82R7196 ACP-D
By: Farias H.B. No. 1583
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to safety equipment requirements for certain cyclists;
providing a penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 551.104(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) A person may not operate a bicycle at nighttime or
during periods of reduced visibility unless the bicycle is equipped
with:
(1) a lamp on the front of the bicycle that emits a
white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of
the bicycle; and
(2) a lamp on the rear of the bicycle[:
[(A) a red reflector that is:
[(i) of a type approved by the department;
and
[(ii) visible when directly in front of
lawful upper beams of motor vehicle headlamps from all distances
from 50 to 300 feet to the rear of the bicycle; or
[(B) a lamp] that emits a red light visible from a
distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.
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
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
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 occurred
before that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.