The thread about a front plate reminded me that in Texas we have a law that prohibits displaying a license plate that is obscured in any number of ways. The idea, I think, was to prevent the use of covers designed to thwart photo devices used to catch toll road scoflaws, and to prohibit outright covering all or part of the plate number itself.

But, in a recent case, a Texas appeals ocurt upheld a conviction of a motorist whose plate was "obscured" by a license plate frame (like the ones dealers put on) that covered only the words "The Lone Star State" and part of a decorative logo - and did NOT cover any part of the number. The court held that anything which "obscures an original design feature of the plate" is a violation.

Geez - so, I guess you just screw the plate to the car without any frame, or covering of any kind, unless you want to give some officer a reason to pull you over for a chat. I do not use a frame on my plates - Texas does require a front one.