New Texas Traffic Laws to Go Into Effect Sept 1, 2009
Just wanted everyone to be aware of some new Texas Department of Public Safety related traffic laws approved by the legislature. I’ve listed a couple that I thought were pretty interesting and could cost you some money if caught. Be careful out there and drive safe.
HB 537 requires all occupants of a vehicle, no matter their age, to be secured by a safety belt, no matter where they are seated in the vehicle; changes the definition of a passenger vehicle to include a passenger van designed to transport 15 or fewer passengers including the driver; removes the current exemption for third-party Medicaid transportation provisions regarding the use of child passenger safety seats; and prohibits a motorcycle operator from carrying a passenger under the age of 5 unless the child is seated in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle.
SB 61 amends the existing statute regarding child passenger safety seats. The bill requires that any child younger than 8 years of age be restrained in an approved child passenger safety seat unless the child is at least 4 feet, 9 inches in height. The fine is no more than $25 for a first offense and $250 for a second offense. The law also creates a new court cost for conviction of an offense under this section to be collected and used by TxDOT to buy safety seats for low income families. The law becomes effective on Sept. 1, 2009, but tickets for this offense cannot be issued until June 1, 2010. Police officers are allowed to issue a warning before that date.
HB 55 makes it illegal to use a wireless communication device in a school zone unless the vehicle is stopped or a hands-free device is used. Cities or counties wanting to enforce this law must post a sign at the beginning of each school zone to inform drivers that using a wireless communications device is prohibited and the operator is subject to a fine. It is a defense to prosecution if the operator was making an emergency call.
HB 558 allows minors to be charged with public intoxication.
SB 554 makes it illegal to own or possess dog-fighting equipment and establishes that such equipment and property where dogs are found to be engaged in dog fighting is contraband and is subject to forfeiture. The law also makes dog-fighting subject to the elevated penalties authorized in the Texas Penal Code, Section 71.02(a), in an effort to deter organized criminal activity. (Thanks Mike)
Comments
3 Comments on New Texas Traffic Laws to Go Into Effect Sept 1, 2009
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Jean on
Tue, 25th Aug 2009 10:16 pm
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Teri on
Thu, 27th Aug 2009 3:20 pm
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theo.johnson on
Fri, 28th Aug 2009 9:27 am
My mother in law is quite large and doesn’t fit in the seatbelts in the back seat…Will the police really give her a ticket. She never sits in the front seat because my husband is handicap and has to sit there. Can I do something to get her overlooked if we are ever stopped?
Jean,
You will need to get a seatbelt extender. Your mother-in-law should use it.
Thanks Teri for answering the question. I think that’s what I’ve heard also. I don’t know how the cops would know either way, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
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