...I distinctly and explicitly stated both the essential terms, "Podunk" AND "Bubba." As you well know, the Rules of Texas Grammatical Usage cover the specifically annotated references as subsets of the aformentioned major categories as if set forth at length and incorporated by reference. Please refer to your TEXAN handbook and review the glossary, if necessary.
Respectfully Yours,
Dan'l
P.S. I was in your fair city two weeks ago on business (a rather fruitful mediation experience) and I noticed that with a keen set of eyes you ought to be able to see any law enforcement on those flat roads for two counties in any direction--do they have tumbleweed camouflaged cruisers or is it the cliche'd hide behind the billboard aproach?
All this, of course (including the discourse) concerns the feasability and general unpleasantness of placing a license plate holder on the front bumper. (A law, incidently, which can be canned at the discretion of the voting public...both of them.)
Daniel, Esq. (I think you earned it the old fashioned way!):
Glad your trip to our mountain village was successful! By the way, we got our first rain since the Alamo, this week.
I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the local gendarmes. Been driving 30 years and NEVER received a ticket. Also have 20/10 vision. A coincidence? I don't think so
And those reflective front plates are a redneck replacement for a headlight!
I'm going to mount the front plate on my Go Rhino Step Grill Guard....WHEN it becomes available. They expect another month of test fitting before they will be ready. I bet I can dodge (oops, poor word choice..hehe) a few troopers till then (crossing fingers).
Hey! Maybe I can get my salesgirl to write a little letter to me stating how she's looking into the license plate mounting situation with Toyota Corp and will get back to me as soon as she finds something out...? Think this will buy me a little sympathy with all but the most hardnosed DPS Occifers?
I asked my late Nissan service advisor to write me a little note explaining that they were out of state inspection stickers and he came unglued. I was a week overdue and wanted proof should I need it that I have been trying to get a new sticker that day. Everyone I went to that day was out! He was the third. I cussed him a bit (after he cussed me) and went to the managers asking why this prick was so rude... I had to take it out on somebody.
__________________ 2003 Tundra SR5 Access Cab 4X4 Stepside V8
Only additions: Waterproof seat covers, Westin nerf bars, Colgan sport bra
REMOVED: Formfit hood deflector. Loved the look but a clip went missing. Can't find one for sale without the $45 hardware kit!
Mods: 12V outlet relay "fix" to have power when ignition switch is off.
Gripes: Weak leaf springs that Toyota doesn't want to warranty, paper-thin paint, interference design motor, crappy rear mud guards that cost $78 each (local dealer wanted $100) and only last 25k miles. Front mudguards built differently! (better)
Well, I've had no front plate on my car for 17 years and no tickets in Texas or anywhere else.. None on my Tundra either...
I have gotten a ticket for my inspection ticket being out of date , but that was years ago. My Honda, which thankfully was replaced by the Tundra, inspection sticker was 3 years old and when I got pulled over last winter, all I got was , "go get that taken care of"
Your friend who got the ticket must have been doing something to pi$$ off the trooper and he couldn't ticket for anything else or the trooper was a real jerk...
Some pretty interesting responses to the front license plate issue. I usually steer clear of responding to topics that relate to traffic citations....being in Law Enforcement for pretty close to 20 years.
As in any profession, there are the "exceptions." Without being too long here, quotas are illegal for gross % revunue (Texas). Yes, there are officers that do nothing better than write tickets and yes, the tactic for stopping for no front plate is a predicate violation for interdiction. Albeit, I realize that this tactic/tool is often applied under the code of the law rather than the color of the law.
My opinion about many of the laws is of no consequence. An officer may use their discretion on ANY traffic violation but can find themself unemployed and prosecuted for failing to exercise their authority when a criminal offense (Tx Penal Code) has occured.
There are jerks anywhere you go and I'm sure I've been called about everything imaginable, especially when I have been placed in a position to arrest someone or even write a ticket.
I'll end with this; I work for a larger police department in the Dallas-Ft.Worth metroplex and would invite any of my fellow TS members to drop me an email and come ride in with one of my officers (3rd shift). Hey, I'll even buy ya breakfast while we talk about our Toys.'
I am having a debate with my dealer about the "screwing through the bumper cover to attach the license plate" with them to guarantee me that doing so won't cause cracks to develop in the future. Of course, they are hesitant to guarantee any such thing, especially since I have asked them to put the guarantee in writing (hehe) and I am kindly asking them to please do some research with Toyota for me. They are acting like they are concerned and seem to be trying to find a solution that will make me satisfied. Until then, or until the brush/grill guard manufacturers finish test fitting the models for 2003's, I am wondering what will give me a reasonable "defense to prosecution".
Please note that I'm not trying to put you on the spot and am merely asking your opinion as a private citizen.
IF I place my license plate on the dash (yuck, could cause scratches) OR "rubber-banded" to either of my sunvisors and kept down as to keep the plate visible, would this be acceptable as a temporary solution? AND would a letter from my dealer stating that they are currently looking into this situation with Toyota Corp. buy me an out?
Do you happen to know what the fine for improperly displayed license plate happens to be? I realize that fines can vary from county to county. And would this be considered a moving violation or be in the same class as a parking ticket?
Thanks for your opinon.
Dave
__________________ 2003 Tundra SR5 Access Cab 4X4 Stepside V8
Only additions: Waterproof seat covers, Westin nerf bars, Colgan sport bra
REMOVED: Formfit hood deflector. Loved the look but a clip went missing. Can't find one for sale without the $45 hardware kit!
Mods: 12V outlet relay "fix" to have power when ignition switch is off.
Gripes: Weak leaf springs that Toyota doesn't want to warranty, paper-thin paint, interference design motor, crappy rear mud guards that cost $78 each (local dealer wanted $100) and only last 25k miles. Front mudguards built differently! (better)
Nah, your not putting me on the spot. I understand your concern about damaging the front bumper. I personally doubt it would ever crack by just tapping the screws through; but seems that Toyota would have a bracket instead.
As for a defense to prosecution for not displaying the front plate, I've never heard of any. As you probably know, a Judge, Magistrate, Justice of the Peace ..., would be the deciding factor. That being said, it would be your call as to whether it is worth the risk or hassle of being stopped and/or ticketed. Or in another instance as you mentioned, producing a written document to the officer or judge.
The fines are generally set by the municipality/county and limited by the state. I believe the max is $200, but often times much less and would not include court costs etc... It is not considered a moving violation.
Basically, it's a personal decision to display. Yea, illegal if enforced. I have found that smaller entities are more apt to enforce it and the larger ones are too busy addressing crime (just my opinion).
I've managed to go a whole month now without even a second look from a single Williamson County Sheriff Deputy, or even DPS troopers. Either I'm really lucky or they are busy, as you've mentioned, nabbing "REAL" criminals.
I don't plan on being a lawbreaker forever, just until a Grill guard is ready for my truck. Hopefully within a couple more weeks.
Once this big ol guard is in place, I won't mind drilling into the guard to mount the plate, and my pristine bumper will remain a virgin.
Are you planning on trying to make it to the DFW meet on the 16th next month? That one is actually on a date I might be able to make and will do my best to get there.
Keep the shiny side up!
Thanks again Ken!
Dave
__________________ 2003 Tundra SR5 Access Cab 4X4 Stepside V8
Only additions: Waterproof seat covers, Westin nerf bars, Colgan sport bra
REMOVED: Formfit hood deflector. Loved the look but a clip went missing. Can't find one for sale without the $45 hardware kit!
Mods: 12V outlet relay "fix" to have power when ignition switch is off.
Gripes: Weak leaf springs that Toyota doesn't want to warranty, paper-thin paint, interference design motor, crappy rear mud guards that cost $78 each (local dealer wanted $100) and only last 25k miles. Front mudguards built differently! (better)
Here in the East the problem with using only one plate is that lots of people use the 2nd. plate to stick on another car if only for parking purposes in the street. Lots of abuse with license plates in N. Y. Florida requires only one plate.
Hey guys/gals "displaying" your front plate does not require the plate to be attached to the front of the vehicle, especially if it has no holes. Some people use a magnetic strip to hold the plates on for around town and then drop the plate on the dashboard for off-roading. I work on a military base and as long as I drop my plate in the front windshield so they can see it I get no grief about not having it.
I had my front plate stolen off of my 05 Tundra about 8 months ago and have never replaced it. I wonder if that will "excuse" me from getting a ticket. I do agree that my truck certainly looks a lot better without it though ...
To clarify Texas law: it does state that any vehicle (excluding motorcycles) driven on public roads must display both plates, one on front and one on rear with the rear one to be lighted at night. It DOESN'T state how or really where it is to be mounted other than to imply that it must be readily visible from the exterior of the vehicle. I had the link bookmarked but it is "dead" as it must have been moved.
My buddy whose a Texas Trooper said that it's not considered a major violation meaning that they USUALLY won't pull someone over ONLY for missing the front plate. However, if you are pulled over for another infraction, they can and probably will cite you for failure to properly display your front plate. Now, if it's in the dashboard and easily readable (nothing covering or obscuring it) you MIGHT be given leeway. He did go on to say that most troopers will write a ticket anyhow because the thought is a lawbreaker could just remove the plate from the dash to avoid detection...that is "unacceptable", as he put it.
I drove without the front plate mounted for about a year until I found a nice license plate bracket at Advance Auto parts and got some scratches on my A pillar molding when the plate slid accross the dash. I don't think I ever noticed a cop even giving me a second look.
I'm "legal" now and don't worry anymore.
Peace out.
__________________ 2003 Tundra SR5 Access Cab 4X4 Stepside V8
Only additions: Waterproof seat covers, Westin nerf bars, Colgan sport bra
REMOVED: Formfit hood deflector. Loved the look but a clip went missing. Can't find one for sale without the $45 hardware kit!
Mods: 12V outlet relay "fix" to have power when ignition switch is off.
Gripes: Weak leaf springs that Toyota doesn't want to warranty, paper-thin paint, interference design motor, crappy rear mud guards that cost $78 each (local dealer wanted $100) and only last 25k miles. Front mudguards built differently! (better)
Re: Texas front license plate mounting on 2001 Tundra
I need a front license plate bracket / holder for a 2001 Toyota Tundra v-8 2-wd
Do you have any ideas? I tried to search for it without any luck... I believe it should be a black plastic type / and about 4" thick...
Contact me at wyatt169@yahoo.com
Thanks!
I cant believe Toyota would screw up something like a license plate bracket................ Dont they know we need them in the United States!?
2003 Tundra TRD Sportside SR5 - Phantom Gray 
4cranch, got a question
thanks for the reply
Here in the East the problem with using only one plate is that lots of people use the 2nd. plate to stick on another car if only for parking purposes in the street. Lots of abuse with license plates in N. Y. Florida requires only one plate.
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