Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1607 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	By: Creighton S.B. No. 1607
2	2
3	3
4	4	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	5	AN ACT
6	6	relating to the operation of vehicles transporting precast
7	7	prestressed concrete products.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 621.102(d), Transportation Code, is
10	10	amended to read as follows:
11	11	(d) A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section
12	12	623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192,
13	13	623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.
14	14	2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may
15	15	operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road
16	16	for which the executive director of the Texas Department of
17	17	Transportation has set a maximum weight under this section.
18	18	SECTION 2. Section 621.301(e), Transportation Code, is
19	19	amended to read as follows:
20	20	(e) A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section
21	21	623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192,
22	22	623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.
23	23	2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may
24	24	operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road
25	25	for which the commissioners court has set a maximum weight under
26	26	this section.
27	27	SECTION 3. Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by
28	28	adding Subchapter U to read as follows:
29	29	SUBCHAPTER U. PRECAST PRESTRESSED CONCRETE PRODUCTS
30	30	Sec. 623.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "precast
31	31	prestressed concrete products" means concrete that is batched,
32	32	placed in forms, and cured in a manufacturing facility for the
33	33	purpose of transporting to a job site to be erected into a final
34	34	structure.
35	35	Sec. 623.402. PERMIT FOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTING PRECAST
36	36	PRESTRESSED CONCRETE PRODUCTS. (a) The department shall issue a
37	37	permit that authorizes the operation of a vehicle or combination of
38	38	vehicles transporting precast prestressed concrete products at a
39	39	gross weight that is not heavier than 100,000 pounds.
40	40	(b) A permit issued under this subchapter:
41	41	(1) is valid for one year, except as provided by
42	42	Subsection(d); and
43	43	(2) must be carried in the vehicle for which it is
44	44	issued.
45	45	(c) A vehicle issued a permit under this subchapter may
46	46	operate on a state, county, or municipal road, including a
47	47	load-zoned county road or a frontage road adjacent to a federal
48	48	interstate highway, if the vehicle displays a sticker required by
49	49	Section 623.403 and does not exceed the maximum gross weight
50	50	authorized under Subsection(a).
51	51	(d) The department may issue a permit under this subchapter
52	52	that is valid for a period of less than one year. The department
53	53	shall prorate any applicable fee required for a permit issued under
54	54	this subsection as necessary to reflect the term of the permit.
55	55	Sec. 623.403. PERMIT STICKER. (a) When the department
56	56	issues a permit under this subchapter, the department shall issue a
57	57	sticker to be placed on the front windshield of the vehicle. The
58	58	department shall design the form of the sticker to aid in the
59	59	enforcement ofw eight limits for vehicles.
60	60	(b) The sticker must:
61	61	(1) indicate the expiration date of the permit; and
62	62	(2) be removed from the vehicle when:
63	63	(A) the permit for operation of the vehicle
64	64	expires;
65	65	(B) a lease of the vehicle expires; or
66	66	(C) the vehicle is sold.
67	67	Sec. 623.404. COUNTY DESIGNATION. The department by rule
68	68	shall require an applicant under this subchapter to designate in
69	69	the permit application the counties in which the applicant intends
70	70	to operate.
71	71	Sec. 623.405. CERTAIN COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ACTIONS
72	72	PROHIBITED. Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a
73	73	county or municipality may not require a permit, fee, or license for
74	74	the operation of a vehicle described by Section 623.402(a) in
75	75	addition to a permit, fee, or license required by state law.
76	76	Sec. 623.406. TIMES AND DAYS OF MOVEMENT. (a) Movement
77	77	authorized by a permit issued under this subchapter may be made on
78	78	any day, provided that in a county with a population of more than
79	79	300,000, movement may not be made between:
80	80	(1) 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.; and
81	81	(2) 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.;
82	82	(b) For counties with a population less than 300,000, the
83	83	Texas Department of Transportation, in coordination with local
84	84	units of government, may limit the hours for travel on certain
85	85	routes because of heavy or dangerous traffic conditions.
86	86	(c) The Texas Department of Transportation shall publish
87	87	the limitation on movements prescribed by this section and the
88	88	limitations adopted under Subsection (b) and shall make the
89	89	publications available to the public. Each limitation adopted by
90	90	the Texas Department of Transportation must be made available to
91	91	the public before it takes effect.
92	92	Sec. 623.407. INTERSTATE AND DEFENSE HIGHWAYS. (a) This
93	93	subchapter does not authorize the operation on the national system
94	94	of interstate and defense highways in this state of a vehicle of a
95	95	size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section
96	96	127.
97	97	(b) If the United States authorizes the operation on the
98	98	national system of interstate and defense highways of a vehicle of a
99	99	size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section
100	100	127 on September 1, 2017, the new limit automatically takes effect
101	101	on the national system of interstate and defense highways in this
102	102	state.
103	103	SECTION 4. STUDY OF ISSUES RELATING TO TRUCK TRAFFIC ON
104	104	TOLLROADS OF THIS STATE. The 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
105	105	hereby requests that the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
106	106	house of representatives to create a joint interim committee to
107	107	study the issue of overweight truck access to toll roads and the
108	108	cost and benefits thereof, and that the committee's proceedings and
109	109	operations be governed by such general rules and policies for joint
110	110	interim committees as the 85th Legislature may adopt.
111	111	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.