Bill Text: TX HB479 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the governing body of a local authority to impose a civil penalty for certain violations recorded by an automated traffic control system or a photographic traffic signal enforcement system.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-16 - Referred to Transportation [HB479 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB479-Introduced.html

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85R1027 AJZ-D
By: Metcalf H.B. No. 479

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the governing body of a local authority
to impose a civil penalty for certain violations recorded by an
automated traffic control system or a photographic traffic signal
enforcement system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 542.2035, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 542.2035. AUTOMATED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
PROHIBITED [LIMITATION ON MUNICIPALITIES]. (a) A local authority
[municipality] may not implement or operate an automated traffic
control system with respect to a highway or street under its
jurisdiction [for the purpose of enforcing compliance with posted
speed limits]. The attorney general shall enforce this subsection.
(b) In this section, "automated traffic control system"
means a system consisting of a photographic device, radar device,
laser device, or other electrical or mechanical device that
[designed to]:
(1) is capable of producing one or more recorded
photographic or digital images depicting the license plate attached
to the front or rear of a motor vehicle that is not operated in
compliance with a posted speed limit or the instructions of a
traffic-control signal; and
(2) is used by the local authority to enforce
compliance with a posted speed limit or the instructions of a
traffic-control signal by imposition of a civil or administrative
penalty against the owner or operator of the motor vehicle [record
the speed of a motor vehicle; and
[(2) obtain one or more photographs or other recorded
images of:
[(A) the vehicle;
[(B) the license plate attached to the vehicle;
or
[(C) the operator of the vehicle].
SECTION 2. Section 27.031(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction and powers provided by
the constitution and other law, the justice court has original
jurisdiction of:
(1) civil matters in which exclusive jurisdiction is
not in the district or county court and in which the amount in
controversy is not more than $10,000, exclusive of interest;
(2) cases of forcible entry and detainer; and
(3) foreclosure of mortgages and enforcement of liens
on personal property in cases in which the amount in controversy is
otherwise within the justice court's jurisdiction[; and
[(4) cases arising under Chapter 707, Transportation
Code, outside a municipality's territorial limits].
SECTION 3. Section 780.003(b), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The account is composed of money deposited to the credit
of the account under [Sections 542.406 and 707.008, Transportation
Code, and under] Section 780.002 [of this code].
SECTION 4. Section 133.004, Local Government Code, as
amended by Chapters 718 (H.B. 2359), 1027 (H.B. 1623), and 1149
(S.B. 1119), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007,
is reenacted and amended to read as follows:
Sec. 133.004. CIVIL FEES. This chapter applies to the
following civil fees:
(1) the consolidated fee on filing in district court
imposed under Section 133.151;
(2) the filing fee in district court for basic civil
legal services for indigents imposed under Section 133.152;
(3) the filing fee in courts other than district court
for basic civil legal services for indigents imposed under Section
133.153;
(4) the filing fees for the judicial fund imposed in
certain statutory county courts under Section 51.702, Government
Code;
(5) the filing fees for the judicial fund imposed in
certain county courts under Section 51.703, Government Code;
(6) the filing fees for the judicial fund imposed in
[certain] statutory probate courts under Section 51.704,
Government Code;
(7) fees collected under Section 118.015;
(8) marriage license fees for the family trust fund
collected under Section 118.018;
(9) marriage license or declaration of informal
marriage fees for the child abuse and neglect prevention trust fund
account collected under Section 118.022; and
(10) the filing fee for the judicial fund imposed in
district court, statutory county court, and county court under
Section 133.154[; and
[(11) the portion of the civil or administrative
penalty described by Section 542.406(c)(1), Transportation Code,
imposed by a local authority to enforce compliance with the
instructions of a traffic-control signal;
[(11) the portion of the civil or administrative
penalty described by Section 707.008(a)(1), Transportation Code,
imposed by a local authority to enforce compliance with the
instructions of a traffic-control signal].
SECTION 5. The following laws are repealed:
(1) Section 29.003(g), Government Code;
(2) Sections 542.405, 542.406, and 544.012,
Transportation Code; and
(3) Chapter 707, Transportation Code.
SECTION 6. (a) The repeal by this Act of Sections 542.405
and 542.406 and Chapter 707, Transportation Code, does not affect
the validity of a proceeding initiated or a civil penalty imposed
under those provisions before the effective date of this Act. A
proceeding initiated or a civil penalty imposed under those
provisions before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
applicable law in effect before the effective date of this Act, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of Sections
542.405 and 542.406 and Chapter 707, Transportation Code, if before
June 1, 2017, a local authority had enacted an ordinance under those
provisions to implement a photographic traffic signal enforcement
system and entered into a contract for the administration and
enforcement of the system, the local authority may continue to
operate the system under that ordinance and under the terms of that
contract until the expiration date specified in the contract as the
contract existed on June 1, 2017.
SECTION 7. 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, 2017.