82R1881 TRH-D
By: Uresti S.B. No. 119
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of an offense for certain uses of a
wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 545.425, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
follows:
(b-1) A municipality, county, or other political
subdivision that enforces Subsection (b) [this section] shall post
a sign that complies with the standards described by this
subsection at the entrance to each school crossing zone in the
municipality, county, or other political subdivision. The
department shall adopt standards that:
(1) allow for a sign required to be posted under this
subsection to be attached to an existing sign at a minimal cost; and
(2) require that a sign required to be posted under
this subsection inform an operator that:
(A) the use of a wireless communication device is
prohibited in the school crossing zone; and
(B) the operator is subject to a fine if the
operator uses a wireless communication device in the school
crossing zone.
(c-1) An operator may not use a wireless communication
device to read, write, or send a text-based communication while
operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped.
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 when 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 was
committed before that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.