BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.H.B. 1888 84R30864 AJZ-D By: Capriglione (Taylor, Van) Transportation 5/21/2015 Committee Report (Substituted)
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.H.B. 1888
84R30864 AJZ-D By: Capriglione (Taylor, Van)
Transportation
5/21/2015
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.H.B. 1888
84R30864 AJZ-D
By: Capriglione (Taylor, Van)
Transportation
5/21/2015
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Interested parties contend that Texas' roads become more dangerous when individuals operating motor vehicles do so without the adequate license or training to operate the vehicles. Parties also note that the state has a responsibility to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers on Texas roads by ensuring that all drivers have met the necessary requirements for operating a motor vehicle. In 2013 alone statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation cited more than 8,000 crashes, including 130 involving a fatality, in which a commercial vehicle driver who failed to have a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) was involved. Currently, driving with an invalid CDL is a Class C misdemeanor and carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine. H.B. 1888 increases the fine for individuals driving without a CDL to a fine not to exceed $1,000. If the unlicensed driver has been convicted of a similar offense within the previous year the fine remains the same, but the charge becomes a Class B misdemeanor. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent) C.S.H.B. 1888 amends current law relating to punishment for the offense of driving a commercial motor vehicle without a commercial driver's license and increasing a penalty. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 522.011(c), Transportation Code, as follows: (c) Provides that an offense under this section is a misdemeanor, rather than a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500, except that the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant was convicted of an offense under this section in the year preceding the date of the offense that is the subject of the trial. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Interested parties contend that Texas' roads become more dangerous when individuals operating motor vehicles do so without the adequate license or training to operate the vehicles. Parties also note that the state has a responsibility to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers on Texas roads by ensuring that all drivers have met the necessary requirements for operating a motor vehicle. In 2013 alone statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation cited more than 8,000 crashes, including 130 involving a fatality, in which a commercial vehicle driver who failed to have a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) was involved. Currently, driving with an invalid CDL is a Class C misdemeanor and carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine. H.B. 1888 increases the fine for individuals driving without a CDL to a fine not to exceed $1,000. If the unlicensed driver has been convicted of a similar offense within the previous year the fine remains the same, but the charge becomes a Class B misdemeanor. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)
C.S.H.B. 1888 amends current law relating to punishment for the offense of driving a commercial motor vehicle without a commercial driver's license and increasing a penalty.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 522.011(c), Transportation Code, as follows:
(c) Provides that an offense under this section is a misdemeanor, rather than a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500, except that the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant was convicted of an offense under this section in the year preceding the date of the offense that is the subject of the trial.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.