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License Plate Obstruction Information
August 31, 2006 -- Recently
there have been some questions regarding State of Texas traffic
laws. The below information may be useful:
QUESTION 1: How many plates
are legally required in Texas?
ANSWER: Two license plates are
required. One attached to the front of the vehicle and one attached
to the rear of the vehicle.
Texas traffic code, section 502.404 states
in part:
“A person commits an offense if the person
operates…a passenger car or commercial motor vehicle that
does not display two license plates, at the front and rear of
the vehicle;”
QUESTION 2: Is it permissible
to have protective material covering a license plate or to have
a frame around the license plate?
ANSWER: The law prohibits protective
material to cover a license plate. The law also prohibits a license
plate frame from obscuring the plate number or the wording “State
of Texas” or “Lone Star State.”
Texas traffic code, section 502.409 state
in part:
“A person commits an offense if the person
attaches to…a number plate…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…”
These laws were passed to simplify identification
of license plates by citizens and the law enforcement community
from both the front and back of the vehicle. The general public
needs to be aware that they must have a license plate on the front
and back of the vehicle. The public also needs to know that any
material that covers or blocks any portion of the license plate
needs to be removed. This includes most dealer, sports and school
alumni license plate frames. This law originated
with state toll road authorities experiencing an alarming degree
of violations at toll facilities due to the use of devices that
render the characters and state on the license plate undetectable
to toll road cameras.
Click here for photographs of
vehicles in violation of the traffic laws.
For additional
information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division a
713-308-3200. |
