put whatever you want around it. i also think its stuid that you have to have them on front and back, back should be good enough.

[AlphaSigOU]

A license plate frame that does not obscure any of the license plate numbers is still OK. It is intended to prohibit neon license plate frames or any covering designed to alter the color or reflectivity of the license plate.

Here's the text of the bill (SB 439):

S.B. No. 439




AN ACT

relating to an offense involving a motor vehicle with an altered or
obscured license plate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 502.409, Transportation
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 502.409. WRONG, FICTITIOUS, ALTERED, OR OBSCURED
[UNCLEAN] LICENSE PLATE.
SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 502.409, Transportation
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or
displays on a motor vehicle a number plate or registration insignia
that:
(1) is assigned to a different motor vehicle;
(2) is assigned to the vehicle under any other motor
vehicle law other than by the department;
(3) is assigned for a registration period other than
the registration period in effect;
(4) is fictitious;
(5) has letters, numbers, or other identification
marks that because of blurring or reflective matter are not plainly
visible at all times during daylight;
(6) has an attached illuminated device or [is a]
sticker, decal, emblem, or other insignia that is not authorized by
law and that interferes with the readability of the letters or
numbers on the plate or the name of the state in which the vehicle is
registered; or
(7) has a coating, covering, or protective material
that:
(A) distorts angular visibility or
detectability; or
(B) alters or obscures the letters or numbers on
the plate, the color of the plate, or another original design
feature of the plate.
SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
Act. For the purposes of this section, an offense is committed
before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense
occurs before that date.
(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this
Act is governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by texas*princess
I've seen many GLO plates in the fronts of cars while I'm at work (i.e. instead of a regular license plate, there is a plate in the GLO's color & the greek letters -- just to avoid confusion)

So I'm guessing that's against the law too?

Technically, yes. Texas law requires both a front and rear license plate to be displayed on the vehicle at all times. While the front plate requirement is seldom enforced, don't take a chance with the local gendarmerie -- they can and will issue a 'fix-it' ticket and you must show proof that it's been done before you get off the hook!

[ADPiSAI]

I got pulled over in Massachusetts for having one on my rear license plate... The cop said that he "couldn't read what state I was from," which was crap.
Anybody know of any other states with this kind of law?

[CatStarESP4]

This one of the strangest laws I have ever heard of in my life.