Starting July 1, when Texas drivers purchase a vehicle, they will leave the lot with permanent metal tags already installed.
HOUSTON — Beginning July 1, paper plates will be a thing of the past. When Texas drivers purchase a vehicle, they will leave the lot with permanent metal tags already installed.
It’s a new law aimed at curbing crime, but thieves may still target your plates.
RELATED: Texas bill aimed at eliminating paper license plates to take effect 2 years after it was signed
An auto crimes expert with the Houston Police Department is recommending that vehicle owners secure them with special screws.
In August 2021, a New Orleans police officer visiting Houston was shot and killed in the Galleria area. The getaway car had bogus temporary tags. It was a tragic example of a much bigger problem. A loophole in Texas law allowed fake car dealerships to print and sell temporary plates — criminals took advantage of it.
A new law, House Bill 718, aims to streamline the process and cut back on fraud by eliminating paper plates.
Sgt. Tracy Hicks with the HPD Auto Theft Crimes Task Force said it’s a step in the right direction but criminals will look for a new way to cover up their crimes.
“Without paper tags, crooks are going to need some way to hide the identity of their car, and stealing a hard tag is one way. More than likely, we’re going to see more of a rise of the stolen hard tags,” Hicks said.
It may sound like a small crime, but it can lead to big headaches, from toll violations to crimes committed in your name. That’s why Hicks recommends swapping out the standard screws on your plates with tamper-resistant (Torx), screws.
They look almost identical, but the difference is in the head. Once they are installed, they require a special tool to remove, which makes it much harder for a thief to nab. They typically come with a one-way design or a custom bit. So, once they’re in, they’re not coming out without the matching tool.
“Hopefully, the crook won’t have the one that matches your plate. Make him go somewhere else,” Hicks said.
Hicks said there are many other things drivers can do to protect their plates.
“This is just one piece of the puzzle. There’s a lot of things we can do, obviously using our garage, we’re all guilty. We have our garage full of our junk and then we leave our most valuable possession, our vehicle, out in the driveway,” Hicks said.
Hicks also recommends parking close to a wall and checking to make sure the plates on your vehicle match yours when you walk out.
Tamper-proof screw sets can be found online or at hardware store.
Click here to learn more about the changes and the impact on drivers, dealers, private sales and law enforcement.