Texas Drivers Can Be Ticketed For This License Plate Violation

In Texas, there are a lot of different laws that are so small we don't even think about it. In fact, some of the laws we simply don't know about...until it's too late.

Now, depending on what the infraction is, most officers will let you off with a warning when it comes to these obscure laws, but there are some they don't let slide.

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I remember wanting to make my first car look so slick. I had tinted windows that were WAY past the legal limit, the booming sound system with subs and everything, and one of those light up license plate frames.

Sure, the tinting was too much and I was told as much by an officer once, but I didn't care. The thing that was definitely illegal was the light up license plate frame. They were deemed distracting for other drivers and you weren't supposed to have them.

In fact, when my friend and I installed it, we place a switch on the dash to where I could turn it on and off when needed. If I saw an officer, I'd flip it off, then right back on once I was clear.

Normal license plate frames aren't illegal in Texas. Actually, that's not ENTIRELY true.

The license plate frame has to be within reason, and basically can't block or distort anything on the license plate itself. Sure, we know the plate number itself can't be covered up, but did you know that the part that shows "TEXAS" on the plate also can't be covered?

Sec. 504.945. WRONG, FICTITIOUS, ALTERED, OR OBSCURED LICENSE PLATE.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or displays on a motor vehicle a license plate that:

(7) has a coating, covering, protective substance, or other material that: (A) distorts angular visibility or detectability; (B) alters or obscures one-half or more of the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered; or (C) alters, covers, or obscures the letters or numbers of the license plate number or the color of the plate.

An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $200, unless it is shown at the trial of the offense that the owner knowingly altered or made illegible the letters, numbers, and other identification marks, in which case the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.

Ok, I never would've even thought about that, but sure enough there it is. If you cover more than half the name of the state, you can be pulled over and ticketed for it.

There are a lot of people who've stated they've been pulled over for the infraction, so it's a real thing and officers will indeed get you for it. So if you have a license plate frame on your car, you might want to double check that it's not covering too much.