By McReynolds, Christian, Glaze, Telford H.B. No. 2469 75R12088 JD-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the operation of vehicles transporting timber or timber 1-3 products and to the operation of vehicles transporting poles or 1-4 pipe. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 622, Transportation Code, 1-7 is amended by adding Section 622.0435 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 622.0435. VEHICLES TRANSPORTING RAW WOOD PRODUCTS. (a) 1-9 The width, height, and gross weight of a vehicle or combination of 1-10 vehicles subject to this subchapter that is transporting raw wood 1-11 products shall conform to Chapters 621 and 623, except that when it 1-12 is necessary to transport the load, the distance between axles on a 1-13 vehicle may be shortened by not more than 12 feet for gross weight 1-14 determinations. 1-15 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Subsection 1-16 (a) does not authorize the operation of a vehicle or combination of 1-17 vehicles subject to this subchapter that is transporting raw wood 1-18 products on a bridge with a load limitation at a weight that 1-19 exceeds that limitation. 1-20 SECTION 2. Section 622.062(b), Transportation Code, is 1-21 amended to read as follows: 1-22 (b) A strobe light or red flag or cloth not less than 12 1-23 inches square must be displayed at the rear of the load carried on 1-24 the vehicle so that the light or the entire area of the flag or 2-1 cloth is visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the 2-2 rear. 2-3 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-4 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.