From Tougher Unsecured-Load Rules to Motor-Carrier Registration Denials, 2025 Amendments Raise Penalties and Shift Liability. Here’s a Plain-English Rundown.
As Texas roads continue to evolve, so do the laws governing them. The 2025 legislative session has brought significant changes to the Texas Transportation Code that will impact every driver on our highways. From revolutionary changes to how vehicles are registered to stricter penalties for common violations, these updates represent the state’s ongoing effort to make our roads safer while closing loopholes that have long plagued enforcement efforts.
At Ryan Orsatti Law, we’ve seen firsthand how transportation code violations can turn tragic accidents into complex legal battles. Understanding these new rules isn’t just about avoiding tickets—it’s about protecting yourself legally and financially if you’re involved in an accident. Here’s what every Texas driver needs to know before September 1, 2025.
1. Paper License Plates Are History: HB 718 Takes Effect July 1, 2025
The days of temporary paper tags are numbered. House Bill 718 (HB 718) during the 88th Legislative Session in 2023 to address concerns related to the fraudulent use of paper license tags, and the changes are revolutionary.
Starting July 1, 2025, All licensed dealers must issue metal license plates to buyers at the time of sale. This isn’t just a minor procedural change—it’s a complete overhaul of how vehicles are registered in Texas.
What This Means for You:
- Buying from a dealer: You’ll receive metal plates immediately upon purchase, not paper tags
- Trading in your vehicle: When consumers sell or trade in a vehicle with general issue plates, dealers must remove the plates and may transfer them to another vehicle sold within 10 days, as long as the plates match the appropriate vehicle class
- Specialty plates: You keep these when trading in and can transfer them to your new vehicle
Why This Matters Legally:
For years, fraudulent paper tags have been a nightmare for accident victims. When someone with fake tags causes a crash and flees, tracking them down has been nearly impossible. CBS News Texas first started investigating the issue in 2017. At the time, Dallas County authorities told us 90% of the paper license plates on the streets were fraudulent. These “ghost cars” have left countless victims without recourse.
The metal plate requirement creates an immediate paper trail and makes hit-and-run investigations far more effective. If you’re injured by another driver, this change dramatically improves your chances of identifying them and holding them accountable.
2. Unsecured Load Violations: Criminal Charges Now on the Table
Texas has significantly tightened its unsecured load laws, and the penalties have teeth. Under Texas Transportation Code 725.003, knowingly failing to secure a load is a Class C misdemeanor, carrying a fine of up to $500.
But here’s where it gets serious: If unsecured materials cause bodily harm or property damage, the charge increases to a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 180 days in jail.
The Stakes Are Even Higher for Fatal Accidents:
If an unsecured load results in serious injury or death, prosecutors may file charges under Texas Penal Code 22.05 for deadly conduct, which can result in a state jail felony with penalties of 180 days to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
What Constitutes a Properly Secured Load:
- All materials must be prevented from falling, blowing, or spilling
- If the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle transporting loose material, the load shall be covered and the covering firmly secured at the front and back
- Tarps must be properly tied down, not just draped over cargo
- Tailgates must be securely closed
Civil Liability Implications:
Beyond criminal charges, Victims can file personal injury lawsuits under Texas’s negligence laws, specifically Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 33.001, which follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you’re injured by debris from an unsecured load, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
3. Motor Carrier Registration: New Denial Powers Under HB 1672
Effective May 24, 2025, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles gained sweeping new powers to deny motor carrier registrations. HB 1672 became effective on May 24, 2025, and requires the department to adopt rules to create the requirements and procedures for the following under Transportation Code, §643.2526: 1) the revocation or suspension of a motor carrier’s registration.
Key Changes:
- The department may deny a registration if the applicant has had a registration revoked under Section 643.252
- The department may deny a registration if the applicant is owned, operated, managed, or otherwise controlled by or affiliated with a person, including a family member, corporate officer, entity, or shareholder, that the Department of Public Safety has determined has: (1) an unsatisfactory safety rating
- The state can now pierce the corporate veil to prevent “chameleon carriers”—companies that shut down and reopen under new names to avoid safety violations
Why This Protects You:
If you’re injured in a trucking accident, these new rules mean the trucking company is more likely to have proper insurance and a clean safety record. The days of dangerous carriers simply rebranding to avoid accountability are coming to an end.
4. Distracted Driving: Enforcement Ramps Up
While texting and driving has been illegal since 2017, enforcement is intensifying. A first-time offense carries a fine between $25 and $99, while subsequent violations can lead to fines of up to $200.
The Real Consequences:
If texting while driving leads to a crash involving a serious injury or death, the offense may be elevated to a Class A misdemeanor, carrying potential jail time of up to one year and a fine of up to $4,000.
What’s Actually Prohibited:
- Reading, writing, or sending text messages while driving
- The ban applies even at red lights if your vehicle is in operation
- Drivers under 18 – It’s illegal for drivers under 18 years old to use any wireless communication device, including hands-free systems, while driving
Civil Liability Alert:
If a distracted driver causes an accident, they may be held legally responsible for damages through a personal injury lawsuit under the legal theory of negligence per se—meaning that violating the texting law automatically establishes negligence. This makes proving fault in your injury case significantly easier.
5. Move Over/Slow Down: Penalties Increased Dramatically
The Move Over/Slow Down law has been strengthened with serious penalties. Stricter penalties for drivers who cause serious injuries by failing to follow these rules now include possible jail time and a fine of up to $4,000.
Current Requirements:
- Move out of the lane closest to emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and TxDOT vehicles with flashing lights
- If you can’t move over safely, slow down to 20 mph below the posted speed limit
- If the speed limit is below 25 miles per hour, the driver must slow down to five miles per hour
Updated Penalties:
- Breaking these laws can now lead to motorists being fined between $500 and $1,250
- If they cause bodily injury, such as striking a police officer, they can be charged with a felony that comes with a penalty of up to two years in jail and a fine reaching $10,000
Recent Enforcement Results:
In total, officers stopped more than 7,687 vehicles during the 12-hour operation. This included 1,326 drivers who were pulled over for Move Over, Slow Down violations, resulting in 1,013 warnings and 580 citations during a single multi-state enforcement day in May 2025.
6. Variable Speed Limits: Weather and Construction Adjustments
A groundbreaking change allows for dynamic speed limit adjustments. House Bill 1885, signed into law this June, empowers local Texas Department of Transportation engineers — without approval from the statewide transportation commissioners — to temporarily change speed limits for a portion of a road or highway.
When Speed Limits Can Change:
- During severe weather conditions (ice, heavy fog, rain)
- In construction zones
- During road maintenance
- The altered speed limit would be in effect only when it’s posted on signs notifying drivers of the change and it can’t be lower than 10 miles under the regular speed limit
The Catalyst for Change:
This law was prompted by the tragic 2021 Fort Worth pile-up involving 133 vehicles that killed six people. “It was studied by the federal government and the national highway agency, and ultimately their findings were that variable speed limits could have mitigated and completely prevented this accident from happening”.
Legal Implications:
If you’re ticketed or involved in an accident when variable speed limits are in effect, the posted speed at that moment is what matters legally. Always watch for electronic signs indicating temporary speed changes.
7. Registration Denials: Expanded Enforcement Powers
The state has expanded its ability to deny vehicle registrations for various violations, including unpaid child support obligations. Noncustodial parents who have a denial on their registration renewal can call (866) 646-5611, to make payment arrangements.
Registration Can Be Denied For:
- Unpaid child support (requires minimum $200 payment and payment plan)
- Without valid proof of insurance, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) will deny registration, preventing the vehicle from being legally operated
- Outstanding toll violations
- Certain criminal offenses
The TexasSure System:
The TexasSure program enforces compliance by electronically verifying insurance coverage during registration renewal. If the system detects a lapse, the renewal request is flagged. This means maintaining continuous insurance coverage is more important than ever.
What These Changes Mean for Your Legal Rights
As a plaintiff’s personal injury firm, we see these updates as mostly positive developments for accident victims. The elimination of paper tags, stricter unsecured load penalties, and enhanced enforcement capabilities all work to create a safer driving environment and better accountability when accidents occur.
However, these changes also mean drivers need to be more vigilant about compliance. A minor violation that once resulted in a warning could now lead to criminal charges or create liability in an accident case.
Action Steps for Texas Drivers:
- Document Everything: In any accident, photograph license plates immediately—with metal plates required, hit-and-run drivers can’t claim they had “temporary tags”
- Secure Your Loads: Double-check any cargo before driving. What seems secure in your driveway might not be at highway speeds
- Update Your Habits: If you’re used to checking texts at red lights, break that habit now—it’s illegal and can establish negligence if an accident occurs
- Watch for Variable Speed Signs: Don’t assume the speed limit is what it was yesterday, especially in bad weather
- Move Over Early: Don’t wait until the last second to move over for emergency vehicles—the penalties are too severe to risk it
- Maintain Insurance: With electronic verification, you can’t let coverage lapse even for a day
- Know Your Rights: If you’re injured by someone violating these new laws, that violation can significantly strengthen your injury claim
The Bottom Line
These Transportation Code updates represent Texas’s commitment to safer roads, but they also create new legal complexities. Whether you’re trying to avoid violations or seeking compensation after an accident, understanding these changes is crucial.
At Ryan Orsatti Law, we’re closely monitoring how these new laws affect our clients’ cases. If you’ve been injured in an accident—especially one involving an unsecured load, distracted driving, or a commercial vehicle—these new regulations may significantly impact your right to compensation.
Remember: safer roads benefit everyone, but when accidents happen, knowing your rights under the updated Transportation Code can make the difference between full compensation and being left to handle expenses on your own.
Have you been injured in a Texas traffic accident? Contact Ryan Orsatti Law today for a free consultation. We’ll review how these new Transportation Code updates may strengthen your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.