1-1 By: McReynolds, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ratliff) H.B. No. 2469 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 1997; 1-3 May 6, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on State 1-4 Affairs; May 16, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 13, Nays 0; May 16, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the operation of vehicles transporting timber or timber 1-9 products and to the operation of vehicles transporting poles or 1-10 pipe. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 622, Transportation Code, 1-13 is amended by adding Section 622.0435 to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 622.0435. VEHICLES TRANSPORTING RAW WOOD PRODUCTS. (a) 1-15 The width, height, and gross weight of a vehicle or combination of 1-16 vehicles subject to this subchapter that is transporting raw wood 1-17 products shall conform to Chapters 621 and 623, except that when it 1-18 is necessary to transport the load, the distance between axles on a 1-19 vehicle may be shortened by not more than 12 feet for gross weight 1-20 determinations. 1-21 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Subsection 1-22 (a) does not authorize the operation of a vehicle or combination of 1-23 vehicles subject to this subchapter that is transporting raw wood 1-24 products on a bridge with a load limitation at a weight that 1-25 exceeds that limitation. 1-26 SECTION 2. Section 622.062(b), Transportation Code, is 1-27 amended to read as follows: 1-28 (b) A strobe light or red flag or cloth not less than 12 1-29 inches square must be displayed at the rear of the load carried on 1-30 the vehicle so that the light or the entire area of the flag or 1-31 cloth is visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the 1-32 rear. 1-33 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 1-34 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 1-35 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-36 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-37 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-38 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-39 * * * * *