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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an offense involving a motor vehicle with an altered or |
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obscured license plate. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 502.409, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or |
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displays on a motor vehicle a number plate or registration insignia |
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that: |
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(1) is assigned to a different motor vehicle; |
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(2) is assigned to the vehicle under any other motor |
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vehicle law other than by the department; |
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(3) is assigned for a registration period other than |
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the registration period in effect; |
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(4) is fictitious; |
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(5) has [letters, numbers, or other identification
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marks that because of] blurring or reflective matter that |
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significantly impairs the readability of the name of the state in |
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which the vehicle is registered or the letters or numbers of the |
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license plate number [are not plainly visible] at any time [all
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times during daylight]; |
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(6) has an attached illuminated device or sticker, |
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decal, emblem, or other insignia that is not authorized by law and |
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that interferes with the readability of the letters or numbers of |
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[on] the license plate number or the name of the state in which the |
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vehicle is registered; or |
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(7) has a coating, covering, [or] protective material, |
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or other apparatus that: |
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(A) distorts angular visibility or |
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detectability; [or] |
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(B) alters or obscures one-half or more of the |
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name of the state in which the vehicle is registered; or |
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(C) alters or obscures the letters or numbers of |
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[on] the license plate number or[,] the color of the plate[, or
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another original design feature of the plate]. |
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(c) Subsection (a)(7) may not be construed to apply to: |
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(1) a trailer hitch installed on a vehicle in a normal |
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or customary manner; |
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(2) a transponder, as defined by Section 228.057, that |
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is attached to a vehicle in the manner required by the issuing |
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authority; |
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(3) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier that is |
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attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner; |
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(4) a trailer being towed by a vehicle; or |
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(5) a bicycle rack that is attached to a vehicle in a |
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normal or customary manner. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies |
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only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before |
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the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs |
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before that date. |
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(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this |
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Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |