Do I Need A Front License Plate In Texas?
Do I need a front license plate in Texas? Yes, you do. Texas law requires a front license plate. You have to have a license plate on the back and a license plate on the front. If you don’t have a front license plate, then you basically just put a big sign on your car that “I waive my constitutional rights to be free from Unreasonable Search and Seizure.”
You’re giving the police a right to pull you over anytime they want for no other reason whatsoever. They’ll pull you over for not having a front license plate.
Here’s a little secret. Police look for people late at night. From around 9 P.M. to 2 A.M., a really high percentage of people on the road may be intoxicated, and the officers know that.
They’re looking for reasons to pull people over. They’ll pull people over willy-nilly just to see if they can investigate them for driving while intoxicated, see if they’ve had anything to drink. They love it when people don’t have a front license plate.
They’ll hang out around outside bars or restaurants. They’ll wait until somebody pulls out of that parking lot, and they don’t have a front license plate. Guess what? They’re getting pulled over.
Then they’re gonna be asking them, have you been drinking? They’re gonna try to get in their face and see if their eyes are red or if they smell like alcohol. That person’s gonna get arrested. We’ve had many clients who have been arrested for DWI and accused of DWI when they got stopped for nothing else other than not having a front license plate.
They didn’t swerve, they didn’t weave. They didn’t commit any traffic violations whatsoever. They just didn’t have a front license plate. So, my strong advice is if your car is registered in Texas, you need to have a front license plate.
Summary
In Texas, having a front license plate is mandatory. Failing to display one violates the law and gives the police a reason to pull you over. This could potentially lead to unwarranted investigations, especially during late-night hours when officers actively seek reasons for stops. Lack of a front license plate can result in other accusations, even without any observable traffic violations.
The Medlin Law Firm - Dallas
2550 Pacific Ave #866
Dallas, TX 75226
(214) 888-4810
https://www.medlinfirm.com/locations/dallas/
