A. It is unlawful to operate a vehicle of any kind upon a street of the city without a state vehicle license plate as may be required by law or to fail to display the state vehicle license plate as may be required by law.
B. It is unlawful for any person to buy, sell or dispose of, or have in his possession for sale, use or storage, any secondhand or used vehicle on which the registration or license fee has not been paid as required by law and on which vehicle the person neglects, fails or refuses to display at all times the license plate and decals assigned to it.
C. Police officers and all other duly authorized peace officer of this state shall seize and take into custody every vehicle owned within this state, not bearing and displaying a proper state vehicle license plate; and the vehicle shall not be released to the owner thereof until it is duly registered and the license fee due thereon paid in full, together with any penalty provided by law, plus the cost of seizure, including the reasonable cost of taking the vehicle into custody and storing it. (2001 Code § 70.028)