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.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2469 was passed by the House on May

         2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2469 was passed by the Senate on May

         26, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor