Anybody know what Texas law calls for regarding vehicles not having a front license plate? Im sure there is a cut off year i.e. vehicles made before 1960, or something like that, but anybody know the exact year.
If you're running YOM plates, you no longer need to run the front one. I suspect the bottom probably fell outta them Dealer plates.
You sure? I thought if there was two plates issued, you are required to run them. Either way, I don't know of anybody that runs a front plate or anybody that's had any trouble because of it.
Never heard about a year cut off date. Both of my last daily drivers were without a front plate and I've never had any problems.
like seymour said if you are running year of model tags or state issued antique tags only one is required. if you are registering it like you would a late model or daily driver you are suppose to have both.
I have a motorized plate in the front of my truck (83 shortwide) and just hit the switch to flip it down when I get pulled over. It really throws them off, but never been ticketed for it..............
Texas has always issued front plates. At least back to before 1930. Seymour thanks for that heads up. I did not know about the YOM only needing 1 plate. I had never heard this. Extremely good information!
I was only issued 1 antique plate for the rear when I registered the Commander. My A was only issued one antique plate too. Didn't the state recently p*** something about obstructing plates with tags and surrounds. I remember a big fuss last year.
Texas has always issued two for p***enger cars. Not dealer tags and some commercial plates. And yes, there was a big stink about plate holders. Most dealers had to spend some money to change all of their plates so you could read the whole word "Texas" at the top.
ok when you got to get it taged you have to have both front and back to get it bone by the rule if you use the old ones
If its not old enough to be registered as an antique,take your chances. I have been pulled over many times and never gotten a ticket for it.
I got stopped and ticketed about 15 years ago in San Patricio County. I thought it was a bunch of BS. so I never payed the fine. About a year later I was pulled over and spent the whole day in the can 'til I a judge dismissed the WARRANT they had out for me. And he did AFTER I PAYED THE FINE! *******s. oh well,.......my 2 cents.....TD
I am not sure what the reality is with local law enforcement, but the current motor vehicle code states that 2 plates are required, and makes no exception for YOM or otherwise. Hotrob
Things may have changed in the last couple of years. But it use to be a requirement that both front and rear plates be displayed. I have a copy of the Texas Criminal Law and Motor Vehicle Handbook will see if I can find the actual code. But realistically why would the State issue 2 plates if you only needed one on the rear. I can't think off any state that issues 2 but only requires 1. Also remember that if front and rear are required, that failure to display a front plate is grounds for a probable cause stop and that can lead to other issues. Bottom line is why give the Law Enforcement Community any reason to pull you over in the first place......My 3 cents
Your supposed to have both. The DPS is going to stop you for sure. It's the officer's call if he wants to ticket you or not. If your rolling up 281 or 77 you'll get stopped in a heart beat. The opening day of dove season two years ago, I was coming home at night up 77 and got stopped because one of my two license plate lights was out. He asked me how the hunt went and told be to get it fixed when I got back to town. San Patricio County has got to be the ****tist(sp?). They write more DWI's than anyone in Texas. SP stretches from Mustang Island at Port Aransas, all the way to Lake Corpus Christi, and that's were all the partys are, I guess....I sure won't know about that. I see people in town without tags all the time.
I spent most of my life in Texas, and you're cop bait if you don't run a front plate. You may get away with it forever, I don't know, but if you don't have a front plate they automatically have an excuse to pull you over. Since I don't drink anymore it's not an issue for me, just something to think about.
Exceptions do exist. You only get one dealer plate. You only get one antique plate. I can not remember right now if you get one or two cl***ic plates...I think its one also. YOM must have two the years they issued two. Problem with that is I know of no year that did not do two of hand. To get YOM you must present both plates and they must be clear and of good quality. One other plate I think is issued as a single but I can not remember what it is...I remember somebody saying something about it to me once. I have been stopped for no front plate and no inspection sticker in hot rods a few times. I got pulled over on in a 62 with YOM plates and a fake repop 1962 inspection sticker and the guy was trying to h***le me about the sticker being way out of date. I got pulled over for no front plate running my antique plate on my 32 once and got messed with for no inspection sticker. It is always lady cops and young guy cops that have jacked with me. It burns me when a cop does not know the law and takes an at***ude. I complained about one of the cops, it did no good. I do have the satisfaction of some of the older cops in the area being told the story by our campus RSO (who is my buddy) and I know they all talked to one of the officers and busted their chops for being a jerk. As they put it, they can't do nothing with this person and nobody wants to be around this particular cop. Uptight, angry, and humorless were terms I heard used about this officer.
Like I said, I've never had a problem. I have always kept the extra plate in the car just in case. Above someone mentions that both front and rear plates must be displayed.....does it say where? I'll gladly hang both from the rear if it's ok Got pulled over once in the Olds because my tag light was out. It was at night, the cop whipped around FAST to get me. Told me cars with tag lights out are usually stolen. He also thought my car was to loud but didn't look to see my exhaust dumping under the p***enger seat, which I could have easilly been ticketed for. He didn't ticket me for the blue dots either. Now I'm running around with a license plate frame that covers about 1/4th of the "TEXAS" on the plate...no problems yet.
Mini truckers and ricers very often have the plate in the front window. A common thing I have seen is the plate on the back side of the p***enger side sun visor so they can put it up when they park etc., but when it is down I was told it must be clear of the tinted top part. If it is in the front window or on the front of the car and be seen it counts from everything I have been told.
I had to have both YOM plates inspected for the Rocket. I run both. But on my OTM (Miata) i have a front plate that is hinged to disappear at 20 mph. I have been pulled 7 times for no front plate, 4 in ****hole Northlake TX. Never ticketed, and kinda enjoyed Harpole saying well "It wasn't there a minite ago, have a nice day"
Houston cops were writing tickets if "The Lone Star State" at the bottom of the tags was obscured as well. The law reads something like "No license plate lettering is to be covered or hidden". So to carry it to the full extent right? They are just revenue *****s. So the consensus is that Antique and Cl***ic plates (which are UGLY BTW)issued equals 1. If you want to run YOM plates you have to have both at the DMV? If you only run 1 you are just asking for trouble even though it is legal for Antique and Cl***ic plates? Has anyone had any experience with the condition of the YOM plates they've registered? My only experience is with a super nice '30 and '58 set, which are probably nicer than when Texas 1st issued them. But my rod truck would look weird if it had such a nice set of plates on it when the rest of the truck is a work of "Patina". So whats the worst a set of plates can be......or guidelines?
Good question. I was thinking of using YOM plates but finding 2 1946 Texas plates in reasonable condition might be a chore. I found a couple of single plates listed on ebay but even the singles were pricie. Starting bid of $55 on one that is less then stellar and the cherry one's bidding starts at $100. I glad I asked the question...cause I could just see me being the joker that paided $101 for a single plate then the DMV asking me were the second plate is. It's too steep of a price for me to pay for garage art.
If you are registered as Antique or Cl***ic (with or without YOM plates), you only have to run the rear plate. "(l) Notwithstanding any other section of this code, a vehicle issued plates under Subsection (a) shall be required to display only one license plate, which is to be attached to the rear of the vehicle." http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/txmclaws.htm#Chapter 4
Do your best to never give the people with the power a reason to stop you Police cars used to say "to protect and serve" now it says "law enforcement" I've had one ticket in last 10 years, one too many
I run a Texas 46 YOM plate on my car In Texas during the war years and through 1946 they only issued one. I printed out proof of this from a website. Most police dont know much about these laws. Was stopped once for this ,had all my papers in the car ,no problem Think he just wanted to BS and find out where we were headed. In Texas ,if you register the car as an antique and with YOM plates They want to actually see both plates(unless only one was issued) But even if two were issued i dont know of anyone who actually put the front one on
Thanks, Blake "(c) In lieu of issuing plates under Subsection (a), the department may approve for use license plates presented by the owner that were issued by this state in the same year as the model year of a vehicle described by Subsection (a). The department shall approve for use on a p***enger car license plates that were issued for a p***enger car or for a truck and shall approve for use on a truck license plates that were issued for a truck or for a p***enger car. If the department approves license plates under this subsection , the department shall issue a symbol for attachment to one of the license plates, as determined by the department, showing the year in which the vehicle was registered under this section. " So if I interpret this correctly, plates are always referred to in the plural term (more than one). As well as "the department shall issue a symbol for attachment to one of the license plates," states one of the plates. So yep even if you get Antique or Cl***ic status and are only required to run 1 plate. You still have to have 2 matching YOM plates to register them even if you only use one.
You got it, mang. To use YOM plates, you gotta register the pair or a single-plate (dealer, etc...) if one exists for your YOM, but you only have to run the rear one once you get them registered. Also, trucks can use YOM car or truck plates... truck owners don't have to search for a good pair of YOM 'Texas Truck' plates.
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