1-1 By: Seaman (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.B. No. 1147
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 1999;
1-3 April 27, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on State
1-4 Affairs; May 10, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 10, 1999,
1-6 sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1147 By: Shapleigh
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to lighting and red flag requirements for certain vehicles
1-11 with extended loads.
1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13 SECTION 1. Section 622.042, Transportation Code, is amended
1-14 to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 622.042. TIME OF OPERATION; DISPLAY OF FLAG, CLOTH, OR
1-16 STROBE LIGHT. (a) A vehicle subject to this subchapter may be
1-17 operated only during daytime.
1-18 (b) In this section, "daytime" has the meaning assigned by
1-19 Section 541.401.
1-20 (c) A red flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square or a
1-21 strobe light must be displayed at the rear of the load carried on
1-22 the vehicle so that the light or the entire area of the flag or
1-23 cloth is visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the
1-24 rear.
1-25 SECTION 2. The section heading to Section 622.052,
1-26 Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-27 Sec. 622.052. TIME OF OPERATION; SPEED; LIGHTING
1-28 REQUIREMENTS [DISPLAY OF FLAG OR CLOTH].
1-29 SECTION 3. Section 622.052(b), Transportation Code, is
1-30 amended to read as follows:
1-31 (b) A vehicle to which this subchapter applies shall display
1-32 on the extreme end of the load:
1-33 (1) two red lamps visible at a distance of at least
1-34 500 feet from the rear;
1-35 (2) two red reflectors that indicate the maximum width
1-36 and are visible, when light is insufficient or atmospheric
1-37 conditions are unfavorable, at all distances from 100 to 600 feet
1-38 from the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of
1-39 headlamps; and
1-40 (3) two red lamps, one on each side, that indicate the
1-41 maximum overhang and are visible at a distance of at least 500 feet
1-42 from the side. [A red flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square
1-43 must be displayed at the rear of the load carried on the vehicle so
1-44 that the entire area is visible to the driver of a vehicle
1-45 approaching from the rear.]
1-46 SECTION 4. The section heading to Section 622.062,
1-47 Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
1-48 Sec. 622.062. TIME OF OPERATION; LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS
1-49 [DISPLAY OF FLAG OR CLOTH].
1-50 SECTION 5. Section 622.062(b), Transportation Code, is
1-51 amended to read as follows:
1-52 (b) A vehicle to which this subchapter applies shall display
1-53 on the extreme end of the load:
1-54 (1) two red lamps visible at a distance of at least
1-55 500 feet from the rear;
1-56 (2) two red reflectors that indicate the maximum width
1-57 and are visible, when light is insufficient or atmospheric
1-58 conditions are unfavorable, at all distances from 100 to 600 feet
1-59 from the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of
1-60 headlamps; and
1-61 (3) two red lamps, one on each side, that indicate the
1-62 maximum overhang and are visible at a distance of at least 500 feet
1-63 from the side. [A strobe light or red flag or cloth not less than
1-64 12 inches square must be displayed at the rear of the load carried
2-1 on the vehicle so that the light or the entire area of the flag or
2-2 cloth is visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching from the
2-3 rear.]
2-4 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
2-5 applies only to the operation of a motor vehicle occurring on or
2-6 after that date. A vehicle operated before the effective date of
2-7 this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time of operation,
2-8 and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose.
2-9 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
2-14 * * * * *