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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to vehicles passing a highway construction worker; |
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providing a penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 545.157, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 545.157. PASSING AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE, TOW |
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TRUCK, OR CONSTRUCTION WORKER. |
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SECTION 2. Section 545.157(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) On approaching a stationary authorized emergency |
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vehicle using visual signals that meet the requirements of Sections |
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547.305 and 547.702, [or] a stationary tow truck using equipment |
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authorized by Section 547.305(d), or a construction worker working |
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on a highway construction project, an operator, unless otherwise |
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directed by a police officer, shall: |
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(1) vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, |
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[or] tow truck, or construction worker when driving on a highway |
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with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency |
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vehicle, [or] tow truck, or construction worker; or |
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(2) slow to a speed not to exceed: |
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(A) 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed |
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limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or more; or |
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(B) five miles per hour when the posted speed |
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limit is less than 25 miles per hour. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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covered by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |