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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the definitions of highway maintenance and service |
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vehicles for purposes of certain provisions governing vehicle |
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equipment. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 547.001, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subdivisions (2-b) and (6-a) to read as follows: |
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(2-b) "Highway maintenance vehicle" means a highway or |
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traffic maintenance vehicle designated by the Texas Department of |
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Transportation. The term includes equipment for: |
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(A) road maintenance, including: |
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(i) equipment for snow removal, line |
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striping, skid resistance testing, sweeping, and spraying; |
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(ii) aerial platform lift machines; and |
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(iii) road profiler machines; and |
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(B) off-road use, including motor graders, road |
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rollers, excavators, pneumatic tire equipment, movers, and |
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tractors. |
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(6-a) "Service vehicle" means a highway or traffic |
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maintenance vehicle that: |
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(A) is owned and operated on a highway by or for a |
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governmental agency and performs a function requiring the use of a |
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lamp or illuminating device in accordance with the standards and |
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specifications adopted under Section 547.105; or |
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(B) has a public service function, including |
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public utility vehicles, tow trucks, and any vehicle designated as |
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a service vehicle by the Texas Department of Transportation or as an |
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escort flag vehicle under Section 623.099. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 547.105, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 547.105. MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE VEHICLE [EQUIPMENT] |
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LIGHTING STANDARDS. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 547.105(a) and (b), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Texas Department of Transportation shall adopt |
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standards and specifications that: |
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(1) apply to lamps on highway maintenance and service |
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vehicles [equipment, including snow-removal equipment]; and |
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(2) correlate with and conform as closely as possible |
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to standards and specifications approved by the American |
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Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. |
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(b) The Texas Department of Transportation may adopt |
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standards and specifications for lighting that permit the use of |
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flashing lights for identification purposes on highway maintenance |
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and service vehicles [equipment, including snow-removal
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equipment]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 547.305(e), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) A person may not operate a highway maintenance or |
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service vehicle [equipment, including snow-removal equipment,] |
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that is not equipped with lamps or that does not display lighted |
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lamps as required by the standards and specifications adopted by |
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the Texas Department of Transportation. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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