| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the offense of the unauthorized use of parking |
|
|
designated for persons with disabilities. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 681.011, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Subsections (f-1) and (f-2) to read as follows: |
|
|
(f-1) It is not a defense to prosecution for an offense |
|
|
under Subsection (a) or (b) that the parking space or area |
|
|
designated specifically for persons with disabilities is not |
|
|
designated in compliance with the standards and specifications |
|
|
referred to in Section 681.009(b) if the parking space or area is |
|
|
generally in compliance with those standards and specifications and |
|
|
is clearly distinguishable as being designated specifically for |
|
|
persons with disabilities. |
|
|
(f-2) A peace officer may issue a warning but may not issue a |
|
|
citation for an offense under Subsection (a) or (b) to a person who |
|
|
stands a vehicle in a parking space or area designated specifically |
|
|
for persons with disabilities that does not have a parking space |
|
|
identification sign identifying the parking space in accordance |
|
|
with the requirements of the standards and specifications referred |
|
|
to in Section 681.009(b). |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
|
|
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
|
|
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
|
|
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
|
|
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
|
|
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
|
|
before that date. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |