SRC-AXB S.B. 450 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 450 By: Armbrister State Affairs 6/22/1999 Enrolled DIGEST Currently, the Transportation Code requires certain markings and legible information to be displayed on certain commercial motor vehicles. The law is intended to require tow truck operators to display the motor carrier registration number, and the name and address of the owner or operator of the vehicle. However, the language unintentionally covers all other kinds of commercial motor vehicles. The enforcement of this law was upheld after being called into question. This bill clarifies the required information to be displayed by certain vehicles. S.B. 450 also creates offenses for the failure to display information which complies with the specifications of 49 C.F.R. Section 390.21, and a specific offense for a tow truck operator who fails to show legible contact information. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 450 clarifies and creates offenses for the failure to display required markings and information on certain vehicles. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 642.002, Transportation Code, to provide that the owner of a certain vehicle commits an offense by failing to display identifying markings on the vehicle's power unit which comply with 49 C.F.R. Section 390. Deletes the requirement to show a vehicle owner's address. Creates Subsection (b) relating to the offense a tow truck owner or operator commits by failing to show the city and complete telephone number of the business in clearly legible letters and numbers on either side of the power unit. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.