P. McKeever assigned this issue to M. Calhoun

Thank you for submitting your trash screening concern information. One of our city's code enforcement staff will take a look at the issue. If we need further information we will contact you via email by posting on your ShowMeandFix Issue.

P. McKeever assigned this issue to E. Humbert

E. Humbert assigned this issue to M. Calhoun

closed in error

Thank you for submitting your junk/abandoned vehicle concern information. One of our city's code enforcement staff will take a look at the issue. If we need further information we will contact you via email by posting on your ShowMeandFix Issue.

An inspection was performed at approximately 1:30 p.m., the white truck was not at the location at the time and the registration on the red Dodge is current until the end of the month. No actions have been taken, and I will leave this issue open and re-inspect next week to see if the white truck is at the location.

Michael,

Thank you for your excellent service. You have the most reported issues for our area on this site and I support the city giving you a tax payer funded raise in the next budget as you have certainly earned it. Again, thank you.

As noted in my original description above, this truck is always out on the city streets during the day and returns late in the evening, except Sundays. As you witnessed this afternoon, it was not at the address and being driven, as usual, while continuing to illegally display the three different registration numbers as originally reported and pictured above. One of the MCPD officer's comments on 10/27 was he had not seen this truck being operated on the street and was not going to issue a citation as a result. Another officer stated that "This guy knows what he is doing.You can see tape holding the sticker in place". You confirmed today that the truck is being operated illegally as reported in your 1330 hours update above. In your update, you write "An inspection was performed at approximately 1:30 p.m., the white truck was not at the location".

Attached with this comment is a picture taken tonight after I witnessed the truck when it returned to this address. It IS being operated on Texas public streets as reported. I've copied and pasted the Texas Transportation Codes that I believe are being violated. They are very explicit as are my pictures that have been posted.

Quick History on these perceived violations:
I have witnessed two different red warning stickers placed on the drivers window of this truck during the past few months and saw a third MCPD officer, during the same timeframe, speak directly the operator of this truck as originally described in my first reporting of this issue.

Based on evidence reported by the citizens and obtained by MCPD on three different occasions is this vehicle worthy of being charged as violating one or more of the Texas Transportation Codes listed below and what specific actions is the city planning on taking if one or more of these codes are perceived to be in violation?

Texas Transportation Codes for your reference:
Sec. 502.475. WRONG, FICTITIOUS, ALTERED, OR OBSCURED INSIGNIA. (a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or displays on a motor vehicle a registration insignia that:
(1) is assigned to a different motor vehicle;
(2) is assigned to the vehicle under any other motor vehicle law other than by the department;
(3) is assigned for a registration period other than the registration period in effect; or
(4) is fictitious.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), 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.
(c) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a)(3) if the defendant:
(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first court appearance; and
(2) pays an administrative fee not to exceed $10.
(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(4) is a Class B misdemeanor.

Transferred, redesignated and amended from Transportation Code, Section 502.409 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 159, eff. January 1, 2012.

Sec. 504.945. WRONG, FICTITIOUS, ALTERED, OR OBSCURED LICENSE PLATE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or displays on a motor vehicle a license plate that:
(1) is issued for a different motor vehicle;
(2) is issued for the vehicle under any other motor vehicle law other than by the department;
(3) is assigned for a registration period other than the registration period in effect;
(4) is fictitious;
(5) has blurring or reflective matter that significantly impairs the readability of the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered or the letters or numbers of the license plate number at any time;
(6) has an attached illuminated device or sticker, decal, emblem, or other insignia that is not authorized by law and that interferes with the readability of the letters or numbers of the license plate number or the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered; or
(7) has a coating, covering, protective substance, or other material that:
(A) distorts angular visibility or detectability;
(B) alters or obscures one-half or more of the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered; or
(C) alters or obscures the letters or numbers of the license plate number or the color of the plate.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), 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.
(c) Subsection (a)(7) may not be construed to apply to:
(1) a trailer hitch installed on a vehicle in a normal or customary manner;
(2) a transponder, as defined by Section 228.057, that is attached to a vehicle in the manner required by the issuing authority;
(3) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner;
(4) a trailer being towed by a vehicle; or
(5) a bicycle or motorcycle rack that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner.
(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a)(3), (5), (6), or (7) if the defendant:
(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first court appearance;
(2) pays an administrative fee not to exceed $10; and
(3) shows that the vehicle was issued a plate by the department that was attached to the vehicle, establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4) is a Class B misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 223, eff. January 1, 2012.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1135 (H.B. 2741), Sec. 83, eff. September 1, 2013.

SUBCHAPTER C. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; REQUIREMENTS
Sec. 601.051. REQUIREMENT OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. A person may not operate a motor vehicle in this state unless financial responsibility is established for that vehicle through:
(1) a motor vehicle liability insurance policy that complies with Subchapter D;
(2) a surety bond filed under Section 601.121;
(3) a deposit under Section 601.122;
(4) a deposit under Section 601.123; or
(5) self-insurance under Section 601.124.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

SUBCHAPTER G. FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE OR OTHERWISE ESTABLISH FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; CRIMINAL PENALTIES

Sec. 601.191. OPERATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIREMENT; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle in violation of Section 601.051.
(b) Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (d), an offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $175 or more than $350.
(c) If a person has been previously convicted of an offense under this section, an offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $350 or more than $1,000.
(d) If the court determines that a person who has not been previously convicted of an offense under this section is economically unable to pay the fine, the court may reduce the fine to less than $175.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

With best regards,
NBF

While riding my bicycle on Saturday afternoon (10/29), I took the attached photo as proof that this truck has, once again, left this address and is still being driven on Texas Public streets.

Regards,
NBF

Sunday early morning AM update:
After returning from Lifetime Fitness early this morning, I witnessed this truck, parked, back at this address while pulling into my driveway and took the attached photos as documentation that this truck is being driven daily using the same three different plate numbers as described in my original post.

Please reference my Saturday afternoon photo (taken 10/29) of this address in the above comment - Evidence that this truck was not at this address all day on Saturday 10/29 and is still being driven on public streets.

I've included the VIN for this truck in this mornings composite picture to better assist MCPD in resolving this issue. According to one of the MCPD officer that I spoke with on 10/27, the rear plate is not registered to any vehicle at all. "He probably found it somewhere and starting using it", the officer said.

Best regards,
NBF

Photo of Red Dodge SUV included. It appeared not to load with the previous comment.

Michael,

I just noticed while looking at my pictures that the registration stickers being used on both the red Dodge SUV and the white F350 utility truck have the identical registration information, they are duplicate copies and are currently on both vehicles. They have all of the same plate and control numbers.... One has to be a forgery. I've have made a composite image showing both stickers side by side. The Dodge's sticker is on top and secured with packing tape.

I've pasted the Texas Transportation Code regarding this for your review.
Sec. 502.4755. DECEPTIVELY SIMILAR INSIGNIA. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) manufactures, sells, or possesses a registration insignia deceptively similar to the registration insignia of the department; or
(2) makes a copy or likeness of an insignia deceptively similar to the registration insignia of the department with intent to sell the copy or likeness.
(b) For the purposes of this section, an insignia is deceptively similar to the registration insignia of the department if the insignia is not prescribed by the department but a reasonable person would presume that it was prescribed by the department.
(c) A district or county court, on application of the attorney general or of the district attorney or prosecuting attorney performing the duties of the district attorney for the district in which the court is located, may enjoin a violation or threatened violation of this section on a showing that a violation has occurred or is likely to occur.
(d) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the insignia was produced pursuant to a licensing agreement with the department.
(e) An offense under this section is:
(1) a felony of the third degree if the person manufactures or sells a deceptively similar registration insignia; or
(2) a Class C misdemeanor if the person possesses a deceptively similar registration insignia, except that the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if the person has previously been convicted of an offense under this subdivision.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1135 (H.B. 2741), Sec. 74, eff. September 1, 2013.

Regards,
NBF

Thank you for reporting this junk/abandoned vehicle request via ShowMe&Fix. The issue you reported has since been fixed and we are closing this issue.