Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB512 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R2296 JXC-D
2	2	By: Davis of Harris H.B. No. 512
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the placement of warning signs in areas where the use of
8	8	a wireless communication device is prohibited.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Sections 545.425(b-1), (b-2), (b-4), and (d-1),
11	11	Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
12	12	(b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), a local
13	13	authority [a municipality, county, or other political subdivision]
14	14	that enforces this section in a school crossing zone in the local
15	15	authority's jurisdiction shall post a sign that complies with the
16	16	standards described by this subsection at each [the] entrance to
17	17	the [each] school crossing zone [in the municipality, county, or
18	18	other political subdivision]. The Texas Department of
19	19	Transportation [department] shall adopt standards that:
20	20	(1) allow for a sign required to be posted under this
21	21	subsection to be attached to an existing sign at a minimal cost; and
22	22	(2) require that a sign required to be posted under
23	23	this subsection inform an operator that:
24	24	(A) the use of a wireless communication device is
25	25	prohibited in the school crossing zone; and
26	26	(B) the operator is subject to a fine if the
27	27	operator uses a wireless communication device in the school
28	28	crossing zone.
29	29	(b-2) A local authority [municipality, county, or other
30	30	political subdivision] that by ordinance or rule prohibits the use
31	31	of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle
32	32	throughout the jurisdiction of the local authority [political
33	33	subdivision] is not required to post a sign as required by
34	34	Subsection (b-1) if the local authority [political subdivision]:
35	35	(1) posts signs that are located at each point at which
36	36	a state highway, U.S. highway, or interstate highway enters the
37	37	jurisdiction of the local authority [political subdivision] and
38	38	that state:
39	39	(A) that an operator is prohibited from using a
40	40	wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle in
41	41	the jurisdiction of the local authority [political subdivision];
42	42	and
43	43	(B) that the operator is subject to a fine if the
44	44	operator uses a wireless communication device while operating a
45	45	motor vehicle in the jurisdiction of the local authority [political
46	46	subdivision]; and
47	47	(2) subject to all applicable United States Department
48	48	of Transportation Federal Highway Administration rules, posts a
49	49	message that complies with Subdivision (1) on any dynamic message
50	50	sign operated by the local authority [political subdivision]
51	51	located on a state highway, U.S. highway, or interstate highway in
52	52	the jurisdiction of the local authority [political subdivision].
53	53	(b-4) The local authority [political subdivision] shall pay
54	54	the costs associated with the posting of signs under Subsection
55	55	(b-2).
56	56	(d-1) The affirmative defense available in Subsection
57	57	(d)(2) is not available for an offense under Subsection (b)
58	58	committed in a school crossing zone located in the jurisdiction of a
59	59	local authority [a municipality, county, or other political
60	60	subdivision] that is in compliance with Subsection (b-2).
61	61	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.