89R1754 BEE-D     By: Metcalf H.B. No. 1607       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to license plates and license plate windshield insignia   issued for and displayed on a vehicle; authorizing a fee; creating a   criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 504.010, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as   follows:          (a)  On payment of the prescribed fee, an applicant for motor   vehicle registration shall be issued a license plate or set of   plates, provided that the department must issue a set of two plates   to an applicant for registration of a passenger car or light truck.          (d)  Rules adopted under Subsection (c) must:                (1)  authorize a passenger car or light truck to   display only a rear license plate if the motor vehicle is not   equipped by the manufacturer with an exterior front feature to   which a license plate may be fastened without drilling through the   exterior of the vehicle; and                (2)  require a vehicle that displays only a rear   license plate under Subdivision (1) to display a license plate   windshield insignia.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 504, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 504.011 to read as follows:          Sec. 504.011.  ISSUANCE AND PLACEMENT OF LICENSE PLATE   WINDSHIELD INSIGNIA. (a)  The department shall issue a license   plate windshield insignia to an applicant for registration of a   passenger car or light truck if:                (1)  the applicant:                      (A)  applies for the license plate windshield   insignia in the form and manner prescribed by the department; and                      (B)  pays the prescribed fee for the license plate   windshield insignia; and                (2)  the passenger car or light truck is not equipped by   the manufacturer with an exterior front feature to which a license   plate may be fastened without drilling through the exterior of the   vehicle.          (b)  The department by rule may:                (1)  prescribe the manner and form of an application   for a license plate windshield insignia;                (2)  establish a reasonable fee for a license plate   windshield insignia in an amount necessary to cover the costs of   administering this section; and                (3)  determine the information and documentation   required to demonstrate eligibility for a license plate windshield   insignia.          (c)  The department by rule shall prescribe the form of the   license plate windshield insignia and the manner in which the   license plate windshield insignia must be displayed.  Rules adopted   under this subsection must require that a license plate windshield   insignia issued under this section:                (1)  show the same information that is required to be   shown on the license plate issued for the vehicle; and                (2)  be displayed in the interior of the vehicle's front   windshield.          (d)  The operator of a passenger car or light truck that   displays a license plate windshield insignia issued under this   section and only a rear license plate shall:                (1)  have in the operator's possession while operating   the vehicle the unmounted license plate issued for the vehicle   under Section 504.010(a); and                (2)  at the request of a peace officer, produce for   inspection the unmounted license plate issued for the vehicle under   Section 504.010(a).          SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 504.943, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 504.943.  OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT REQUIRED LICENSE   PLATE OR LICENSE PLATE WINDSHIELD INSIGNIA.          SECTION 4.  Section 504.943, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsections (a-1),   (d-1), and (f) to read as follows:          (a)  A [Except as provided by Subsection (b), a] person   commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway,   during a registration period, a [motor] vehicle that does not   display all [two] license plates and any license plate windshield   insignia required by this chapter or a rule adopted under this   chapter to be displayed on the vehicle that:                (1)  have been assigned by the department for the   period; and                (2)  comply with department rules regarding the   placement of license plates and license plate windshield insignia.          (a-1)  A person commits an offense if the person operates on   a public highway a passenger car or light truck that displays a   license plate windshield insignia and only a rear license plate   and:                (1)  the unmounted license plate issued for the vehicle   under Section 504.010(a) is not in the person's possession; or                (2)  the person fails to produce for inspection, on the   request of a peace officer, the unmounted license plate issued for   the vehicle under Section 504.010(a).          (d)  A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection   (a)[(a)(1)] if the defendant:                (1)  remedies the defect before the defendant's first   court appearance; and                (2)  pays a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10.          (d-1)  A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection   (a-1) if the defendant:                (1)  produces in court the unmounted license plate   issued for the vehicle under Section 504.010(a); and                (2)  pays a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10.          (f)  A peace officer may not stop a motor vehicle or detain   the operator of a motor vehicle solely to enforce Subsection (a-1)   if the vehicle displays a license plate windshield insignia that:                (1)  has been assigned by the department for the   registration period; and                (2)  complies with department rules regarding the   placement of the license plate windshield insignia.          SECTION 5.  Section 504.943(b), Transportation Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 6.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.   An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is   governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For   purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the   effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred   before that date.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.