82R6648 AJZ-F By: Hunter H.B. No. 2981 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the operation on a highway or street of a motor vehicle that is drawing a boat or personal watercraft in or on which a person is riding; providing a penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 545.4145 to read as follows: Sec. 545.4145. PERSON RIDING IN OR ON BOAT OR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT DRAWN BY VEHICLE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a highway or street and another person occupies a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by the motor vehicle. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person was operating the motor vehicle in a parade or in an emergency. (c) In this section, "boat" and "personal watercraft" have the meanings assigned by Section 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.