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| 3 | 8 | | |
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| 4 | 9 | | |
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| 5 | 10 | | |
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| 6 | 11 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 7 | 12 | | AN ACT |
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| 8 | 13 | | relating to the authorized removal of certain motor vehicles. |
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| 9 | 14 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 15 | | SECTION 1. The heading to Section 545.305, Transportation |
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| 11 | 16 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 17 | | Sec. 545.305. AUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES |
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| 13 | 18 | | [UNLAWFULLY STOPPED VEHICLE]. |
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| 14 | 19 | | SECTION 2. Section 545.305(a), Transportation Code, is |
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| 15 | 20 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 16 | 21 | | (a) A peace officer listed under Article 2A.001, Code of |
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| 17 | 22 | | Criminal Procedure, or a license and weight inspector of the |
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| 18 | 23 | | department may remove or require the operator or a person in charge |
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| 19 | 24 | | of a vehicle to move a vehicle from a highway if the vehicle: |
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| 20 | 25 | | (1) is unattended on a bridge, viaduct, or causeway or |
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| 21 | 26 | | in a tube or tunnel and the vehicle is obstructing traffic; |
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| 22 | 27 | | (2) is unlawfully parked and blocking the entrance to |
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| 23 | 28 | | a private driveway; |
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| 24 | 29 | | (3) has been reported as stolen; |
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| 25 | 30 | | (4) is identified as having been stolen in a warrant |
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| 26 | 31 | | issued on the filing of a complaint; |
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| 27 | 32 | | (5) is unattended and the officer has reasonable |
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| 28 | 33 | | grounds to believe that the vehicle has been abandoned for longer |
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| 29 | 34 | | than 48 hours; |
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| 30 | 35 | | (6) is disabled so that normal operation is impossible |
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| 31 | 36 | | or impractical and the owner or person in charge of the vehicle is: |
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| 32 | 37 | | (A) incapacitated and unable to provide for the |
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| 33 | 38 | | vehicle's removal or custody; or |
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| 34 | 39 | | (B) not in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle; |
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| 35 | 40 | | (7) is disabled so that normal operation is impossible |
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| 36 | 41 | | or impractical and the owner or person in charge of the vehicle does |
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| 37 | 42 | | not designate a particular towing or storage company; |
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| 38 | 43 | | (8) is operated by a person: |
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| 39 | 44 | | (A) an officer arrests for an alleged offense and |
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| 40 | 45 | | the officer is required by law to take the person into custody; or |
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| 41 | 46 | | (B) in violation of Section 521.021, 521.457, |
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| 42 | 47 | | 601.191, or 729.002; or |
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| 43 | 48 | | (9) is, in the opinion of the officer, a hazard, |
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| 44 | 49 | | interferes with a normal function of a governmental agency, or |
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| 45 | 50 | | because of a catastrophe, emergency, or unusual circumstance is |
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| 46 | 51 | | imperiled. |
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| 47 | 52 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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