H.B. No. 1633
AN ACT
relating to certain offenses regarding parking privileges of
veterans with disabilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 681.011, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (m), (n), and (o) to read as follows:
(m) Subsections (n) and (o) apply only to a person who
commits an offense under Subsection (b) when the vehicle:
(1) displays special license plates issued under
Section 504.202 other than special license plates issued under
Section 504.202(b-1); and
(2) does not display a disabled parking placard.
(n) Notwithstanding Subsections (g)-(k), an offense
described by Subsection (m) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of
not less than $25 or more than $200 or not more than 10 hours of
community service, except that:
(1) if the person has previously been convicted one
time of an offense described by Subsection (m) or received a
dismissal under Subsection (o), the offense is punishable by:
(A) a fine of not less than $200 or more than
$400; or
(B) not less than 10 hours or more than 20 hours
of community service; and
(2) if the person has previously been convicted two
times of an offense described by Subsection (m) or if the person has
previously received a dismissal under Subsection (o) and previously
been convicted one time of an offense described by Subsection (m),
the offense is punishable by:
(A) a fine of not less than $400 or more than
$750; or
(B) not less than 20 hours or more than 30 hours
of community service.
(o) The court shall dismiss a charge for an offense
described by Subsection (m) if the person:
(1) has not been previously convicted of an offense
described by that subsection;
(2) has not previously received a dismissal under this
subsection; and
(3) submits an application for a specialty license
plate that includes the symbol described by Section 504.201(f)
within six months after the date the person was charged with the
offense.
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 on the date 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 occurred
before that date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1633 was passed by the House on April
14, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 9, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1633 was passed by the Senate on May
17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor