78S30635 JRJ-D

By:  Dutton                                                       H.B. No. 76 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an offense involving a motor vehicle with an altered 
license plate.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 502.409(a), Transportation Code, as 
amended by Section 2, Chapter 837, Acts of the 78th Legislature, 
Regular Session, 2003, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or 
displays on a motor vehicle a number plate or registration insignia 
that:
		(1)  is assigned to a different motor vehicle;                                
		(2)  is assigned to the vehicle under any other motor 
vehicle law other than by the department;
		(3)  is assigned for a registration period other than 
the registration period in effect;
		(4)  is fictitious;                                                           
		(5)  has letters, numbers, or other identification 
marks that because of blurring or reflective matter are not plainly 
visible at all times during daylight;
		(6)  has an attached illuminated device or sticker, 
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, not including [or] the name of the state in which the 
vehicle is registered; or
		(7)  has a coating, covering, or protective material 
that:                  
			(A)  distorts angular visibility or 
detectability; or                      
			(B)  alters or obscures:                                              
			(i)  the letters or numbers on the plate, not 
including the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered; 
or
			(ii)  the color of the plate[, or another original 
design feature of the plate].
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies 
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 
Act.  For the purposes of this section, an offense is committed 
before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense 
occurs before that date.
	(b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this 
Act is governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the 
legislative session.