Texas’ shift from temporary paper license plates to metal ones with colored stripes, implemented in July 2025 to combat fraud, has unfortunately not stopped criminals. Instead of easily forged paper tags, law enforcement now faces sophisticated fake metal plates. This new fraud, involving stolen plates or vinyl wraps, poses significant problems for license plate reader systems, toll roads, and police investigations. The change was intended to deter criminals, but some law enforcement officials believe it may have inadvertently created new incentives for theft, as creating fake metal tags is now a reported tactic. Buyers of used cars are particularly vulnerable to this type of fraud, risking purchases of stolen vehicles or cars with outstanding loans.