Bill Text: TX SB47 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study concerning enforcement of following distance laws in this state.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-26 - Referred to Transportation [SB47 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB47-Introduced.html
| 84R1269 JRR-F | ||
| By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 47 | |
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| relating to a study concerning enforcement of following distance | ||
| laws in this state. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Subchapter Z to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | ||
| Sec. 411.951. STUDY AND REPORT ON FOLLOWING DISTANCE | ||
| ENFORCEMENT. (a) The department shall conduct a study of the | ||
| incidence of, and costs associated with, drivers' failure to | ||
| maintain safe following distance as required by Section 545.062, | ||
| Transportation Code. At a minimum, the study must: | ||
| (1) determine whether current enforcement methods | ||
| adequately deter violations of Section 545.062, Transportation | ||
| Code; and | ||
| (2) make recommendations concerning ways to enhance | ||
| enforcement methods, if the department determines that current | ||
| enforcement methods are inadequate. | ||
| (b) In conducting the study described by Subsection (a), the | ||
| department may consider the use of technologies such as laser, | ||
| radar, or other electronic or mechanical devices that would enable | ||
| peace officers to measure the distance between two or more motor | ||
| vehicles in motion. | ||
| (c) Not later than January 15, 2017, the department shall | ||
| submit a report on the results of the study conducted under this | ||
| section to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of | ||
| representatives, and the presiding officer of each standing | ||
| committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over transportation | ||
| matters. The report must: | ||
| (1) describe the impact that the recommendations made | ||
| under Subsection (a)(2), if any, have, or are predicted to have, on | ||
| the incidence of unsafe following distance in this state; and | ||
| (2) include recommendations for proposed legislation | ||
| appropriate to regulate or mitigate the use of the technologies | ||
| described by Subsection (b), if the recommendations made under | ||
| Subsection (a)(2) include the use of technologies described by | ||
| Subsection (b). | ||
| (d) This section expires August 31, 2017. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
