Texas members, mounting your front tag
09-02-2013, 01:53 AM
#41
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S.B. No. 1757
AN ACT
relating to the manufacture, sale, distribution, purchase, or
possession of a license plate flipper; creating an offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 504, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 504.946 to read as follows:
Sec. 504.946. LICENSE PLATE FLIPPER; OFFENSE. (a) In this
section, "license plate flipper" means a manual, electronic, or
mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor
vehicle and:
(1) switch between two or more license plates for the
purpose of allowing a motor vehicle operator to change the license
plate displayed on the operator's vehicle; or
(2) hide a license plate from view by flipping the
license plate so that the license plate number is not visible.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person with criminal
negligence purchases or possesses a license plate flipper. An
offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) A person commits an offense if the person with criminal
negligence manufactures, sells, offers to sell, or otherwise
distributes a license plate flipper. An offense under this
subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
This was passed and went into law today.
AN ACT
relating to the manufacture, sale, distribution, purchase, or
possession of a license plate flipper; creating an offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 504, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 504.946 to read as follows:
Sec. 504.946. LICENSE PLATE FLIPPER; OFFENSE. (a) In this
section, "license plate flipper" means a manual, electronic, or
mechanical device designed or adapted to be installed on a motor
vehicle and:
(1) switch between two or more license plates for the
purpose of allowing a motor vehicle operator to change the license
plate displayed on the operator's vehicle; or
(2) hide a license plate from view by flipping the
license plate so that the license plate number is not visible.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person with criminal
negligence purchases or possesses a license plate flipper. An
offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) A person commits an offense if the person with criminal
negligence manufactures, sells, offers to sell, or otherwise
distributes a license plate flipper. An offense under this
subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
This was passed and went into law today.
The law regarding the maximum $200 fine went into effect on 01Sep2013. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLoo...83R&Bill=HB625
Personally I don't like the front plate but compared to other issues in this state, wearing a front plate is a very minor thing.
Last edited by APACHEDR1V3R; 09-02-2013 at 01:56 AM.
09-02-2013, 11:39 AM
#43
Melting Slicks
A few years ago there was a Corvette show at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX and the local cops showed up and wrote tickets on cars with no front plate. Big stink about the CS funding raising event.
09-02-2013, 12:42 PM
#44
Race Director
TFR bracket and painted frame purchased.
I'd rather give the money to TFR than Tejas.
Now for a letter to Austin...
One study:
http://frontplate.org/blog/wp-conten...ensePlates.pdf
I'd rather give the money to TFR than Tejas.
Now for a letter to Austin...
One study:
http://frontplate.org/blog/wp-conten...ensePlates.pdf
Last edited by vet55; 09-02-2013 at 12:56 PM.
09-02-2013, 12:51 PM
#45
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Location: Central TX
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09-02-2013, 12:55 PM
#46
Burning Brakes
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Most states now only require a rear plate, and I think a hundred years ago when they first started using license plates all states had two.
You'd think Texas, being the forward-looking state they are, would have eliminated the front plate requirement rather than being more restrictive. I really don't see the utility of it. If a policeman is approaching your car and you don't have a plate on the front, you could well be from a one-plate state and he's turned around and caught up with you for nothing.
And ... you're using twice as much metal as is necessary ... bad for the environment and more expensive too.
You'd think Texas, being the forward-looking state they are, would have eliminated the front plate requirement rather than being more restrictive. I really don't see the utility of it. If a policeman is approaching your car and you don't have a plate on the front, you could well be from a one-plate state and he's turned around and caught up with you for nothing.
And ... you're using twice as much metal as is necessary ... bad for the environment and more expensive too.
Ditto. A study was done in Texas back in the 1990's thatshowed the cost of producing ONLY ONE plate would save taxpayers between 2 & 3 million dollars per year. And you know the savings are much more now.
So I can't believe our legislators are still so dumb as to waste our money on useless ugly crap like this when they know there is no logical reason whatsoever for this citizen abuse.
09-02-2013, 12:59 PM
#47
Race Director
Ditto. A study was done in Texas back in the 1990's thatshowed the cost of producing ONLY ONE plate would save taxpayers between 2 & 3 million dollars per year. And you know the savings are much more now.
So I can't believe our legislators are still so dumb as to waste our money on useless ugly crap like this when they know there is no logical reason whatsoever for this citizen abuse.
Thats all that matters in what I read.
09-02-2013, 01:02 PM
#48
Burning Brakes
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09-02-2013, 01:09 PM
#49
Burning Brakes
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So why do they still let hybrid-electric crap drive on our roads for free, without paying even one cent in gas tax?
Why don't they make it their mission to hunt down the cheapskate $greens$, and make them finally pay what everyone else pays?
Start charging the new Prius owner, etc $7500 dollars so they can no longer keep that much undeserved federal tax credit.
And also charge them $400 at registration every year - since car owners that don't buy gas are never paying any road & bridge repair taxes?
It's either that way, or time to abolish all gas taxes, so everyone is paying their fair share.
Why don't they make it their mission to hunt down the cheapskate $greens$, and make them finally pay what everyone else pays?
Start charging the new Prius owner, etc $7500 dollars so they can no longer keep that much undeserved federal tax credit.
And also charge them $400 at registration every year - since car owners that don't buy gas are never paying any road & bridge repair taxes?
It's either that way, or time to abolish all gas taxes, so everyone is paying their fair share.
Last edited by 85scott; 09-02-2013 at 01:12 PM.
09-02-2013, 01:18 PM
#50
Le Mans Master
Actually, this is a separate law, and it was already illegal to have a mechanism that will allow you to flip, replace, hide, or obscure the plate. They are thinking about people that would use such a device to conceal the plates during or after commission of a crime...
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; 09-02-2013 at 01:21 PM.
09-02-2013, 01:42 PM
#51
Drifting
So why do they still let hybrid-electric crap drive on our roads for free, without paying even one cent in gas tax?
Why don't they make it their mission to hunt down the cheapskate $greens$, and make them finally pay what everyone else pays?
Start charging the new Prius owner, etc $7500 dollars so they can no longer keep that much undeserved federal tax credit.
And also charge them $400 at registration every year - since car owners that don't buy gas are never paying any road & bridge repair taxes?
It's either that way, or time to abolish all gas taxes, so everyone is paying their fair share.
Why don't they make it their mission to hunt down the cheapskate $greens$, and make them finally pay what everyone else pays?
Start charging the new Prius owner, etc $7500 dollars so they can no longer keep that much undeserved federal tax credit.
And also charge them $400 at registration every year - since car owners that don't buy gas are never paying any road & bridge repair taxes?
It's either that way, or time to abolish all gas taxes, so everyone is paying their fair share.
Prius 17 MPG
Sport car ~30 MPG
My numbers are approximately right as I remember them. I guess that's why you see a lot of Prius drives Hypermiling their cars.
Last edited by LawrenceFromTorrance; 09-02-2013 at 01:46 PM.
09-02-2013, 01:58 PM
#52
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You need to read the new law carefully. It is different in that the fine is now $200.00 for not displaying a front plate. It is no longer a simple fix it ticket. There is now a huge incentive for the police to write this. The majority of the fine stays at the local level.
09-02-2013, 02:03 PM
#53
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That technology is already being used and has been for at least a few years. Several agencies have plate readers affixed to the trunk areas or the roofs of their cars. Its been a a good tool to locate stolen and wanted vehicles.
09-02-2013, 02:13 PM
#54
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So why do they still let hybrid-electric crap drive on our roads for free, without paying even one cent in gas tax?
Why don't they make it their mission to hunt down the cheapskate $greens$, and make them finally pay what everyone else pays?
Start charging the new Prius owner, etc $7500 dollars so they can no longer keep that much undeserved federal tax credit.
And also charge them $400 at registration every year - since car owners that don't buy gas are never paying any road & bridge repair taxes?
It's either that way, or time to abolish all gas taxes, so everyone is paying their fair share.
Why don't they make it their mission to hunt down the cheapskate $greens$, and make them finally pay what everyone else pays?
Start charging the new Prius owner, etc $7500 dollars so they can no longer keep that much undeserved federal tax credit.
And also charge them $400 at registration every year - since car owners that don't buy gas are never paying any road & bridge repair taxes?
It's either that way, or time to abolish all gas taxes, so everyone is paying their fair share.
09-02-2013, 04:47 PM
#55
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It's another way to nickel and dime us. Am I saying the monies collected are insignificant? No. I'm saying for me, there are bigger money collecting scams and misappropriations being played out in government than this one. Especially at this point in our history.
I'd rather sweat the bigger bucks being taken out of my pocket.
09-02-2013, 05:21 PM
#56
Melting Slicks
BTW, I am in the Westlake area but our son and his family live in Cedar Park so I get up your way some time.
09-02-2013, 06:25 PM
#57
Burning Brakes
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I really wish car people nationwide would become more politically active to stop dumb laws like this. Because it sure seems obvious to me that the average Joe does not support this money wasting or unnecessary violation of their rights.
Offhand, I don't even know who my local state person is.
But this time I am going to find out.
And if they voted wrong, they're getting an angry e-mail with additional demands also. Because this front plate junk, gas-tax abuse from $greens$, the general waste of money, etc. I have had it with liberals!
Offhand, I don't even know who my local state person is.
But this time I am going to find out.
And if they voted wrong, they're getting an angry e-mail with additional demands also. Because this front plate junk, gas-tax abuse from $greens$, the general waste of money, etc. I have had it with liberals!
09-02-2013, 06:35 PM
#58
Burning Brakes
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A funny aside is that on Top Gear they had a 500 HP sports car keep up with a Prius that was going as fast as it could. The result:
Prius 17 MPG
Sport car ~30 MPG
My numbers are approximately right as I remember them. I guess that's why you see a lot of Prius drives Hypermiling their cars.
Prius 17 MPG
Sport car ~30 MPG
My numbers are approximately right as I remember them. I guess that's why you see a lot of Prius drives Hypermiling their cars.
When some idiot is asleep at the light, poking along at 25 in a 45mph zone, etc, it's almost always in a Toyota or Honda.
And then occasionaly, there is the econo-box crazy weaving in & out, flooring it everywhere they go, which defeats the purpose entirely.
It's a strange world right now.
09-02-2013, 06:53 PM
#59
Race Director
I live in TX and didn't know about the change to the law. I will be interesting to see if it has any affect. Now, about 2-3 of every 10 cars you see on the road have no front plate. Now some of those could be from a 1 plate state so maybe it is just 1 out of 10n. But that is still a lot of cars... I started running a plate (with a Top Flight mount) after two of my club members got tickets leaving an autocross, the cops were waiting at the exit to the parking lot..
09-02-2013, 07:19 PM
#60
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Got pulled over by DPS today, not doing anything else wrong, had one nice trooper and his partner, who wasn't so nice, I think nice trooper wanted to check out car, other only wanted to focus on no front plate, it was sitting on dash. Nice trooper suggested mounting it as computer showed I had already been warned twice.
Came home and ordered TFR one, think mounting the plate upside down will **** them off?
Rules say it has to be on front of car, well actually it says it must be visible from front of car, which sitting on the dash was.
Came home and ordered TFR one, think mounting the plate upside down will **** them off?
Rules say it has to be on front of car, well actually it says it must be visible from front of car, which sitting on the dash was.
Last edited by Marktexas; 09-02-2013 at 07:24 PM.