No license plates needed in Texas!!

[Broncojohnny]

I started LEO-ing when the registration stickers went on the back plate. The problem was when you had a couple of years worth of build up, you could scrape off the stickers and put them on your car (if your car was expired). Now you have to run the plate from behind to tell if the plate is valid.

The good thing about having it in the windshield is that it's harder to steal, and very difficult to coutnerfiet. An officer can now watch oncoming traffic and check inspection and registration at the same time. Registration being out is a VERY good indication of having no insurance (since you aren't supposed to get registered w/o insurance), so I like it being in the windshield.

I'll agree that the inspection gets on my nerves at times, but could you imagine the quality of vehicles on the road if there were no inspection???? It's bad enough as it is.

Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee and Michigan as well as a long list of other states did away with motor vehicle inspections long ago and i have yet to hear of any difference in the quality of vehicles on their roads because of it. It was important when cars were made out of old soup cans and wore out at 100K miles. Not so much today.

As for the registration issue, plates should be ran through the computer to see if a car is registered, I can print out a convincing copy of that sticker from any laser printer as can anyone else. Same goes for the inspection sticker for that matter. It is absurd that those are even trusted unless the entire reason for their existing is giving probable cause for traffic stops.

[Baba Ganoush]

The reg. stickers are useless and cheap crap that can easily be duplicated. Hell even the plates are cheap stickers, no longer stamped like they used to be. They're probably just as easy to alter.


He's right about the exp. reg. meaning no insurance. However, a drive through the ghetto will show you that dealer tags on half the cars is probably for the same reason. When the hell is the state going to close that loophole?

[03trubluGT]

Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee and Michigan as well as a long list of other states did away with motor vehicle inspections long ago and i have yet to hear of any difference in the quality of vehicles on their roads because of it. It was important when cars were made out of old soup cans and wore out at 100K miles. Not so much today.

As for the registration issue, plates should be ran through the computer to see if a car is registered, I can print out a convincing copy of that sticker from any laser printer as can anyone else. Same goes for the inspection sticker for that matter. It is absurd that those are even trusted unless the entire reason for their existing is giving probable cause for traffic stops.

It would be interesting to see the stats in reference to this. I wonder what the impact has been on those states.

There is a difference between a convincing copy and something that would actually fool an expert. I have a friend with a 2007 Shelby that made a copy of his registration with a color laser printer and you can tell that it's a fake. He carries the original one in the car. He wanted to keep all documentation pertaining to the car if/when he decides to sell it.

The reg. stickers are useless and cheap crap that can easily be duplicated. Hell even the plates are cheap stickers, no longer stamped like they used to be. They're probably just as easy to alter.


He's right about the exp. reg. meaning no insurance. However, a drive through the ghetto will show you that dealer tags on half the cars is probably for the same reason. When the hell is the state going to close that loophole?

The plates are HORRIBLE! Along with the smaller font, I hate the fact that they are not stamped. The stamping throws a shadow that makes the plate easier to read.

[Baba Ganoush]

Yeah I hate them. They aren't going to be as nostalgic as the older stamped style that we made for nearly a century. I'm sure they are harder to read since they can just look like a big reflector from some angles.



So what about the dealer tags? This is a real issue. I saw it every day in Dallas, and I knew it was because they were lacking something in the "legal requirements to operate your shitbox on the road" department. Insurance, license, hell they could be stolen.

Thoughts?

[Snatch Napkin]

I've noticed most of the dealer tags that stay on vehicles for months are from note lots. Folks will go in month after month to renew their dealer tags. I'm not sure if that has something to do with the note lot not actually possessing the title or if they just don't expect the person to actually pay the note for very long. I've seen others get altered.

In one instance a dealer tag (used for transport only) was stolen and placed on a vehicle that was driven around by a known crackhead for several weeks. Contact was made with the dealership with the number on the tag and they confirmed it was taken from another vehicle (possibly photocopied). They swore they would handle it from there, but he never saw jail time over it. However, this guy was friends with a dude that ran a shitty used car lot, so that guy may have taken the charge.

[Baba Ganoush]

I've noticed most of the dealer tags that stay on vehicles for months are from note lots. Folks will go in month after month to renew their dealer tags. I'm not sure if that has something to do with the note lot not actually possessing the title or if they just don't expect the person to actually pay the note for very long. I've seen others get altered.

In one instance a dealer tag (used for transport only) was stolen and placed on a vehicle that was driven around by a known crackhead for several weeks. Contact was made with the dealership with the number on the tag and they confirmed it was taken from another vehicle (possibly photocopied). They swore they would handle it from there, but he never saw jail time over it. However, this guy was friends with a dude that ran a shitty used car lot, so that guy may have taken the charge.

I think its an underground thing in the hood. Are these tags even traceable? I mean if you run them, the info will come back for the lot, not the person driving it, which is probably uninsured, illegal, ect. ect.

I just hate having to play by the rules when I see people skirting them all around me. Yet I try the same and I'd get busted. Oh well, I digress.

[thesource]

Motor cycles, antique vehicles and dealers don't run front plates. I haven't heard of any issues coming from the lack of it either. Front plates on sports cars flat out sucks.

[Broncojohnny]

Anyone can get those paper temporary tags for months on end. The dirtbags do it so that they don't have to pay transfer taxes when buying a car and also to avoid the cost of registration.

[fordracing19]

In 20 years, I've never gotten a bonus, let alone a toaster.

I hear some of these other departments give out mixers,blenders and toasters every month.

[Treasure Chest]

I've noticed most of the dealer tags that stay on vehicles for months are from note lots. Folks will go in month after month to renew their dealer tags. I'm not sure if that has something to do with the note lot not actually possessing the title or if they just don't expect the person to actually pay the note for very long. I've seen others get altered.

In one instance a dealer tag (used for transport only) was stolen and placed on a vehicle that was driven around by a known crackhead for several weeks. Contact was made with the dealership with the number on the tag and they confirmed it was taken from another vehicle (possibly photocopied). They swore they would handle it from there, but he never saw jail time over it. However, this guy was friends with a dude that ran a shitty used car lot, so that guy may have taken the charge.

You're talking about two different tags. The ones that people can renew are the temporary registration tags when a vehicle is purchased.

The ones that the crackhead was driving around with were dealer untitled vehicle tags, Black tags. They're only supposed to be used for transport, test drives, or the loan of a vehicle for temporary use to a charitable organization (like parade use).

[Snatch Napkin]

You're talking about two different tags. The ones that people can renew are the temporary registration tags when a vehicle is purchased.

The ones that the crackhead was driving around with were dealer untitled vehicle tags, Black tags. They're only supposed to be used for transport, test drives, or the loan of a vehicle for temporary use to a charitable organization (like parade use).

Hence the reason why I have that in parenthesis in the very post you quoted.

[Treasure Chest]

Hence the reason why I have that in parenthesis in the very post you quoted.

I'm sick.....be nice to me. I'm gonna take my ball and go back to the couch, now.

[03trubluGT]

Found it:

TRANSPORTATION CODETITLE 7.

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

SUBTITLE A. CERTIFICATES OF TITLE AND REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

CHAPTER 520. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 520.036. GENERAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person violates this subchapter in a manner for which a specific penalty is not provided.(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $200.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

So, if the language for punishment was omitted, this statute can fill in where it was left out.

[mikec]

Found it:

[I]TRANSPORTATION CODETITLE 7.

VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC SUBTITLE A...CHAPTER 520. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 520.036. GENERAL PENALTY. ...(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $200.
So, if the language for punishment was omitted, this statute can fill in where it was left out.

Ha. Shoulda known that those in charge of extracting revenue would have it covered elsewhere...

Good find Matt...

[03trubluGT]

Good find Matt...

I think knowing your job is important. I remembered reading this years ago for a promotional exam. I'm not omnipotent when it comes to this stuff, but I try to keep on top of it.