Removing License Plates

Good god acp you are a fool indeed.

Good god acp you are a fool indeed. Originally Posted by Boltfan

I can't imagine how Iam the fool here. Seeing prostitutes shouldn't be that high on anybody's list, especially if you have to take measures to keep from being discovered by a spouse or being outed by a pimp.

acp, perhaps you neeed to educate yourself before you so ignorantly speak out of turn.

I can't imagine how Iam the fool here. Seeing prostitutes shouldn't be that high on anybody's list, especially if you have to take measures to keep from being discovered by a spouse or being outed by a pimp. Originally Posted by acp5762

If this wasn't an issue in some way for all of us, then we would just post with our real names, no handles, post our regular phone numbers, etc.

Oh, and add employers to the list we wish to hide from.

I think the question, properly framed, is: In Texas, is it a violation of the law to have a parked vehicle on private property without license plates?

The answer is “no.” Texas law only requires a vehicle have license plates when it is being operated on a public street.

TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE Sec. 502.473. OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT REGISTRATION INSIGNIA.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a motor vehicle that does not properly display the registration insignia issued by the department that establishes that the license plates have been validated for the period.
* * *
(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a) if the defendant:
(1) shows that the motor vehicle was issued a registration insignia by the department that was attached to the motor vehicle, establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed; and
(2) pays an administrative fee not to exceed $10.

See Tex. Transp. Code § 502.473.

btw, 'public highway' is defined as including all public streets, not just highways. Also, since we no longer affix stickers to plates but use windshield stickers instead, 'registration insignia' means both the plates and the window sticker.

Sub-issues:

*Operating a vehicle on a public street without license plates is punishable by up to a $200 fine, although a person who pays his street taxes and gets plates can ask the court to waive the fine and pay only a $10 fee.

*Due to an omission in a bill, for a few months in late 2011 a person driving without plates didn't have to pay a fine because the law didn't list one. However, effective January 1, 2012, the fine is again $200. Chuck Lindell, “Legislature's mistake jeopardizes license plate law,” Austin American-Statesman, Nov. 15, 2011.

*Missy's friend's car wasn't towed because it didn't have tags. It was towed under a city ordinace as an 'abandoned vehicle.' Some cities have laws allowing for towing if a vehicle is parked on a public street and doesn't move for as little as 24 hours. But as a practical matter, a vehicle has to not move for much longer for it to draw the attention of someone and be towed. The fact that a vehicle doesn't have license plates is proof of abandonment.

acp, perhaps you neeed to educate yourself before you so ignorantly speak out of turn. Originally Posted by Boltfan

I realize your concerns. I am far from ignorant and I certainly don't need to be educated in matters such as these. You need to take your own advice. The very measures you're implying to keep from being discovered will get you discovered. Although having your vehicle parked in a Hotel Parking lot or any private parking lot for that matter without a plate may not get you a citation it can still alert an ambitious patrol officer if he happens to see it or if a concerned citizen alerts them. an officer who sees a vehicle without a plate may still run the VIN to see if it is a stolen vehicle. Worst case scenario for guys like you who would remove their own plate an officers runs the VIN realizes the car isn't stolen then trys to make contact with you or even your spouse to clarify the circumstances. So now your SO has questions she may ask over an ambitious Cops inquiry. This is not remote but very possible since Hotels often employ off duty Police Officers to work Security details.

You are ignorant as to the specifics, yet you are drawing conclusions.

My S.O. is the least of my worries.

Thanks Shyster Jon for your response. Very specific and answers the question exactly.

You are ignorant as to the specifics, yet you are drawing conclusions.

My S.O. is the least of my worries.

Thanks Shyster Jon for your response. Very specific and answers the question exactly. Originally Posted by Boltfan

No Iam not ignorant to the specifics. But if you're gonna play in a world of crime and deceipt you might want to consider all the possibilities. You might be surprised to know the people who are aware of how you spend your time.

...

You might be surprised to know the people who are aware of how you spend your time. Originally Posted by acp5762

Oh really?

Care to elaborate on your little threat?

Oh really?

Care to elaborate on your little threat? Originally Posted by Boltfan

Threat, How can you construe Iam making a threat to you, and just to think a few posts ago you called me ignorant. If your SO is the least of your worries, then who has you running scared? Cause you're afraid of something

I think acp's comment, "You might be surprised to know the people who are aware of how you spend your time," was meant generally, and wasn't directed at Boltfan specifically.

Just reading the cards acp is laying out on the table.

He says is isn't ignorant of the specifics. Considering I don't recall ever discussing my desire to wear clown make up with him publicly I am unaware of what he could know. I wanted to shield my family from the scrutiny of knowing their minivan doubles as a clown car and I asked about removing my plates at Chuck e Cheese for birthday parties.

So, did you know specifics or were you just racing along with little or no information and you were making assumptions acp? Because telling someone on a public board you know their specifics might be slightly stupid.


BTW SJ, your avatar/SB is smokin hot.

Being that the License Plate on your Car does not belong to you it belongs to the State in which you registered your car. Removing, Tampering or improperly displaying of the License Plate is grounds for a citation. But being in a private parking lot it would be a bit remote that you could get ticketed. Why would anyone go through the trouble of temporarilly removing a License Plate and then putting it back on. Just because you're at a Hotel seeing an escort. Iam a little puzzled over the reasoning behind this. Originally Posted by acp5762

As others have pointed out.. a lot of information is linked to your license plate.

I realize your concerns. I am far from ignorant and I certainly don't need to be educated in matters such as these. You need to take your own advice. The very measures you're implying to keep from being discovered will get you discovered. Although having your vehicle parked in a Hotel Parking lot or any private parking lot for that matter without a plate may not get you a citation it can still alert an ambitious patrol officer if he happens to see it or if a concerned citizen alerts them. an officer who sees a vehicle without a plate may still run the VIN to see if it is a stolen vehicle. Worst case scenario for guys like you who would remove their own plate an officers runs the VIN realizes the car isn't stolen then trys to make contact with you or even your spouse to clarify the circumstances. So now your SO has questions she may ask over an ambitious Cops inquiry. This is not remote but very possible since Hotels often employ off duty Police Officers to work Security details. Originally Posted by acp5762

That is why you have "spare" plates

all one needs is a nice spot to park and swap em.