Texas House Bill HB805

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/28/09
• Voted on by House: 5/12/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/23/09

Caption

Relating to the definitions of police vehicle and authorized emergency vehicle for the purposes of certain traffic laws.

Impact

The enactment of HB805 will streamline the identification and regulation of police vehicles under state traffic laws, providing a concrete framework that law enforcement agencies can refer to. By defining police vehicles in this manner, the bill will aid in reducing ambiguity in cases involving traffic citations that may involve police vehicles. Furthermore, the bill aligns state definitions with practical usage, potentially enhancing the overall efficacy of law enforcement operations with respect to vehicular regulations.

Summary

House Bill 805 aims to clarify the definition of a 'police vehicle' within the context of Texas transportation laws. This bill specifies that a police vehicle is primarily used by a peace officer for law enforcement purposes and can either be owned or leased by a governmental entity or be a privately owned vehicle approved for law enforcement use by a law enforcement agency head. This definition is important for ensuring compliance with existing traffic laws and establishing clear criteria for what constitutes a police vehicle in various legal scenarios involving traffic enforcement.

Contention

One point of contention that may arise with this bill is the implications of allowing privately owned vehicles to be recognized as police vehicles when they are used for law enforcement purposes. Critics may argue that this could lead to potential misuse or lack of oversight regarding the operation of such vehicles. Additionally, the criteria for approval by a law enforcement agency head could be debated, as it might vary significantly between different entities, raising concerns about consistency in law enforcement across regions.