From: Patrick Jankowiak (recycler@swbell.net)
Date: Fri Nov 19 2004 - 17:39:13 PST
I don't think it is a brag or ego issue.
I do think it is a privelege and a convenience extended by the
state of Texas to allow the use of bumper numbers so that the
licensee may keep as military an appearance as possible and avoid
drilling holes or otherwise "defiling" the vehicle. An applicant
has a choice of regular costly "Texas Truck" plates, or the
inexpensive and slightly use-restrictive registration as a former
military vehicle ("FMV" plates, or bumper numbers and keeping the
tag handy).
For my part in the State Guard, we are allowed to use personally
owned vehicles for duty, and I use the M35 so I like having no
"license plates" on it, for the added effect. When pulling in
near the Texas National Guard at any event, their markings are of
sufficiently different style that soldiers are not confused if
they look at the truck.
I would proudly put "Texas State Guard" plates on it like I have
on my car, but the state of Texas, in its wisdom, has imposed a
cargo capacity limit of 1 ton on any vehicle registered with TXSG
plates. I have written to get this changed, but I suppose I am
ineffective at it.
Patrick
m35products wrote:
> Let me understand this correctly.
>
> If I own a military vehicle and I have a Texas address, I can register the
> truck, and NOT use registration plates? What is the advantage, other than
> being able to say (brag?) "I can drive my big truck without plates." ?
>
> Wouldn't it be more prudent (read: the cops will not mess with me) if I just
> put the damned tags on the truck, and take them off if I'm in a parade or at
> a show?
>
> Is it all about ego and bragging rights, or am I missing something here?
>
> Affectionately, Arthur P. Bloom
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ryan Gill" <rmgill@mindspring.com>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 12:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [MV] registration and laws
>
>
> At 9:08 AM -0800 11/18/04, Horrocks, Aaron wrote:
>
>>Do you honestly expect the police officer to
>>have memorized all the Vehicle Codes, even the
>>obscure ones covering MVs? There's too much for
>>any one person to know. He sees a vehicle
>>without plates, and thinks he's doing his job and
>
>
> Well, there are these little books that cops can
> carry around. They contain the statutes that
> they're enforcing. That way, when they write you
> up for violating a given law, they can write down
> the right law that you've violated.
>
> I had a judge throw a ticket out when the officer
> had written in the "offense other than above"
> section, "driving on ticket from cobb county".
> The judge looked at me and the solicitor and
> said, last I checked, that wasn't illegal, I'm
> dismissing this case.
>
> Basically, if the officer can't be bothered to
> write it all up correctly, some judges will be
> hard asses and kick it out.
>
>
>
>>pulls it over. The Texas MV registration, while
>>seems like a dream to some of us, can also seem
>>like a lie when you're telling it to a cop. I
>>don't want to appear if as if I'm taking the
>>cop's side, because I've had problems with
>>overzealous police here in CA, and take
>>precautions now.
>
>
> What is it they say, ignorance of the law is no excuse?
>
>
>>It's a bit late at this point, but I'll
>>recommend this again: Keep a copy all your
>>registration, insurance, and applicable laws
>>(Vehicle Codes, Demilled gun laws, etc) in a
>>large zip-lock plastic bag in your glove box. It
>>keeps it clean, dry, and orderly for when
>>something like this happens. Even if you're an
>>expert in TX registration, People are far more
>>likely to trust a piece of paper than a person's
>>word. It makes the difference between an
>>inconvenient stop, or a drawn-out paperwork
>>battle.
>>
>
>
> Already planning on doing that when Georgia law
> allows me to run with the "bumper numbers".
> Especially out of state.
>
>
--Best regards,
Patrick
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