By McReynolds H.B. No. 2469 75R7063 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. Section 622.043, Transportation Code, is amended 1-7 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 622.043. CONFORMITY WITH GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO 1-9 VEHICLE SIZE AND WEIGHT. The width, height, and gross weight of a 1-10 vehicle or combination of vehicles subject to this subchapter shall 1-11 conform to Chapter 621, except when it is necessary to shorten the 1-12 distance between any two axles on a vehicle to safely transport the 1-13 load. 1-14 SECTION 2. Section 622.062(b), Transportation Code, is 1-15 amended to read as follows: 1-16 (b) A strobe light or red flag or cloth not less than 12 1-17 inches square must be displayed at the rear of the load carried on 1-18 the vehicle so that the light or the entire area of the flag or 1-19 cloth is visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the 1-20 rear. 1-21 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-22 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.