Bill Caption

Relating to the offense of operating certain vehicles without a license plate.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

Under current law, an individual commits an offense, if driving or operating a road tractor, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer on a public road and does not properly display a license plate according to Department of Public Safety rules and has been assigned by the department.

Senate Bill 1560 amends current Transportation Code to make an accommodation for motor vehicles that have been equipped by the manufacturer with only one area to display a license plate. This would provide a limited exception to the requirement that vehicles display two license plates.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Though this would provide a limited relaxation of the requirement that an individual display two license plates, the bill could be improved by abolishing the two license plate requirement altogether. While we support SB 1560 on its own merits as a step in the right direction we would support amending it to entirely abolish the two license plate requirement.