73R1188 DRH-F By De La Garza H.B. No. 116 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to law enforcement efforts to prevent transportation of 1-3 stolen vehicles and heavy equipment into Mexico and to prevent 1-4 theft of vehicles and heavy equipment. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Section 411.0095 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 411.0095. LOCAL COOPERATION FOR VEHICLE THEFT 1-9 CHECKPOINTS. (a) The department may establish a program in 1-10 conjunction with local law enforcement authorities for the purpose 1-11 of establishing checkpoints to prevent stolen vehicles, farm 1-12 tractors or implements, or construction equipment from entering 1-13 Mexico. 1-14 (b) A checkpoint may be established for the purpose of 1-15 preventing stolen vehicles, farm tractors or implements, or 1-16 construction equipment from entering Mexico if the checkpoint is: 1-17 (1) located within one-half mile of the Mexican 1-18 border; 1-19 (2) located on a public or private highway or street 1-20 leading to the Mexican border; and 1-21 (3) designed to stop only traffic bound for Mexico or 1-22 in close proximity to the Mexican border. 1-23 (c) The department and local law enforcement authorities may 1-24 share the cost of staffing the checkpoints. 2-1 (d) In this section, "vehicle" has the meaning assigned by 2-2 Section 2, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (Article 2-3 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). 2-4 SECTION 2. Article XIII, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on 2-5 Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended 2-6 by adding Section 107F to read as follows: 2-7 Sec. 107F. PROOF OF OWNERSHIP REQUIRED FOR VEHICLE NEAR 2-8 MEXICAN BORDER. On the demand of a peace officer within one-half 2-9 mile of the Mexican border, a driver of a vehicle shall produce a 2-10 registration receipt, certificate of title, or other evidence 2-11 proving that the driver is the owner of the vehicle or authorized 2-12 by the owner to drive the vehicle. 2-13 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993. 2-14 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.