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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the display of a license plate only on the rear of a |
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motor vehicle; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 504.010, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(d) Rules adopted under Subsection (c) must: |
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(1) authorize a motor vehicle to display only a rear |
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license plate if the applicant for the vehicle's registration pays |
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to the department an annual fee of $50; and |
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(2) require a motor vehicle that displays only a rear |
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license plate as authorized by Subdivision (1) to display on the |
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vehicle's windshield a distinctive insignia issued by the |
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department for validation of that authorization. |
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(e) The department shall deposit a fee collected under |
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Subsection (d) to the credit of the state highway fund. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 504.943(a) and (d), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person commits |
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an offense if the person operates on a public highway, during a |
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registration period, a motor vehicle that does not: |
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(1) display two license plates that: |
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(A) [(1)] have been assigned by the department |
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for the period; and |
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(B) [(2)] comply with department rules regarding |
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the placement of license plates; or |
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(2) display: |
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(A) a rear license plate that: |
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(i) has been assigned by the department for |
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the period; and |
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(ii) complies with department rules |
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regarding the placement of a rear license plate; and |
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(B) a windshield insignia described by Section |
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504.010(d) that complies with department rules. |
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(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection |
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(a)(1)(A), (a)(2)(A)(i), or (a)(2)(B) [(a)(1)] if the defendant: |
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(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first |
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court appearance; and |
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(2) pays a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |