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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an offense for certain uses of a |
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wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 545.425, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b-1) A municipality, county, or other political |
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subdivision that enforces Subsection (b) [this section] shall post |
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a sign that complies with the standards described by this |
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subsection at the entrance to each school crossing zone in the |
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municipality, county, or other political subdivision. The |
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department shall adopt standards that: |
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(1) allow for a sign required to be posted under this |
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subsection to be attached to an existing sign at a minimal cost; and |
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(2) require that a sign required to be posted under |
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this subsection inform an operator that: |
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(A) the use of a wireless communication device is |
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prohibited in the school crossing zone; and |
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(B) the operator is subject to a fine if the |
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operator uses a wireless communication device in the school |
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crossing zone. |
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(c-1) An operator may not use a wireless communication |
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device to read, write, or send a text-based communication while |
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operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped. |
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SECTION 2. 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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governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and |
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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 was |
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committed before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |