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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the number of license plates to be issued for and |
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displayed on certain motor vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 504.011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 504.011. ISSUANCE AND DISPLAY OF LICENSE PLATE FOR |
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PASSENGER CAR OR LIGHT TRUCK. (a) Notwithstanding anything in this |
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code to the contrary, the department shall issue only one license |
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plate for attachment at the rear of a passenger car or light truck |
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for which the plate is issued. |
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(b) Notwithstanding anything in this code to the contrary, a |
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person is entitled to operate on a public highway a passenger car or |
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light truck that displays only one license plate if the plate is |
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attached at the rear of the vehicle. A person may operate on a |
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public highway a passenger car or light truck that displays two |
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license plates if both plates were assigned by the department for |
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the registration period as a set of plates. |
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(c) In any provision of this code that relates to the |
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issuance or display of "license plates," "plates," or a "set of |
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plates" for a passenger car or light truck, the term means only one |
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license plate. |
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SECTION 2. Section 504.943, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person operates on a |
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public highway during a registration period a passenger car, light |
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truck, road tractor, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer that does |
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not display a license plate that: |
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(1) has been assigned by the department for the |
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period; and |
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(2) complies with department rules regarding the |
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placement of license plates. |
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(e) In this section, "light truck" and "passenger car" have |
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the meanings assigned by Section 541.201. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act regarding the |
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issuance of license plates by the Texas Department of Motor |
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Vehicles applies only to the issuance of license plates by the |
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department for a registration period beginning on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. For a registration period that begins |
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before the effective date of this Act, the department shall issue |
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license plates as required by the law in effect immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |