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# The Attorney General of Texas

**JIM MATTOX**  **Attorney General** 

Supreme Cwtl Bulldln9 P. 0. BOX 12548 *ustIn. TX. 78711.254B 51214752501 Telex 9101874-1357 Telacapler 51214750255

714 J4cklon. Suite 700 Daliks. TX. 75M24505 2141742-5944

4B24 Alberh Ave.. Suite 180 El Paro. TX. 79905-2793 91545XXW4 Eonotable LowellC, Holt Criminal

District

Attorney P. 0. Box 730 Cilmer.Texas 75644 Opinion**Ao. JM-372** 
Re: Whether a vehiclevith a valid Dealer's Temporary Cardboard Tags must have properly operating tall and brake lights
Dear Mr. Holt:
Pou request ow opinion regarding the folloving: 18 a vehicle with a valid DecAer's Temporary Cardboard Tag, as authorized by article6686(a)(4). V.T.C.S.,

required

to have properly

operating

tail lightsand brake lightsaa required by sections 111 and 118 of article 6701d.V.T.C.S.
1091 Texas, SW4 700 HOUSTON.

TX. 77002-3111 7132255886

808 Broadway. Suite 312 Lubbock. TX. 79401.3479 BOW’47-5238 Article 6686(a)(4) provides: (4) Dealer's Temporary CardboardTags. Each dealertolding a current distinguishing

&nber may issue ttmporarycardboard tags, vhich may only be used by such dealer or his employees for the following

purposes:
4309 N. Tenth. Suie B McAllm. TX. 75501.15B5 5l2m52-4547
204 M&l Plaza.

suits 444 Ban Anionlo. TX. 70295.2797 512l225-419l (a) to demonarrate or cause to be demonstrated his unregistered

vehiclee to prospective buyers only **for** the purpose of sale; provided, however, that no provisionof this Act shall be construed to prohlbit

a dealer **from** permitting a prospective buyer to operate such vehicles in **the** course of demonstration.

An Equal Opportunllyl Afflrmatlve Actlon Employrr (b) 'to convey or cause to be **conveyed his**  unragist~ared

vehicles from the dealer'splace of busincas in **one** part of the State to his place of businessin anotherpart of **the State.**  **or** from his place cf business to a place to be repaired,reconditioned,

or serviced. or from the point in this Statevhere such vehiclesare unloadedto **his** place of business. includingthe **moving** of such vehicles from the State line **to** his place of business. **or** to convey such vehicles from one

p. 1704Eonorable Lawell C. Bolt - Page 2 (m-372)

dealer's place s:f business to another dasler's place of business;

or from the point **of** purchase of such vehicles

by **,the** dealer to **the** dealer's place **of** business,or for the purpose of road testing, and ouch vehicles

displaying

such **tags** whilebeing so conveyed shal? be exempt from **the** mechanical inspection

requlr%ments

of Sections140 and 141 of **the** Uniform

**Act** I$ulating Traffic**on** Aighvays. Such **tags** sha:.l.

not be used to operate vehicles for the personal

use of a dealer or his employees. **Whenever** a dealer sellsan unregistered vehicle**to** a retail purchasaer. it shall be such dealer's responsibility

to display the Buyer's Temporary CardboardTag thereon pursuant to Subsection (3) **of** this Act. The specifications, form, and color of such dealer's cardboard tags shall be prescribed

by the D#!partment.(Emphasis added). This provision speciflcallyexempts any motor vehicle bearing a dealer's temporary cardbcard tags from the compulsory inspection requirements

of the Uniform,

Act regulatingtrafficon highways. See V.T.C.S. art. 6701d, 51140. 141. Thus, **these** vehicles are IlOt required to display a vaU.d certificate of inspection. See V.T.C.S. art. 6701d. 4140. Ewever, ve do not believe **that** threxamption vould allow **the** owner of **the** vehicle displaying **the** Dealer Temporary Cardboard

Tag to circumver,t

the requirements

of sections111 and 118 of article6701d.V.T.C.S. The provision exemptsvehicleshaving such temporarytags from the requirements

of art1c:l.a

6701d. sections 140-141. Itsdoes not exempt **them** from the requirements of sections111 and 118. Thus, such vehicles

must comply

with ,the

requirements

of sections

111 and 118.
SUMMARY
**A** vehicle aperated with a valid Dealer's TemporaryCardboard Tag, **as** authorized by article 6686(a)(4),

V.T.s:.S.,

Is requiredto have properly operating

tail lightsand brake lightsas required by sections111 and 118 of article6701d. V.T.C.S.

JIM WATTOX **Attorney** Generalof Texas

p. 1705Honorable Love11 C. Rolt - Page 3 (a-372)

MARY KELLER Sxecutive

Assistant

**Attorney** General
ROBERTCRAP / Special

Assistant

**Attorney** Ganeral
RICX GILPIN Chairman,

Opinion Comittee Prepared

**by** Tony Guillo9 Assistant

**Attorney** General
APPROVED: OPINIONCOMMITTEE Rick Gilpin.Chairman Colin Carl Susan Garrison Tony Gull109 Jim Moellinger Jennifer

Riggs Nancy Sutton SarahWoelk

p. 1706