H.B. No. 548
AN ACT
relating to the impoundment of certain motor vehicles involved in
the commission of the offense of racing on a highway.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 545.420, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
(i) This subsection applies only to a motor vehicle used in
the commission of an offense under this section that results in an
accident with property damage or personal injury. A peace officer
shall require the vehicle to be taken to the nearest licensed
vehicle storage facility unless the vehicle is seized as evidence,
in which case the vehicle may be taken to a storage facility as
designated by the peace officer involved. Notwithstanding Article
18.23, Code of Criminal Procedure, the owner of a motor vehicle that
is removed or stored under this subsection is liable for all removal
and storage fees incurred and is not entitled to take possession of
the vehicle until those fees are paid.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed
before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense
was committed before that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 548 was passed by the House on May 1,
2009, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 548 on May 29, 2009, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 548 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 140,
Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 548 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 26, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
548 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor