Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2870 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/27/2023

                    88R13274 AJZ-F
 By: Thierry H.B. No. 2870


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the use of automated traffic control systems by certain
 municipalities.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 542.2035, Transportation Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 542.2035.  LIMITATION ON MUNICIPALITIES.  (a)  Except
 as provided by Subsection (a-1), a [A] municipality may not
 implement or operate an automated traffic control system with
 respect to a highway or street under its jurisdiction for the
 purpose of enforcing compliance with posted speed limits.  The
 attorney general shall enforce this subsection.
 (a-1)  A municipality with a population of two million or
 more may implement or operate an automated traffic control system
 with respect to a highway or street under its jurisdiction for the
 purpose of enforcing compliance with posted speed limits in a
 school crossing zone.
 (b)  In this section:
 (1)  [,] "Automated [automated] traffic control
 system" means a photographic device, radar device, laser device, or
 other electrical or mechanical device designed to:
 (A) [(1)]  record the speed of a motor vehicle;
 and
 (B) [(2)]  obtain one or more photographs or other
 recorded images of:
 (i) [(A)]  the vehicle;
 (ii) [(B)]  the license plate attached to
 the vehicle; or
 (iii) [(C)]  the operator of the vehicle.
 (2)  "School crossing zone" has the meaning assigned by
 Section 541.302.
 SECTION 2.  Chapter 707, Transportation Code, is amended by
 adding Section 707.022 to read as follows:
 Sec. 707.022.  MUNICIPAL SCHOOL CROSSING ZONE EXCEPTION.
 This chapter does not apply to an automated traffic control system,
 as defined by Section 542.2035, that is authorized by Section
 542.2035(a-1).
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.