Tex. Transp. Code Section 504.943
Operation of Vehicle Without License Plate

(a)

Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway, during a registration period, a motor vehicle that does not display two license plates that:

(1)

have been assigned by the department for the period; and

(2)

comply with department rules regarding the placement of license plates.

(b)

A person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway during a registration period a road tractor, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer that does not display a license plate that:

(1)

has been assigned by the department for the period; and

(2)

complies with department rules regarding the placement of license plates.

(c)

This section does not apply to a dealer operating a vehicle as provided by law.

(d)

A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a)(1) if the defendant:

(1)

remedies the defect before the defendant’s first court appearance; and

(2)

pays a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10.

(e)

An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 221, eff. January 1, 2012.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 260 (H.B. 625), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 2.65, eff. January 1, 2020.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 919 (S.B. 1923), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2021.

Source: Section 504.943 — Operation of Vehicle Without License Plate, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.­504.­htm#504.­943 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).

504.001
Definitions 504.002
General Provisions 504.005
Design and Alphanumeric Pattern 504.006
Cost of Manufacturing 504.007
Replacement License Plates 504.008
Specialty License Plates 504.009
Souvenir License Plates 504.010
Issuance and Placement of License Plate 504.0011
Rules 504.0051
Personalized License Plates 504.101
Personalized License Plates 504.102
Personalization of Specialty License Plate 504.151
Definitions 504.152
Applicability of Other Law 504.153
Rules 504.154
Digital License Plates Authorized 504.155
Digital License Plates Requirements and Permissive Functionality 504.156
Digital License Plate Provider Powers and Duties 504.157
Defense to Prosecution of Certain Offenses 504.201
Persons with Disabilities 504.202
Veterans with Disabilities 504.203
Issuance of Disabled License Plates to Certain Institutions 504.204
Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 504.205
Information Provided with Plates 504.301
Provisions Generally Applicable to Military Specialty License Plates 504.302
Surviving Spouses of Certain Military Veterans 504.303
Members or Former Members of United States Armed Forces 504.304
Members of United States Armed Forces Auxiliaries 504.305
Members of Texas National Guard, State Guard, or United States Armed Forces Reserves 504.306
Members and Former Members of Merchant Marine of the United States 504.307
United States Paratroopers 504.308
Distinguished Flying Cross Medal Recipients 504.309
Military Academy License Plates 504.310
World War Ii Veterans and Certain Medal Recipients 504.311
Service in Korea 504.312
Vietnam Veterans 504.313
Desert Shield or Desert Storm Veterans 504.314
Enduring Freedom Veterans 504.315
Military Specialty License Plates for Extraordinary Service 504.316
Legion of Merit Medal Recipients 504.317
Surviving Spouses of Disabled Veterans Specialty License Plates 504.318
Women Veterans 504.319
Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients 504.320
Recipients of Certain Combat Badges, Medals, or Ribbons 504.324
Tomb Guard 504.325
Master Army Aviator 504.327
Presidential Service Badge 504.328
United States Navy Seals 504.329
United States Navy Submarine Service 504.330
United States Army Special Forces 504.331
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel 504.332
Texas Superior Service Medal 504.333
Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal 504.334
Texas Outstanding Service Medal 504.335
Texas Medal of Merit 504.400
Fees for Certain Restricted Plates 504.401
State Officials 504.402
Members of Congress 504.403
State and Federal Judges 504.404
Federal Administrative Law Judges 504.405
County Judges 504.406
Texas Constables 504.414
Professional Firefighter Plates 504.415
Vehicles Carrying Mobile Amateur Radio Equipment 504.416
Star of Texas Award Recipients 504.417
Antarctica Service Medal Recipients 504.501
Classic Motor Vehicles and Travel Trailers 504.502
Certain Exhibition Vehicles 504.503
Municipal, Motor, and Private Buses 504.505
Cotton Vehicles 504.506
Log Loader Vehicles 504.507
Forestry Vehicles 504.508
Tow Trucks 504.511
Peace Officers Wounded or Killed in Line of Duty 504.512
Gold Star Mother, Father, Spouse, or Family Member 504.513
Firefighters 504.514
Emergency Medical Services Personnel 504.515
Honorary Consuls 504.516
Rental Trailer or Travel Trailer Fee: Trailer or Semitrailer 504.517
Industrial Firefighters 504.518
Retired Classroom Teachers 504.601
General Provisions Applicable to Specialty License Plates for General Distribution 504.602
Keep Texas Beautiful License Plates 504.603
Texas Capitol License Plates 504.604
Texas Commission on the Arts License Plates 504.605
Animal Friendly License Plates 504.606
Big Bend National Park License Plates 504.607
Read to Succeed 504.608
Mothers Against Drunk Driving License Plates 504.609
United States Olympic Committee License Plates 504.610
Texas Aerospace Commission License Plates 504.611
Volunteer Advocate Program License Plates 504.612
Texas Young Lawyers Association License Plates 504.613
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo License Plates 504.614
Professional Sports Team License Plates 504.615
Collegiate License Plates 504.616
Texas Reads License Plates 504.617
Texas 504.618
Conservation License Plates 504.619
Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing License Plates 504.620
Texans Conquer Cancer License Plates 504.621
Special Olympics Texas License Plates 504.622
Girl Scout License Plates 504.623
Texas Ymca 504.625
Texas Agricultural Products License Plates 504.626
Texas Citrus Industry 504.627
Waterfowl and Wetland Conservation License Plates 504.628
United We Stand License Plates 504.630
Air Force Association License Plates 504.631
Texas State Rifle Association License Plates 504.632
Urban Forestry License Plates 504.633
Share the Road License Plates 504.635
El Paso Mission Valley License Plates 504.636
Cotton Boll License Plates 504.637
Daughters of the Republic of Texas License Plates 504.638
Knights of Columbus License Plates 504.639
Texas Music License Plates 504.640
Space Shuttle Columbia License Plates 504.641
Be a Blood Donor License Plates 504.642
Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards License Plates 504.644
Marine Mammal Recovery License Plates 504.646
Smile Texas Style License Plates 504.647
Fight Terrorism License Plates 504.648
God Bless Texas and God Bless America License Plates 504.649
Texas Juneteenth License Plates 504.651
March of Dimes License Plates 504.652
Master Gardener License Plates 504.654
Eagle Scout License Plates 504.655
Childhood Cancer Awareness Plates 504.656
Texas Lions Camp License Plates 504.657
Higher Education Coordinating Board License Plates 504.658
Insure Texas Kids License Plates 504.659
Members of American Legion 504.660
Sexual Assault Awareness License Plates 504.661
Marine Conservation License Plates 504.662
Support Adoption License Plates 504.663
Big Brothers Big Sisters License Plates 504.664
Foundation School Program License Plates 504.665
Alamo License Plates 504.667
Texas Medical Center License Plates 504.668
In God We Trust License Plates 504.669
Back the Blue License Plates 504.670
Blessed Are the Peacemakers License Plates 504.672
Register to Vote License Plates 504.673
Sickle Cell Disease Awareness License Plates 504.674
Keep Austin Weird License Plates 504.675
Stop Human Trafficking License Plates 504.676
Autism Awareness License Plates 504.677
Make-a-wish License Plates 504.678
Family First License Plates 504.679
Veterans Exposed to Open Burn Pits 504.680
Sheriffs’ Association of Texas License Plate 504.801
Creation of New Specialty License Plates by the Department 504.802
Marketing and Sale by Private Vendor of Specialty License Plates 504.851
Contract with Private Vendor 504.852
Contract Limitations 504.854
Auction 504.855
Transferability of Certain Patterns 504.901
Transfer and Removal of License Plates 504.941
Antique Vehicles 504.942
Log Loader Vehicles 504.943
Operation of Vehicle Without License Plate 504.944
Operation of Vehicle with Wrong License Plate 504.945
Wrong, Fictitious, Altered, or Obscured License Plate 504.946
Deceptively Similar License Plate 504.948
General Penalty 504.3011
Design of Certain License Plates for the Military 504.3015
Fees for Military Specialty License Plates 504.3135
Operation Iraqi Freedom 504.3161
Military Specialty License Plates for Recipients of Certain Military Campaign and Service Awards 504.4061
Foreign Organization Vehicles 504.5111
Retired Peace Officers 504.5115
Certain Purple Heart Recipients 504.6011
General Provisions Applicable to Specialty License Plates for General Distribution Sold Through Private Vendor 504.6012
Elimination of Dedicated Revenue Accounts 504.6201
Cancer of Unknown Primary Origin Awareness License Plates 504.6275
Save Our Beaches License Plates 504.6545
Boy Scout License Plates 504.6551
Pediatric Cancer Research License Plates 504.9465
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Accessed:
Jun. 5, 2024

§ 504.943’s source at texas​.gov