By Shapiro S.B. No. 1228
75R7491 JD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the requirement that the operator of a motor vehicle
1-3 possess a driver's license and evidence of financial responsibility
1-4 for the vehicle.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Sections 521.025(d) and (e), Transportation Code,
1-7 are amended to read as follows:
1-8 (d) A judge may dismiss a charge [It is a defense to
1-9 prosecution] under this section if the person charged produces in
1-10 court a driver's license:
1-11 (1) issued to that person;
1-12 (2) appropriate for the type of vehicle operated; and
1-13 (3) valid at the time of the arrest for the offense.
1-14 (e) The judge who dismisses a charge under Subsection (d)
1-15 may impose on the defendant an administrative fee not to exceed
1-16 $10.
1-17 (f) The judge of each court shall report promptly to the
1-18 department each conviction obtained in the court under this
1-19 section.
1-20 SECTION 2. Section 601.053, Transportation Code, is amended
1-21 by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
1-22 (c) A person commits an offense if the person fails or
1-23 refuses to provide the evidence of financial responsibility as
1-24 required by Subsection (a). An offense under this subsection is a
2-1 Class C misdemeanor.
2-2 (d) A judge may:
2-3 (1) dismiss a charge under Subsection (c) if the
2-4 defendant produces in court evidence of financial responsibility
2-5 for the vehicle being operated at the time of the offense that was
2-6 valid at the time that the offense is alleged to have occurred; and
2-7 (2) impose on the defendant an administrative fee not
2-8 to exceed $10.
2-9 SECTION 3. Section 601.191, Transportation Code, is amended
2-10 by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
2-11 (e) A judge may:
2-12 (1) dismiss a charge under this section if the
2-13 defendant produces in court evidence of financial responsibility
2-14 for the vehicle being operated at the time of the offense that was
2-15 valid at the time that the offense is alleged to have occurred; and
2-16 (2) impose on the defendant an administrative fee not
2-17 to exceed $10.
2-18 SECTION 4. Section 601.193, Transportation Code, is
2-19 repealed.
2-20 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. The
2-21 change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense
2-22 committed on or after September 1, 1997. An offense committed
2-23 before September 1, 1997, is covered by the law in effect when the
2-24 offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect
2-25 for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was
2-26 committed before September 1, 1997, if any element of the offense
2-27 occurred before that date.
3-1 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
3-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.