1. (a) On receipt of a complete initial application for registration with the accompanying documents and fees, the department will issue vehicle registration insignia to be displayed on the vehicle for which the registration was issued for the current registration period.

   1. (1) If the vehicle has a windshield, the symbol, tab, or other device prescribed by and issued by the department shall be attached to the inside lower left corner of the vehicle's front windshield in a manner that will not obstruct the vision of the driver.
   2. (2) If the vehicle has no windshield, the symbol, tab, or other device prescribed by and issued by the department shall be attached to the rear license plate, except that registration receipts, retained inside the vehicle, may provide the record of registration for vehicles with permanent trailer plates.

   3. (3) If the vehicle is registered as a former military vehicle as prescribed by Transportation Code, §504.502, the vehicle's registration number shall be displayed instead of displaying a symbol, tab, or license plate.

      1. (A) Former military vehicle registration numbers shall be displayed on a prominent location on the vehicle in numbers and letters of at least two inches in height.
      2. (B) To the extent possible, the location and design of the former military vehicle registration number must conform to the vehicle's original military registration number.

2. (b) Unless otherwise prescribed by law, each vehicle registered under this subchapter:

   1. (1) must display two license plates, one at the exterior front and one at the exterior rear of the vehicle that are securely fastened at the exterior front and rear of the vehicle in a horizontal position of not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom, except that a vehicle described by Transportation Code, §621.2061 may place the rear plate so that it is clearly visible; or
   2. (2) must display one plate that is securely fastened at or as close as practical to the exterior rear of the vehicle in a position not less than 12 inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom if the vehicle is a road tractor, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer.

3. (c) Each vehicle registered under this subchapter must display license plates:

   1. (1) assigned by the department for the period; or
   2. (2) validated by a registration insignia issued by the department for a registration period consisting of 12 consecutive months at the time of application for registration. Vehicles may be registered for 24 consecutive months only in accordance with Transportation Code, §548.102.

4. (d) The department will cancel or not issue any license plate containing an alpha-numeric pattern that meets one or more of the following criteria.

   1. (1) The alpha-numeric pattern conflicts with the department's current or proposed regular license plate numbering system.

   2. (2) The executive director finds that the alpha-numeric pattern may be considered objectionable or misleading, including that the pattern may be viewed as, directly or indirectly:

      1. (A) indecent (defined as including a reference to a sex act, an excretory function or material, or sexual body parts);
      2. (B) a vulgarity (defined as curse words);
      3. (C) derogatory (defined as an expression of hate directed toward people or groups that is demeaning to people or groups, or associated with an organization that advocates such expressions);
      4. (D) a reference to illegal activities or substances, or implied threats of harm; or
      5. (E) a misrepresentation of law enforcement or other governmental entities and their titles.
   3. (3) The alpha-numeric pattern is currently issued to another owner.
5. (e) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section do not apply to vehicles registered with annual license plates issued by the department.

Source Note:The provisions of this §217.27 adopted to be effective March 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 1096.