SB 858
wrong-plate fine tops out at $500, up from $200
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to certain criminal offenses involving the attachment or display of a wrong license plate or registration insignia; increasing criminal penalties.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
For drivers who know the plate is stolen or another vehicle’s.
The bill raises the top fine from $200 to $500 for driving a car with a license plate or registration sticker issued for a different vehicle, when the driver knows the plate is stolen or belongs to another vehicle. It touches drivers and vehicle owners who knowingly run wrong or stolen plates, while the $200 cap stays in place for people who do not know. Starting September 1, 2025, prosecutors who prove that knowledge at trial can seek the higher fine, for offenses committed on or after that date.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Jan 22, 2025 and referred to the Senate Transportation committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB858 · 2025-01-22
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to certain criminal offenses involving the attachment or display of a wrong license plate or registration insignia; increasing criminal penalties.
WHAT IT DOES
For drivers who know the plate is stolen or another vehicle’s.
The bill raises the top fine from $200 to $500 for driving a car with a license plate or registration sticker issued for a different vehicle, when the driver knows the plate is stolen or belongs to another vehicle. It touches drivers and vehicle owners who knowingly run wrong or stolen plates, while the $200 cap stays in place for people who do not know. Starting September 1, 2025, prosecutors who prove that knowledge at trial can seek the higher fine, for offenses committed on or after that date.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Transportation
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Texans for Charles Schwertner.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Jan 22, 2025
02/13/2025 S Referred to Transportation
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Crimes--Miscellaneous
Vehicles & Traffic--Vehicle Registration
LICENSE PLATES
Text
The text as introduced · 408 words
89R7990 JRR-D By: Schwertner S.B. No. 858 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to certain criminal offenses involving the attachment or display of a wrong license plate or registration insignia; increasing criminal penalties. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 504.944, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 504.944. OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH WRONG LICENSE PLATE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates, or as the owner permits another to operate, on a public highway a motor vehicle that has attached to it a number plate or registration insignia issued for a different vehicle. (b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200 , except that the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 if it is shown at the trial of the offense that, at the time of the offense, the person knows that the license plate or registration insignia is stolen or otherwise issued for a different motor vehicle . SECTION 2. Section 504.945, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: (b) Except as provided by Subsections (d-1), (e) , and (f), an offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $200, unless it is shown at the trial of the offense that the owner knowingly altered or made illegible the letters, numbers, and other identification marks, in which case the offense is a Class B misdemeanor. (d-1) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 if it is shown at the trial of the offense that, at the time of the offense, the person knows that the license plate is stolen or otherwise issued for a different motor vehicle. SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.