Heard that there was a legal oversight back as of January 1, 2012, that the requirement for the additional front license plate was stricken from the law in Texas.

I just picked up my plates today at the dealer and decided not to drill the front plate on!

I searched the Texas DMV website...and found No mention of Front plates...

Does anyone know how I can find out for sure?

 

I can't help you with more information but I can say that I heard the same thing. Needless to say I opted not to put the front plate on my MINI mainly because it looks SO much better without it.

 

I think you answered your own question. There's a reason the dealer gave you two. I doubt that DPS will be all that understanding. Good luck with it though.

 

No front plate on mine either. Not sure what changes were or were not made to the law but so far I've been lucky and never stopped for it.

 

same here, at first when I got my car I was driving with the front plates on, then I removed it cuz it definitely looked better without it. I eventually removed it from my dash and I drive it daily to school without the front plates, never been stopped. ever. hope this helped!

 

I'm not in Texas. However, in Utah it is a secondary offense. So they can't pull you over for it, however, if they pull you over they can give you a ticket for not having a front license plate.

 

There's a thread over on Metroplex MINI, or probably a few threads, about this. As far as I know the state legislature never got their acts together and corrected their error. My understanding is that technically you are still required to have both a front and rear plate by law but they accidentally deleted the sentence where the municipalities can fine you for it. So, in theory, you could get a ticket and only have to pay a court fee, if that, because the legislature didn't call a special session to correct the error. FYI, I'm a native Texan who moved up to Boston in July. I miss the Lone Star State!!!

Here's the link to the Metroplex MINI thread: http://www.metroplexmini.org/forum/s...ad.php?t=33133 If you haven't already checked them out then you definitely should. They're a great group and there are quite a few members from the Houston area.

PS: Did you get the new black and white plates?

 

I ran for years with out a front plate on my car. Three days after I got the Mini I was stopped for it in far north Austin(No real crime in the area I suppose). I have run one since. I run the platypus plate mount so there are no holes in the bumper cover.

I'm also a former Boston area resident. I do not miss that place one bit. The police are crazy up there. They go out of there way to make you miserable. I wouldn't dare run with out a front plate there.

 

First, yes, I did get the new plain and "safe" black & white plate...looks ok..nothing special. My theory on why they switched...#1, no more space shuttle program (old one had the pic)...#2, if the standard ones are plain...more incentive to buy a specialty plate! Heard that annual revenues are 14 million $!

Second, about the front plates...After studying the law strike through and the stories that folks still can get a ticket...I'm leaning now toward drilling my front one on, unfortunately. I can't afford to get a ticket and waste time in court. Too much hassle.

Lastly, I did find one the Texas DPS site the following requirement:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/rsd/vi/misc/faq/viFAQ.htm

How many license plates am I required to display?
State law requires that you display two (2) license plates, one to the front and one to the rear. Placement or mounting of license plates is not defined.

*This guidance is referenced in TXDOT's requirements to properly display the registration certificate. DPS does not inspect the license plate itself, but instead inspects the license plate lamp.

View Department Rules/Regulation Inspection criteria
04.20.00 Details of Inspection & Search for 20.18 License Plate Lamp

Bottom line...the Texas government cares more about plate lamps than plates on their inspections... I may ask my cop buddy his opinion...

There has to be someone out there who knows more definitively on front plates in Texas??

 

I had the same reaction you did. My dad didn't put a front license plate on his MINI and never had any issues but, like you, I don't have the time or money to deal with an asinine ticket. I bought a no holes license plate holder. I believe that it was $55 and I think that it's worth every penny for the piece of mind. I can't recall which brand mine is but I know that a lot of people on the forum have the same one or similar ones to mine. Good luck with your decision! You have a beautiful Countryman!

PS: banzairx7, thanks for the warning about the police departments. I'm amazed at how far over the speed limit people drive on the freeways around here. I thought that we were bad in Texas but this is worse!

 

All I know is what I've read on MetroplexMini.org. I'd prefer none, but I too wanted to avoid any problems. I ran for several months without one then did this and I like it.

 

As a former Texan I love the new plates BTW!

 

The new plates are so much nicer than the previous two, which were hideous in my opinion.

I odered the custom plates, the same as MikewithaMini has above.

 

Ya, they were really bad. I used the Air Force plates since I am a veteran. Those are sharp, but I would consider the new plates.

 

when I lived in VA - a two plate state - I was pulled over by a local for having no front plate on my '79. It was a bad side effect of his eyeballing the car for a thumbs up - as he pulled ahead I saw the brake lights come on and the flashers. I was 90% sure what the issue was gonna be....

HOWEVER

He asked me where my front plate was and I said, "in the garage."

He reminded me that VA requires you to display two.

As politely as I could muster I mentioned "OK officer, but you are aware that there is an exception for a car showing 'collector car' plates" .... (or in other words, when I go to court you loose cuz I read the book)

are you sure?

Yes I am, I think I even have a copy of the particulars from VA code in my glove box. (collector cars were also exempt from annual safety inspections so I didn't have that sticker either ... I carried that rule number too)

He went back to his car, got his book out and I sat while he read for about 10 minutes then came back .... apologized, "you're right, they didn't teach us that one in cop school."

He was new . . .

 

I don't know if they will be so nice to me in my new 2013...In my whitecollar, wearing the corporate big oil tie...don't think they will be so gracious to me.

 

I hate to see front bumpers get drilled or screwed. So permanent. Such a violation!

 

I'm in San Antonio and live in an area with cops constantly around. I haven't had my front plate on in about a year. Never been hassled about it.

 

I still haven't run the front plate!!!!

There's a cop in my neighborhood...Mustang...no front plate. Have seen about 5-7% of the new cars have no front plates (especially Vettes, Tangs, Jags, and MINis.).

I'm gaining more confidence each day...and loving my decision to hold off on the drilling! Also, the wife is aligned also...Now I just need to drive safely so I don't command attention!!

 

Good stuff! I wasn't going to, but I had body work done and it (my plate) was in my trunk and they drilled without asking. So the holes are there, don't notice unless you're up on it. I'd get it fixed, but I plan on getting the JCW front bumper aero.