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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of a portable wireless communication device |
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while operating a motor vehicle; increasing a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 545.4251(e), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor |
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punishable by a fine of at least $100 [$25] and not more than $200 |
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[$99] unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the |
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defendant has been previously convicted at least one time of an |
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offense under this section, in which event the offense is |
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punishable by a fine of at least $200 [$100] and not more than $300 |
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[$200]. |
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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 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |