(B) was in possession of an open container, as defined by Section 49.031, Penal Code. (f) The department shall develop and implement an educational program to encourage the wearing of safety belts and to emphasize: (1) the effectiveness of safety belts and other restraint devices in reducing the risk of harm to passengers in motor vehicles; and. (b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-3), the governing body of a municipality, for a highway or a part of a highway in the municipality that is not an officially designated or marked highway or road of the state highway system, may declare a lower speed limit of not less than 25 miles per hour, if the governing body determines that the prima facie speed limit on the highway is unreasonable or unsafe. 545.101. Promptly after the filing of a petition meeting the requirements of this subsection and subject to Subsection (d), the county or municipality receiving the petition shall post the signs. (a) In this section: (1) "Electronic message" means data that is read from or entered into a wireless communication device for the purpose of communicating with another person. 1, eff. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. (f) Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply if the avoidance of conflict with other traffic is necessary or if the operator is complying with the law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device. (a) In this section: (1) "Apartment complex" means two or more dwellings in one or more buildings that are owned by the same owner, located on the same lot or tract, and managed by the same owner, agent, or management company. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. Unsafe Speed - 26,608 Crashes Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 892 (H.B. 240 (H.B. (2) the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to the rear limit of the body or load, including the body or load of a combination of vehicles, is more than 14 feet. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 731, Sec. (j) This section preempts all local ordinances, rules, or other regulations adopted by a political subdivision relating to the use of a portable wireless communication device by the operator of a motor vehicle to read, write, or send an electronic message. (a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of 3.3 million or more shall by ordinance provide for the licensing of or the granting of a permit to a person to remove or store a vehicle authorized by Section 545.305 to be removed in an unincorporated area of the county. 1, eff. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 545.418. A municipality may not modify the rule established by Section 545.351(a) or establish a speed limit of more than 75 miles per hour. (b) An operator may not drive on or cross a streetcar track in an intersection in front of a streetcar crossing the intersection. 782 (S.B. However, lack of evasive action is only applicable in situations where a driver could have reacted to prevent an accident but chose not to. (b) An entity that sets a lower speed limit on a road or highway in the state highway system for a construction or maintenance work zone shall place or require to be placed a sign at the end of the zone that indicates the speed limit after the zone ends. June 19, 2015. 5.68(13), eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1522), Sec. May 18, 2017. Sec. 913 (H.B. No ticket was issued. Even if the first driver was responsible for the initial incident, the second driver would be at fault due to his failure to take necessary actions to avoid additional harm. 5.68(12), eff. 1093), Sec. (2) establish a speed limit of more than 75 miles per hour. (2) remain standing until all passengers have entered the streetcar or, on leaving, have reached a place of safety. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1105 (H.B. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. (2) the operator is subject to a fine if the operator uses a portable wireless communication device for electronic messaging while operating a motor vehicle in this state. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 2837), Sec. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY AND PASSING. 165, Sec. (c) A passenger vehicle or a seat in a passenger vehicle is considered to be equipped with a safety belt if the vehicle is required under Section 547.601 to be equipped with safety belts. (e) An investigating peace officer who has probable cause to believe that a charge against an individual for a violation of Section 545.251, 545.252, 545.253, 545.254, or 545.255 is justified may: (1) prepare a written notice to appear in court that complies with Sections 543.003, 543.006, and 543.007; and. Now this seems like nonsense to me. (b) An operator may not back the vehicle on a shoulder or roadway of a limited-access or controlled-access highway. 165, Sec. The commissioners court shall use each license or permit fee to pay salaries and expenses of the sheriff's office for conducting inspections to determine compliance with the ordinance and laws relating to dealers in scrap metal and salvage. of a freeway in a metropolitan area and each vehicle involved can be normally and FM 19-25 Chptr 8 Responsibilities - GlobalSecurity.org September 1, 2021. RIDING ON MOTORCYCLE OR MOPED. (b) An operator of a vehicle or equipment may not move on or across a track at a railroad grade crossing unless the operator has given notice to a station agent of the railroad and given the railroad reasonable time to provide proper protection at the crossing. A collection of Texas statutes, administrative rules, and proposed rules relating to the regulation of Motorcycle and ATV Operator Safety in Texas . 1, eff. Texas Traffic Laws - Find Laws, Legal Information, and Attorneys - FindLaw (c) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under this section that the operator used a portable wireless communication device: (1) in conjunction with a hands-free device, as defined by Section 545.425; (2) to navigate using a global positioning system or navigation system; (3) to report illegal activity, summon emergency help, or enter information into a software application that provides information relating to traffic and road conditions to users of the application; (4) to read an electronic message that the person reasonably believed concerned an emergency; (5) that was permanently or temporarily affixed to the vehicle to relay information in the course of the operator's occupational duties between the operator and: (B) a digital network or software application service; or. (f) The department shall remove traffic control devices erected under this section if the lane restriction is rescinded under Subsection (d) or expires under Subsection (e). | https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/transportation-code/transp-sect-550-022/. Sept. 1, 1997. (3)remain at the scene of the accident until the operator complies with the requirements Sec. DEFINITIONS. METHOD OF GIVING HAND AND ARM SIGNALS. 3026), Sec. A municipality by ordinance may restrict, by class of vehicle, through traffic to two or more designated lanes of a highway in the municipality. September 1, 2011. (c) Subsection (b) does not apply to trailers, semitrailers, or house trailers that are equipped with safety chains installed by the original manufacturer before the effective date of the rules. 1042, Sec. Sept. 1, 1995. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. (b) Unless directed to proceed by a police officer or official traffic-control device, an operator approaching an intersection on a roadway controlled by a stop sign, after stopping as required by Section 544.010, shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that has entered the intersection from another highway or that is approaching so closely as to be an immediate hazard to the operator's movement in or across the intersection. (d) The authority's power to alter prima facie speed limits is effective and exclusive on any part of a turnpike project constructed and maintained by the authority inside and outside the limits of a municipality, including a home-rule municipality. (d) The owner of a vehicle that is removed or stored under this section is liable for all reasonable towing and storage fees incurred. 2, eff. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 3483), Sec. (c) An operator of a vehicle who approaches a railroad grade crossing equipped with railroad crossbuck signs without automatic, electric, or mechanical signal devices, crossing gates, or a flagger warning of the approach or passage of a train or other on-track equipment shall yield the right-of-way to a train or other on-track equipment in hazardous proximity to the crossing, and proceed at a speed that is reasonable for the existing conditions. (c) On a street or roadway designated for two-way traffic, the operator turning left shall, to the extent practicable, turn in the portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 545.4252. 545.254. No reflector or light on the back of a bicycle or moped at night. (B) one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same place to the same place, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of the vehicle or vehicles in a specified distance or time. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. (3) may not proceed until the operator determines that the course is clear. (b) For purposes of this section, a person: (1) has notice if a sign stating the prohibited activity and penalty is posted on the premises; or. June 14, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 545.425. DUTY ON STRIKING UNATTENDED VEHICLE. 2, eff. (1) a vehicle owned by a utility that an employee of the utility who is on call 24 hours a day parks at the employee's residence; or. September 1, 2007. 1, eff. 1, eff. 7. Sept. 1, 1999. September 1, 2015. (a) A person may not operate a school bus if: (1) the door of the school bus is open; or. 216 (H.B. Sec. 165, Sec. (2) receives notice that the activity is prohibited but does not depart or remove the structure within eight hours after receiving notice. Sec. (b) An operator on a single-lane or two-lane street or roadway who approaches an intersection that is not controlled by an official traffic-control device and that is located on a divided highway or on a street or roadway divided into three or more marked traffic lanes: (1) shall stop, yield, and grant immediate use of the intersection to a vehicle on the other street or roadway that is within the intersection or approaching the intersection in such proximity as to be a hazard; and. 548), Sec. September 1, 2013. DRAWBARS AND TRAILER HITCHES; SADDLE-MOUNT TOWING. Action Date Notice; Texas Admin Code Ch. This subsection does not apply where a local ordinance otherwise regulates stopping or parking on the one-way roadway. (2) after stopping, may proceed when the intersection can be safely entered without interference or collision with traffic using the paved street or roadway. 4, eff. 663 (H.B. In this subchapter: (1) "Automated driving system" means hardware and software that, when installed on a motor vehicle and engaged, are collectively capable of performing, without any intervention or supervision by a human operator: (A) all aspects of the entire dynamic driving task for the vehicle on a sustained basis; and. September 1, 2011. 3282), Sec. AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION. (2) after stopping, may proceed when the intersection can be safely entered without interference or collision with the traffic using the other street or roadway. (d) After a district engineer temporarily lowers a speed limit under this section, the Texas Department of Transportation shall: (1) place and maintain at the maintenance activity site temporary speed limit signs that conform to the manual and specifications adopted under Section 544.001; (2) temporarily conceal all other signs on the highway or part of a highway affected by the maintenance activity that give notice of a speed limit that would permit a person to operate a motor vehicle at a higher rate of speed; and.