The Texas House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would eliminate paper temporary license plates in Texas.
The bill would require a switch to metal plates instead in an effort to stop widespread problems with fraudulent paper tags often sold illegally online.
A yearlong NBC 5 investigation exposed how criminals use fraudulent paper plates to evade police while smuggling drugs and even committing violent crimes.
In the wake of our reporting, lawmakers called for changes in the state’s temporary tag system. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles also made leadership changes and cracked down on small state-licensed car dealers involved in illegally selling real paper tags from the DMV’s online temporary tag system.
But, as more problem dealers were shut down, police say counterfeiters have stepped in to meet the demand for knock-off paper plates, which authorities say are easy to spoof because they come in a simple PDF document format.
The fake plates are also purchased by drivers with cars that cannot pass inspection or do not have insurance, according to law enforcement officials.
At a House Transportation Committee hearing last week, Grand Prairie Police Chief Daniel Scesney was among those testifying in support of the bill. Scesney has been outspoken in his frustration with paper tags, following the death of Grand Prairie Police Officer Brandon Tsai who was killed in a crash while pursuing a suspect with a fraudulent paper tag.
House Bill 718, which would eliminate paper tags, was authored by State Rep. Craig Goldman from Forth Worth. The bill is now expected to head to the House floor in the next several weeks. State Sen. Royce West from Dallas has introduced an identical bill in the Senate.
PREVIOUS REPORTS
March 27, 2023- Texas DMV’s New Paper Tag Design Easily Counterfeited, Police Say
Nov. 17, 2022 – Texas DMV Redesigns Paper License Tags to Include New Security Features
Nov. 15, 2022 – Police Searching for Paper Tagged ‘Ghost Car’ in Deadly Grand Prairie Chase
June 1, 2022 – Police Make Bogus Tag Bust Tied to Social Media Ads
May 18, 2022 – TxDMV Names New Executive Director Amid Paper Tag Crisis
May 17, 2022 – Vehicle Used in Dallas Salon Shooting Had Paper Tag
May 12, 2022 – Ads for Fake Tags Persist, Despite Facebook, TxDMV Efforts
May 4, 2022 – Texas’ Paper Tag Problem Compounded by Small Dealers Misusing Them
May 3, 2022 – Dallas Police Shut Down Accused Fake Paper Tag Dealer
April 26, 2022 – Texas House Set to Hold Paper Tag Hearings
April 14, 2022 – Texas DMV Cracks Down on Dealers Selling Temporary Paper Tags
April 13, 2022 – TxDMV Closes Inspection Loophole That Put Unsafe Cars on Roads
April 12, 2022 – Dallas Police Go Undercover to Fight Illegal Paper Tags
April 7, 2022 – Police Warn of Fake Paper Tags Used to Cheat Car Buyers
April 5, 2022 – Texas Senate Will Investigate Illegal Paper Tag Crimes, Smuggling
March 9, 2022 – Texas Paper Tag Crime Danger Extends Nationwide
March 5, 2022 – Texas House Will Hold Hearings on Paper Tag Mess
Feb. 28, 2022 – License to Smuggle: Drug Cartels and Human Smugglers Use Paper Texas Tags to Evade
Feb. 15, 2022 – Fort Worth Police Announce Special Operation Targeting Paper Tags
Feb. 14, 2022 — Crash Victim’s Parents Want More Cops to Police Paper Tag Fraud
Feb. 13, 2022 – More Funding Need to Fight Criminals Using Bogus Paper Tags: Police
Feb. 10, 2022 – Police Report Drop in Fraudulent Tags But Warn Crooks Are Adapting
Feb. 9, 2022 – Texas DMV Shuts Down Six More Dealers Suspected of Selling Paper License Tags
Feb. 7, 2022 – TxDMV Director Resigns Amidst Paper Tag Mess
Jan. 27, 2022 – TxDMV Takes Emergency Action to Keep Crooks From Selling Paper Tags
Jan. 21, 2022 – Dallas Police Operation Targets Fraudulent Paper Tags
Jan. 17, 2022 – Recording Shows Police Warned TxDMV of Paper Tag Security Flaw Years Ago
Dec. 16, 2021 – DMV Committee Recommends Fingerprinting Some Dealers to Slow Paper Tag Fraud
Dec. 14, 2021 – Texas House Transportation Chair Vows to Stop Paper Tag Fraud
Dec. 6, 2021 – Texas DMV Boss Deflects Blame for Paper Tag Debacle
Nov. 23, 2021 – Illegal Paper Tags Costing Texas Taxpayers and Toll Roads Millions
Nov. 10, 2021 – Suspected Paper Tag Peddler Shut Down Tuesday, Reopens Wednesday: Investigators
Nov. 8, 2021 – How Texas Paper Tags Became a $200M Criminal Enterprise: NBC 5 Investigates
