ALLRIGHT! HERE'S THE DEAL:

Texas state law prohibits license plate covers. License plate covers are the photo-blockers, tinted covers, or clear covers. These can usually be found at AutoZone, Pep Boys, sometimes Wal Mart. These completely cover the license plate and are illegal in Texas for use on a motor vehicle.

BUT:

License plate frames are not illegal as long as the frame does not block the word "Texas" on the top or the phrase "Lone Star State" along the bottom. Most car dealerships are in violation of this when they put a tag frame on a new vehicle. Examples of this are (for you Texas people) McDavid Honda (Houston), Howdy Honda (Austin), Lute Riley Honda (Dallas), and Dick Poe in El Paso. Each of their tag frames cover some or all of these two critical wording on the plates.

I just did some measurements on my car (with the most recent Texas plate... you know- the one with the space shuttle and cowboy and crap on it) and this means that the top 1 1/2" or the bottom 9/16" cannot be covered.

NOWTHEN:

While I was taking the measurements, my Texas DPS/State Trooper neighbor came home and I asked him about the "license plate frame BS" and he said that He did not receive any official notification of this new "law" that has passed. He said that as long as the main lettering was visible, he would not have a problem with the license plate, but that he'd bust anyone who has a competely covered plate. :thumbup:

THEREFORE:

Do what you want with regular tag frames. Have them say whatever you want- just dont cover them with the tinted/photokill/bug deflector license covers.

TC, all.