No. V-0066 (1947).

• Case Date: February 08, 1947
• Court: Texas

Texas Attorney General Opinions 1947. No. V-0066 (1947). 1February 8, 1947Hon. Stirling T. PhelpsCounty AttorneyWebb CountyLaredo, TexasOpinion No. V-66Re: Construction of Article 827b, Sections 1, 2, and 5, Vernon's Annotated Penal Code of TexasDear Mr. Phelps:This is in reply to your letter of January 22, 1947, supplemented by your letter of January 30, 1947, requesting the opinion of this Department on the construction of Article 827b, Sections 1, 2, and 5, V.A.P.C. We summarize the facts stated in your two letters as follows:

"In Laredo, Texas, there are a number of companies and persons engaged in the transportation of commodities for compensation or hire between Laredo, Texas, on the one hand, and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and interior points of Mexico, on the other hand, and vice versa. Reciprocity with respect to registration of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers that are operated for hire does not in fact exist between Texas and the Republic of Mexico. In some instances, residents of Laredo, Texas, that are engaged in this motor transportation business, in an effort to escape penalties imposed by Mexican authorities on Texas motor vehicles operating into and out of Mexico for hire, use trailers and semi-trailers belonging to nonresident Mexicans. These trailers and semi-trailers in most instances have no Mexico registration plates of any kind or character.

"The County Attorney of Webb County is of the opinion that under Article 827b, Sections 1, 2, and 5, V. A. P. C., none of the trailers and semi-trailers above described can be operated in Texas for compensation or hire unless registered in accordance with Texas Law regulating

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the registration of Texas owned trailers and semi-trailers operated for compensation and hire; and that a nonresident temporary registration certificate provided for in Article 827b, V. A. P. C., does not apply to motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers used for compensation or hire."

We have consulted the Mexican Consulate in Austin, Texas, and we are advised that reciprocity does not exist between the Republic of Mexico and Texas in regard to the registration of motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers operated for compensation or hire, and that the Laws of Mexico do not authorize a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer that is being operated for hire to make any trips into the Republic of Mexico without being properly registered under the Laws of Mexico, even though the vehicle is properly registered in the State or Country of the owner of the particular vehicle. Based upon the facts stated in your letter, as well as the representations made to us by the Mexican Consulate, we assume as...