Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 16, Pages 2459-2596, April 17, 2020 Page: 2,521
2461-2596 p. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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43 TAC 217.22, 217.27, 217.32, 217.38, 217.41, 217.55,
217.58 - 217.64
INTRODUCTION. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
(department) proposes amendments to 43 TAC 217.22,
217.27, 217.32, 217.38, 217.41, 217.55 and new 43 TAC
217.58 - 217.64. These amended and new sections imple-
ment Senate Bill 604, 86th Legislature, Regular Session (2019),
which amended Transportation Code Chapter 504 by adding
Subchapter B-1 to allow for digital license plates.
EXPLANATION.
217.22
The proposed amendments to 217.22 are necessary to add
definitions that relate to digital license plates.
Proposed new 217.22(11) defines "digital license plate" to cre-
ate a conforming reference to Transportation Code 504.151.
Proposed new 217.22(12) defines "digital license plate owner"
to create a conforming reference to Transportation Code
504.151.
Proposed new 217.22(21) defines "GPS" as a global position-
ing system (GPS) tracking device to address the collection of
information by a receiver in a digital license plate that can de-
termine the location of the digital license plate. GPS features
are not expressly addressed in Transportation Code Chapter 504
Subchapter B-1.
Proposed new 217.22(25) defines "legend" to clarify the mean-
ing of the term as it is used in the definition of the phrase "re-
quired digital license plate information" in these proposed rules.
The term "legend" is defined as a name, motto, slogan, or reg-
istration expiration notification appearing on and centered hori-
zontally at the bottom of the license plate. The definition is also
necessary to clarify that a digital license plate must display a reg-
istration expiration notification.
Proposed new 217.22(27) defines "metal license plate" to differ-
entiate between a metal license plate and a digital license plate.
Proposed new 217.22(30) defines "optional digital license plate
information" as any information authorized to be displayed on a
digital license plate in addition to required digital license plate
information. Proposed new 217.22(30)(A) - (D) list examples
of optional digital license plate information.
Proposed new 217.22(31) defines "park" to conform with the
statutory meaning in Transportation Code 541.401.
Proposed new 217.22(33) defines "primary region of interest"
to describe the size requirements of the alphanumeric character
representing the plate number.
Proposed new 217.22(35) defines "required digital license plate
information" to clarify the minimum information that must be dis-
played on a digital license plate. This definition is necessary to
clarify that the same information required to be displayed on a
metal license plate must also be displayed on a digital license
plate: alphanumeric characters representing the plate number,
the word "Texas," the legend, the registration expiration notifica-
tion if the vehicle's registration is expired, and the registration ex-
piration month and year, if applicable. The department has sole
control over the design, typeface, color, and alphanumeric pat-
tern for all license plates under Transportation Code 504.005.Proposed new 217.22(36) defines "secondary region of inter-
est" to describe the size requirements for the field with the word
"Texas" centered on the top of the plate.
217.27
The proposed amendments to 217.27 are necessary to clarify
the exclusions for digital license plates from the existing para-
graph, and clarify existing requirements for metal license plates.
Proposed amended 217.27(a)(2) exempts digital license plates
from existing requirements for displaying vehicle registration in-
signia for certain vehicles without a windshield. Proposed new
217.27(a)(3) clarifies that if a vehicle has a digital license plate,
then the expiration month and year will appear digitally on the
electronic visual display, and any registration insignia issued by
the department must be retained in the vehicle. Vehicles with
a digital license plate will be issued a voided registration sticker
that will not to be affixed to the windshield. Vehicles with metal
license plates that do not have a windshield are issued registra-
tion stickers that must be adhered to the rear metal license plate.
This amendment provides consistency for law enforcement for
metal license plates and digital license plates. The amendment
also helps the digital license plate owner because they will have
the metal license plate in their vehicle and their registration re-
ceipt in the event their digital license plate becomes inoperable
or unreadable.
Proposed amendments to 217.27(b)(1) add language clarifying
that license plates must be clearly visible, readable, and legible
and that the rear license plate must be in an upright horizontal
position. These amendments are necessary to assist law en-
forcement by facilitating a quicker replacement of license plates
that have become unreadable or illegible due to age or wear
and to facilitate enforcement when a license plate is not placed
on the vehicle in an upright position. These amendments also
help ensure that license plates are readable and legible as re-
quired by 217.32, as well as Transportation Code 502.475,
504.155(b)(2), and 504.945.
217.32
The proposed amendments to 217.32 are necessary to differ-
entiate between metal license plates and digital license plates.
Proposed amended 217.32(a) - (b) add "metal" and "metal li-
cense plate" to differentiate between metal license plates and
digital license plates. A replacement digital license plate will be
obtained from a digital license plate provider, rather than from a
county tax assessor-collector.
217.38
The proposed amendment to 217.38 is necessary to differen-
tiate between metal license plates and digital license plates.
Proposed amended 217.38(1) adds "metal" to differentiate
between metal license plates and digital license plates. The
customer is not required to return the digital license plate to the
county tax assessor-collector when applying for a registration
fee credit.
217.41
The proposed amendments to 217.41 are necessary to differ-
entiate between metal license plates and digital license plates.
A replacement digital license plate will be obtained from a dig-
ital license plate provider, rather than from a county tax asses-
sor-collector.
217.55PROPOSED RULES April 17, 2020 45 TexReg 2521
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Texas. Secretary of State. Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 16, Pages 2459-2596, April 17, 2020, periodical, April 17, 2020; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1289739/m1/63/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.