Which States Require A Front License Plate In The United States?
The invention of license plates quickly followed the invention of the automobile. New York was the first state to require rear license plates, which at the time included the owner’s initials. The goal then, as now, was to identify cars quickly.
Since then, every state in the U.S. has adopted a vehicle registration and licensing system. Registration gives states a mechanism for identifying a vehicle’s owner and taxing them to use local roads. License plates serve to verify that an owner has registered their vehicle and provide a unique identifier to link them to it.
The Purpose Of Front License Plates
Since every state already requires most vehicles to carry a license plate, you might wonder why some states require a second plate. The purpose of the front plate is relatively straightforward: With two plates, an observer can identify the vehicle as it travels toward or away from them.
This can be important in a few situations. For example, it allows police officers to identify a vehicle moving in either direction. Similarly, an eyewitness to a crime, such as a hit-and-run accident, has a better chance of spotting the driver’s license plate number.
States That Require Front License Plates
Every state requires vehicles to have a rear license plate. The following 29 states require both rear and front license plates:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
No state requires only a front plate.
Potential Penalties For Driving Without A Front License Plate
The repercussions of license plate violations vary by state. Since operating a vehicle without the required plates constitutes a non-moving violation, the penalties can include a fine, registration suspension, and driver’s license suspension.
Jail time for such a violation is unlikely. However, if another violation occurs at the same time, the driver might face jail time for that offense.
For example, suppose that a drunk driver hits a vehicle. When the police respond to the accident and discover that the driver has no front license plate, they can issue a citation for the license plate violation and arrest the driver for DUI. Additionally, the driver will be liable in civil court for any injuries caused by the DUI accident.
Penalties In Texas For License Plate Violations
Texas requires drivers to display two plates on their vehicles. The law doesn’t specifically state that one must be mounted to the front of the vehicle. However, it delegates authority to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to set rules for displaying plates.
The TxDMV requires front and rear plates for all vehicles, with a few exceptions. The following vehicles are only required to display one license plate:
- Motorcycles
- Road tractors
- Trailers, including semi-trailers
- Antique vehicles
- Former military vehicles
Moreover, certain vehicles aren’t required to have plates unless drivers operate them on public roads or private roads that cross public highways. The following vehicles must display one license plate in those situations:
- ATVs, UTVs, and ROVs
- Golf carts
- Neighborhood electric vehicles
The driver of a vehicle registered in Texas violates the law when they fail to display two plates. The reason for the failure doesn’t matter. In other words, the law doesn’t require the owner to “intentionally” or “knowingly” fail to display two plates.
Thus, an owner can violate the law even if the front plate falls off or is stolen, although a police officer might decline to issue a citation if the driver has a plausible excuse.
A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200. However, the judge must dismiss the citation if the owner replaces the plate and pays a reimbursement fee of $10 before their court date.
Other License Plate Violations In Texas
A driver can also receive a citation punishable by a fine of up to $200 for driving a vehicle with any of the following license plate issues:
- No plates
- A plate issued for a different vehicle
- A plate issued for a different type of vehicle
- An expired plate or registration sticker
- Blurring or reflecting material to obscure the plate
- An illuminating device that interferes with the plate’s readability
- A cover or coating that distorts the angular visibility of the plate
- A frame or cover that obscures more than one-half of the state or plate number
The driver commits a much more serious violation when the vehicle has a fake license plate or a covering that alters the plate’s color, letters, or numbers.
Can A License Plate Violation Affect Liability For A Crash?
The concept of negligence is generally used to establish liability in Texas car accident claims. It includes the following four elements:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Loss
To win a car accident case, your lawyer must prove that the other driver breached a duty of care they owed to you and that their actions caused you to suffer compensable losses. However, Texas recognizes a legal doctrine known as negligence per se. This doctrine allows an accident victim to substitute a legal or regulatory violation for the first two elements.
For example, imagine that a speeding driver loses control of their vehicle on a wet road and skids into your car. The other driver receives a ticket for driving too fast for conditions when the police investigate the crash. Your lawyer could use the driver’s speeding citation to prove breach of duty, then jump directly to showing how their actions caused your losses.
If a driver fails to display a front license plate, they violate Texas law. However, negligence per se only applies to safety violations, like DUI or tailgating. It would be difficult to argue that the other driver’s failure to display a front license plate caused your crash. As such, a court probably wouldn’t allow you to substitute a license plate violation for proof of breach of duty.
Complying With License Plate Laws
A majority of states, including Texas, require a valid front license plate. This requirement helps the police identify vehicles in various situations. If you lose or damage your plate, you should make a point of requesting a replacement from the state to avoid violating the law.
Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers in Texas for Help Today
If you need legal help, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Bedford and Fort Worth, Texas.
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Bedford
2317 Plaza Pkwy #100,
Bedford, TX 76021
(817) 508-9204
Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth
209 N Hampton St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 969-3956
