88R23574 BEE-D
By: Metcalf H.B. No. 1222
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1222:
By: Canales C.S.H.B. No. 1222
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on authorizing a passenger car or light truck to
be operated with only a rear license plate.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. STUDY. (a) The Texas Department of Motor
Vehicles and the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas
shall jointly conduct a study on the feasibility, cost, and effect
on law enforcement of authorizing a passenger car or light truck to
be operated with a rear license plate and a windshield sticker
instead of a front and rear license plate.
(b) The study must evaluate a license plate and windshield
sticker system under which:
(1) the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles would:
(A) issue a set of two license plates to an
applicant for registration of a passenger car or light truck; and
(B) adopt rules to:
(i) 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;
(ii) require a vehicle that displays only a
rear license plate under Subparagraph (i) to display a windshield
sticker;
(iii) prescribe the manner and form of an
application for a windshield sticker;
(iv) establish a reasonable fee for a
windshield sticker;
(v) determine the information and
documentation required to demonstrate eligibility for a windshield
sticker; and
(vi) prescribe the form of the windshield
sticker and the manner in which the sticker must be displayed;
(2) a person commits an offense that is a Class C
misdemeanor if the person operates a passenger car or light truck
that displays a windshield sticker and only a rear license plate
and:
(A) the unmounted license plate issued for the
vehicle is not in the vehicle; or
(B) the person fails to produce for inspection,
on the request of a peace officer, the unmounted license plate
issued for the vehicle;
(3) a peace officer may not stop a passenger car or
light truck that displays a windshield sticker and only a rear
license plate solely to enforce the requirements that the unmounted
license plate issued for the vehicle be in the vehicle and produced
at the request of the officer; and
(4) a person commits an offense if the person operates
on a public highway, during a registration period, a vehicle that
does not display all license plates and any windshield sticker
required to be displayed on the vehicle.
SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than October 1, 2024, the
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public
Safety of the State of Texas shall jointly submit to the legislature
a report of the results of the study conducted under this Act.
SECTION 3. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires September 1,
2025.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2023.