By Danburg                                             H.B. No. 536
       74R2035 DWS-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the penalty for exceeding a maximum prima facie speed
    1-3  limit by operators of certain motor vehicles.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article XIX, Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on
    1-6  Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended
    1-7  by adding Section 172A to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 172A.  PENALTY FOR SPEEDING IN CERTAIN VEHICLES.  An
    1-9  offense of exceeding a maximum prima facie speed limit is
   1-10  punishable by a fine of not less than $200 or more than $2,000 if
   1-11  the defendant committed the offense while operating a motor vehicle
   1-12  or combination of motor vehicles used to transport passengers or
   1-13  property that:
   1-14              (1)  has a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or
   1-15  more pounds, including a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight
   1-16  rating of more than 10,000 pounds;
   1-17              (2)  has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or
   1-18  more pounds;
   1-19              (3)  is designed to transport 16 or more passengers,
   1-20  including the driver; or
   1-21              (4)  is transporting hazardous materials and is
   1-22  required to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F.
   1-23        SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies
   1-24  only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
    2-1  Act.  For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before
    2-2  the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
    2-3  before that date.
    2-4        (b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this
    2-5  Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
    2-6  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
    2-7        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
    2-8        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-9  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-10  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-11  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-12  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.