I just got my Texas license plates today for the truck. Right now, my front bracket is not installed and I would really hate to put it on. I like the look of the front without the ugly bracket. Do any of you here in Texas just don't bother with it and still avoid trouble? I see lots of sports cars without them in the front.

 

I don't live in Texas but in Maine (where you need two plates) I used to get stopped all the time for not having my front plate on in my Grandpa looking 65 Ford Custom. As cool as it looks without one I would put it on to avoid hassle from the police.

 

Since the front plate is required by Texas law, you are simply at risk for a ticket from any law enforcement officer. There do seem to be a lot of vehicles without front plates, but you could get stopped anytime and you really don't have any defense if the guy or gal wants to ticket you.

 

I'v been stopped once for it but not ticketed. Not really a HOT item on the cops agenda.

 

I am from Tx, and I keep my front plate under my seat in a clear plastic sheet. If you get pulled over put you can do this and put it up on your dash quickly and they (cops) can't really say anything.

 

There are lots of us in Texas that do not run front plates. I have been running my L since June without it and have not been pulled over. If the law wants to be a ***** and has nothing better to look for, he may pull you over,but more than likely they will not write you a ticket. Either way, I refuse to drill holes in my L's front bumper! To me it just ruins the looks of the front end.
The dealerships usually go ahead and mount front plates when the trucks arrive on their lots,I just happen to buy mine at one that didnt do this on L's because they had people refuse to buy them with the front bracket installed!

 

FWIW, the Texas law states that the plate "must be affixed to the front bumper". The windshield thing will not work, I asked all of those questions when i was stopped. My truck did not even come with a front plate when I bought it. Oh, He said that was no excuse either so He could have still wrote a ticket if He wanted to.HTH

 

Hmm, based on what was said here, I will just go without the front plates. I will take a chance on it. I just couldn't stand to drill holes in the front bumper for that ugly bracket.

 

FWIW, I have a '90 chevy truck ( I know, I know, thats why I drive fords now) and I have been running without a front plate for what.... 11 years now, and have never been pulled over for it.
Maybe Ive just been lucky.

 

You're gonna find that most of the local cops don't care unless they stop you for something else and then they will also get you for the plate. I had mine in the windshield. That doesn't cut it. The cops that will turn around and pull you over are the DPS boys. If you spend a lot of time on the major roads like I do, you better put it on the front bumper.
noelvm

 

I don't have mine mounted. Last month I had 2 out of three charges on one ticket (long story) dropped, but the 'no front plate' charge was the one I had to pay - $75. WAY less than the other two - definitely the least of the three!

I must be thick-headed, 'cause I still don't have my front plate on.

 

I had my L less than a week and I was pulled over for not having a plate on the front bumper. Of course, I was also pulled over for "speed in excess of the posted 65 mph". Fortunately I got a warning on both issues. I will install the front plate tomorrow. I am painting the bracket Oxford White (same color as the truck). Hopefully this will help it blend in.
GDG

 

I've had my L since 11/99. 49K miles, mostly highwaymiles to and from Houston, Dallas, and Austin.

Was pulled over within a month for not having the front plate. To be honest, I think the officer just wanted a look at the truck. Didn't give me a ticket, just a warning.,

I still do not have the front plate on. I do like was mentioned earlier I put it in the dash when I see too many blips on the detector. Have been warned at least 3 other times. I asked about it in the windshield, and the officer said that as long as it is displayed, it is the officers discretion. The law DOES say front plate displayed "properly"...

I would ***-u-me that due to the number of trucks/cars that have plates that are so obscured that you cannot read them that most judges would drop that one... unless of course you are named NATHAN, and live in San Antonio... or at least drive like him....!

 

I haven't had one since I got my truck on March 28, 2000. *knocking on fake wood computer desk* I've been pulled over and warned twice. Once was in town by a young DPS officer who asked me a few quick relevant questions and then started hitting me up for info about my truck. The second time was on HWY 6 just south of College Station. A sheriff made a u-turn in a very dangerous section of the highway and must've been doing 90-100 (with no lights or siren) to catch up to me so quickly. He just gave me a verbal and said "get it taken care of." I suspect he saw my "ghetto" looking truck and was checking me out. He learned his lesson about making u-turns on a major highway the hard way, though. Less than a week after he flipped around to get me, he flipped around right in front of an 18-wheeler. Needless to say, the idiot got smashed. He was okay, but I garun-damn-tee you he won't be doing that again any time soon.

DUCK

 

I get ragged about it everytime i go through the gate at Randolph AFB by the SPs. The local cops have never bothered me during the two times I was ticketed.