There was a Court of Criminal Appeals decision on this a few weeks ago. Most cops took the law to mean that as long as I could read the letters and the state, you were OK. Apparently, one did not and the DWI was fought.pbandjelly wrote:In the area that I live, it was broadcast on local news that As long as you could read Texas on the top of the license plate, you were sufficiently within the boundaries of the law.
The CCA ruled that the law says "any design element" and means exactly what it says. If you have one of the plates with the space scene, and so much as one star is obscured, you are violating the law.
What was very interesting and made the Austin papers is that that state itself is not obeying the law. If you get a toll tag from TXDOT and cannot mount it in the windshield, they will sell you one that goes on the top of the plate. It blocks enough of the plate to be illegal. The legislature makes something illegal and then the same state agency responsible for the plates also breaks the law on plates.
As an aside on this law, you should note that it also mentions anything that changes the tint or the reflectivity of the plate. Those light blue license covers are also illegal.