(a) On receipt of a complete initial application for
registration with the accompanying documents and fees, the department
will issue vehicle registration insignia to be displayed on or kept
in the vehicle for which the registration was issued for the current
registration period.
(1) If the vehicle has a windshield, the vehicle registration
insignia shall be attached to the inside lower left corner of the
vehicle's front windshield in a manner that will not obstruct the
vision of the driver, unless the vehicle is registered under Transportation
Code, Chapter 504, Subchapter B-1.
(2) If the vehicle has no windshield, the vehicle registration
insignia shall be attached to the rear license plate unless the vehicle
is registered under Transportation Code, Chapter 504, Subchapter B-1,
except that registration receipts, retained inside the vehicle, may
provide the record of registration for vehicles with permanent trailer
plates.
(3) If the vehicle is registered under Transportation
Code, Chapter 504, Subchapter B-1, the registration receipt, symbol,
tab, or other device prescribed by and issued by the department must
be retained with the vehicle and may provide the record of registration
for vehicles with a digital license plate. The expiration month and
year must appear digitally on the electronic visual display of the
rear digital license plate.
(4) If the vehicle is registered as a former military
vehicle as prescribed by Transportation Code, §504.502, the vehicle's
registration number shall be displayed instead of displaying a symbol,
tab, or license plate.
(A) Former military vehicle registration numbers shall
be displayed on a prominent location on the vehicle in numbers and
letters of at least two inches in height.
(B) To the extent possible, the location and design
of the former military vehicle registration number must conform to
the vehicle's original military registration number.
(b) Unless otherwise prescribed by law, each vehicle
registered under this subchapter:
(1) must display two license plates that are clearly
visible, readable, and legible, one at the exterior front and one
at the exterior rear of the vehicle that are securely fastened at
the exterior front and rear of the vehicle in an upright horizontal
position of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from
the bottom; or
(2) must display one plate that is securely fastened
at or as close as practical to the exterior rear of the vehicle in
a position not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from
the bottom if the vehicle is a road tractor, motorcycle, trailer or
semitrailer, except that a vehicle described by Transportation Code, §621.2061
may place the rear plate so that it is clearly visible, readable,
and legible.
(c) Each vehicle registered under this subchapter must
display license plates:
(1) assigned by the department for the period; or
(2) validated by a registration insignia issued by
the department for a registration period consisting of 12 consecutive
months at the time of application for registration, except that:
(A) vehicles described by Transportation Code, §502.0024
may obtain a registration insignia for a period consisting of 12,
24, 36, 48 or 60 consecutive months on payment of all fees for each
full year of registration; and
(B) vehicles may be registered for 24 consecutive months
in accordance with Transportation Code, §548.102 on payment of
all fees for each year of registration, regardless of the number of
months remaining on the inspection at the time of registration, provided:
(i) the vehicle receives a two-year inspection under
Transportation Code, §548.102; and
(ii) the application for registration is made in the
name of the purchaser under Transportation Code, §501.0234.
(d) The department may cancel any license plate issued
with a personalized license plate number if the department subsequently
determines or discovers that the personalized license plate number
did not comply with this section when the license plate was issued,
or if due to changing language usage, meaning, or interpretation,
the personalized license plate number no longer complies with this
section. When reviewing a personalized license plate number, the department
need not consider the applicant's subjective intent or declared meaning.
The department will not issue any license plate containing a personalized
license plate number that meets one or more of the following criteria:
(1) The license plate number conflicts with the department's
current or proposed general issue license plate numbering system.
(2) The director or the director's designee finds that
the personalized license plate number may be considered objectionable.
An objectionable license plate number may include words, phrases,
or slang in any language; phonetic, numeric, or reverse spelling;
acronyms; patterns viewed in mirror image; or code that only a small
segment of the community may be able to readily decipher. An objectionable
pattern may be viewed as:
(A) indecent (defined as including a direct reference
or connotation to a sexual act, sexual body parts, excreta, or sexual
bodily fluids or functions. Additionally, the license plate number
"69" is prohibited unless used with the full year (1969) or in combination
with a reference to a vehicle;
(B) vulgar, directly or indirectly (defined as profane,
swear, or curse words);
(C) derogatory, directly or indirectly (defined as
an expression that is demeaning to, belittles, or disparages any person,
group, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation.
"Derogatory" may also include a reference to an organization that
advocates the expressions described in this subparagraph);
(D) a direct or indirect negative instruction or command
directed at another individual related to the operation of a motor
vehicle;
(E) a direct or indirect reference to gangs, illegal
activities, implied threats of harm, or expressions that describe,
advertise, advocate, promote, encourage, glorify, or condone violence,
crime, or unlawful conduct;
(F) a direct or indirect reference to controlled substances
or the physiological state produced by such substances, intoxicated
states, or a direct or indirect reference that may express, describe,
advertise, advocate, promote, encourage, or glorify such substances
or states;
(G) a direct representation of law enforcement or other
governmental entities, including any reference to a public office
or position exclusive to government; or
(H) a pattern that could be misread by law enforcement.
(3) The license plate number is currently on a license
plate issued to another owner.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section,
the department may issue license plates with personalized license
plate numbers that refer to:
(1) military branches, military rank, military units,
military equipment, or status; or
(2) institutions of higher education, including military
academies, whether funded privately, by the state, or by the federal
government.
(f) A decision to cancel or not to issue a license
plate with a personalized license plate number under subsection (d)
of this section may be appealed to the executive director of the department
or the executive director's designee within 20 days of notification
of the cancellation or non-issuance. All appeals must be in writing,
and the requesting party may include any written arguments, but shall
not be entitled to a contested case hearing. The executive director
or the executive director's designee will issue a decision no later
than 30 days after the department receives the appeal, unless additional
information is sought from the requestor, in which case the time for
decision is tolled until the additional information is provided. The
decision of the executive director or the executive director's designee
is final and may not be appealed to the board. An appeal to the executive
director or the executive director's designee is denied by operation
of law 31 days from the receipt of the appeal, or if the requestor
does not provide additional requested information within ten days
of the request.
(g) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section
do not apply to vehicles registered with annual license plates issued
by the department.
(h) A person whose initial application has been denied
will receive a refund if the denial is not appealed in accordance
with subsection (f) of this section. If an existing license plate
with a personalized license plate number has been canceled, the person
may choose a new personalized license plate number that will be valid
for the remainder of the term, or the remaining term of the canceled
license plate will be forfeited.
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