1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to raising the speed limit for vehicles towing certain 1-3 trailers. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 545.352(b), Transportation Code, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 (b) Unless a special hazard exists that requires a slower 1-8 speed for compliance with Section 545.351(b), the following speeds 1-9 are lawful: 1-10 (1) 30 miles per hour in an urban district on a street 1-11 other than an alley and 15 miles per hour in an alley; 1-12 (2) 70 miles per hour in daytime and 65 miles per hour 1-13 in nighttime if the vehicle is a passenger car, motorcycle, 1-14 passenger car or light truck towing a trailer bearing a vessel, as 1-15 defined by Section 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code, that is less 1-16 than 26 feet in length, passenger car or light truck towing a 1-17 trailer or semitrailer used primarily to transport a motorcycle, or 1-18 passenger car or light truck towing a trailer or semitrailer 1-19 designed and used primarily to transport dogs or livestock, on a 1-20 highway numbered by this state or the United States outside an 1-21 urban district, including a farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road; 1-22 (3) 60 miles per hour in daytime and 55 miles per hour 1-23 in nighttime if the vehicle is a passenger car or motorcycle on a 1-24 highway that is outside an urban district and not a highway 2-1 numbered by this state or the United States; 2-2 (4) 60 miles per hour outside an urban district if a 2-3 speed limit for the vehicle is not otherwise specified by this 2-4 section; or 2-5 (5) outside an urban district: 2-6 (A) 50 miles per hour if the vehicle is a school 2-7 bus on a highway other than an interstate highway; 2-8 (B) 55 miles per hour if the vehicle is a school 2-9 bus on an interstate highway; or 2-10 (C) 60 miles per hour in daytime and 55 miles 2-11 per hour in nighttime if the vehicle is a truck, other than a light 2-12 truck, or if the vehicle is a truck tractor, trailer, or 2-13 semitrailer, or a vehicle towing a trailer other than a trailer 2-14 described by Subdivision (2), semitrailer, another motor vehicle or 2-15 towable recreational vehicle. 2-16 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-17 The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense 2-18 committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes 2-19 of this section, an offense is committed before the effective date 2-20 of this Act if any element of the offense occurs before that date. 2-21 (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this 2-22 Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 2-23 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. 2-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-27 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-1 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. 1075 was passed by the House on April 23, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1075 was passed by the Senate on May 20, 1999, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor