By Driver H.B. No. 1152
76R3535 JD-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the authority of a municipality to implement a
1-3 photographic traffic-control system; providing for imposition of a
1-4 civil penalty.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subtitle I, Title 7, Transportation Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Chapter 707 to read as follows:
1-8 CHAPTER 707. PHOTOGRAPHIC TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL
1-9 MONITORING SYSTEM
1-10 Sec. 707.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-11 (1) "Owner of a motor vehicle" means the owner of a
1-12 motor vehicle as shown on the motor vehicle registration records of
1-13 the Texas Department of Transportation or the analogous department
1-14 or agency of another state or country.
1-15 (2) "Photographic traffic-control signal monitoring
1-16 system" means a system that uses one or more motor vehicle sensors
1-17 in conjunction with a traffic-control signal that is capable of
1-18 producing at least two recorded images of a motor vehicle that is
1-19 facing only a steady red signal displayed by a traffic-control
1-20 signal and that is operated in violation of Section 544.007(d).
1-21 (3) "Recorded image" means an image that:
1-22 (A) depicts the rear of a motor vehicle; and
1-23 (B) is automatically recorded on any medium,
1-24 including:
2-1 (i) a photograph;
2-2 (ii) a microphotograph;
2-3 (iii) an electronic image; or
2-4 (iv) a videotape.
2-5 (4) "Traffic-control signal" has the meaning assigned
2-6 by Section 541.304.
2-7 Sec. 707.002. AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT PHOTOGRAPHIC
2-8 TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL MONITORING SYSTEM. The governing body of a
2-9 municipality by ordinance may implement a photographic
2-10 traffic-control signal monitoring system and provide that the owner
2-11 of a motor vehicle is liable for a civil penalty if, while facing
2-12 only a steady red signal displayed by an electrically operated
2-13 traffic-control signal located in the municipality, the vehicle is
2-14 operated in violation of the instructions of that traffic-control
2-15 signal, as specified by Section 544.007(d).
2-16 Sec. 707.003. INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC
2-17 TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL MONITORING SYSTEM. A municipality that
2-18 implements a photographic traffic-control signal monitoring system
2-19 under this chapter may:
2-20 (1) install and operate the system; or
2-21 (2) contract for the installation or operation of the
2-22 system.
2-23 Sec. 707.004. RECORDED IMAGE REQUIRED TO DEPICT LICENSE
2-24 PLATE. (a) A municipality may not install or operate a
2-25 photographic traffic-control signal monitoring system under this
2-26 chapter unless the system is capable of clearly depicting on a
2-27 recorded image made by the system the registration number on a
3-1 license plate attached to the rear of a motor vehicle.
3-2 (b) The department, agency, or office of the municipality
3-3 designated under Section 707.006 may not issue a citation or
3-4 summons under this chapter unless one or more of the recorded
3-5 images of the vehicle involved in the violation clearly depicts the
3-6 registration number on the license plate attached to the rear of
3-7 the motor vehicle.
3-8 Sec. 707.005. AMOUNT OF CIVIL PENALTY. An ordinance
3-9 adopted under this chapter must prescribe the amount of the civil
3-10 penalty. The amount of the civil penalty may not be greater than
3-11 $75.
3-12 Sec. 707.006. DESIGNATION OF ENFORCING AND ADMINISTERING
3-13 DEPARTMENT, AGENCY, OR OFFICE. (a) An ordinance adopted under
3-14 this chapter shall specify the department, agency, or office of the
3-15 municipality responsible for the enforcement and administration of
3-16 this chapter.
3-17 (b) The ordinance may, but is not required to, designate the
3-18 police department of the municipality as the department responsible
3-19 for the enforcement or administration of this chapter.
3-20 Sec. 707.007. EFFECT ON OTHER ENFORCEMENT. (a) The
3-21 implementation of a photographic traffic-control signal monitoring
3-22 system by a municipality under this chapter does not:
3-23 (1) preclude the application or enforcement in the
3-24 municipality of Section 544.007(d) in the manner prescribed by
3-25 Chapter 543; or
3-26 (2) prohibit a peace officer from arresting a violator
3-27 of Section 544.007(d) as provided by Chapter 543 or from issuing
4-1 the violator a citation and notice to appear as provided by that
4-2 chapter.
4-3 (b) A municipality may not impose or seek to impose a civil
4-4 penalty under this chapter on the owner of a motor vehicle if the
4-5 operator of the vehicle was arrested or issued a citation and
4-6 notice to appear by a peace officer for the same violation of
4-7 Section 544.007(d) recorded by the traffic-control signal
4-8 monitoring system.
4-9 Sec. 707.008. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS. Except as
4-10 otherwise provided by this chapter, Sections 682.003-682.011,
4-11 except for Section 682.010(4), apply to an ordinance adopted under
4-12 this chapter as if a violation described by Section 707.002 were a
4-13 violation of a municipal ordinance relating to the parking or
4-14 stopping of a vehicle under Chapter 682.
4-15 Sec. 707.009. CITATION OR SUMMONS; CONTENTS. (a) The
4-16 imposition of a civil penalty under this chapter is initiated by
4-17 mailing a citation or a summons to the owner of the motor vehicle
4-18 against which the municipality seeks to impose the civil penalty.
4-19 (b) Not later than the 30th day after the date the violation
4-20 is alleged to have occurred, the designated department, agency, or
4-21 office of the municipality shall mail the citation or summons to
4-22 the owner at:
4-23 (1) the owner's address as shown on the registration
4-24 records of the Texas Department of Transportation; or
4-25 (2) if the vehicle is registered in another state or
4-26 country, the owner's address as shown on the motor vehicle
4-27 registration records of the department or agency of the other state
5-1 or country analogous to the Texas Department of Transportation.
5-2 (c) A citation or summons issued under this chapter must
5-3 contain the following:
5-4 (1) a description of the violation alleged;
5-5 (2) the location of the intersection where the
5-6 violation occurred;
5-7 (3) the date and time of the violation;
5-8 (4) the name and address of the owner of the vehicle
5-9 involved in the violation;
5-10 (5) the registration number displayed on the license
5-11 plate of the vehicle involved in the violation;
5-12 (6) a copy of a recorded image of the vehicle involved
5-13 in the violation that depicts the registration number displayed on
5-14 the license plate of that vehicle;
5-15 (7) the amount of the civil penalty prescribed by the
5-16 governing body of the municipality for the violation;
5-17 (8) the date by which the civil penalty must be paid;
5-18 (9) a statement that the person named in the citation
5-19 or summons may elect to pay the civil penalty in lieu of appearing
5-20 at the time and place of the administrative adjudication hearing;
5-21 (10) a signed statement by a technician employed by
5-22 the municipality or by an agent of the municipality that, based on
5-23 inspection of recorded images, the vehicle was operated in
5-24 violation of Section 544.007(d);
5-25 (11) a statement that a recorded image is evidence in
5-26 a proceeding for the imposition of a civil penalty for a violation
5-27 of Section 544.007(d);
6-1 (12) information that informs the person named in the
6-2 citation or summons:
6-3 (A) of the person's right to contest the
6-4 imposition of the civil penalty against the person in an
6-5 administrative adjudication;
6-6 (B) of the manner and time in which imposition
6-7 of the civil penalty or summons may be contested; and
6-8 (C) that failure to pay the civil penalty or to
6-9 contest liability in a timely manner is an admission of liability;
6-10 and
6-11 (13) a statement that if, at the time and place of the
6-12 violation, the vehicle was being operated under a bona fide lease
6-13 or rental agreement by a person other than the owner, and the owner
6-14 pays the civil penalty, the owner is entitled to collect from the
6-15 person leasing or renting the vehicle when the violation occurred
6-16 an amount equal to the amount of the civil penalty plus a
6-17 reasonable administrative fee not to exceed the amount of the civil
6-18 penalty.
6-19 (d) A citation or summons is presumed to have been received
6-20 on the fifth day after the date the citation or summons is mailed.
6-21 Sec. 707.010. ISSUANCE OF WARNING NOTICE IN LIEU OF CITATION
6-22 OR SUMMONS. (a) In lieu of a citation or summons, the
6-23 municipality may mail a warning notice to the owner.
6-24 (b) In addition to any other information contained in the
6-25 warning notice, the warning notice must contain the information
6-26 required by Section 707.009(c)(1)-(5).
6-27 Sec. 707.011. BURDEN OF PROOF AT ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION
7-1 HEARING. The hearing officer at an administrative adjudication
7-2 hearing under this chapter may not impose a civil penalty unless:
7-3 (1) the issues are proved at the hearing by a
7-4 preponderance of the evidence; or
7-5 (2) the owner or person alleged to have committed the
7-6 violation admits liability for the civil penalty.
7-7 Sec. 707.012. SYSTEM RELIABILITY AND IMAGE VALIDITY. (a)
7-8 The reliability of the photographic traffic-control signal
7-9 monitoring system used to produce the recorded image may be
7-10 attested to in a proceeding under this chapter by affidavit of an
7-11 officer or employee of the municipality or the entity with which
7-12 the municipality contracts to install or operate the system who is
7-13 responsible for inspecting and maintaining the system.
7-14 (b) An affidavit of an officer or employee of the
7-15 municipality that alleges a violation of Section 544.007(d), based
7-16 on an inspection of the pertinent recorded image, is admissible in
7-17 a proceeding under this chapter and is evidence of the facts
7-18 contained in the affidavit.
7-19 Sec. 707.013. DEFENSES TO VIOLATION OR IMPOSITION OF CIVIL
7-20 PENALTY. (a) The hearing officer at an administrative
7-21 adjudication hearing shall consider in defense of the alleged
7-22 violation or in mitigation of the imposition of the civil penalty
7-23 that at the time and place of the violation:
7-24 (1) the traffic-control signal was not in proper
7-25 position and sufficiently legible to an ordinarily observant
7-26 person;
7-27 (2) the operator of the motor vehicle was acting in
8-1 compliance with the lawful order or direction of a police officer;
8-2 (3) the operator of the motor vehicle violated the
8-3 instructions of the traffic-control signal so as to yield the
8-4 right-of-way to an immediately approaching authorized emergency
8-5 vehicle;
8-6 (4) the motor vehicle was being operated as an
8-7 authorized emergency vehicle under Chapter 546 and that the
8-8 operator was acting in compliance with that chapter;
8-9 (5) the motor vehicle was a stolen vehicle and being
8-10 operated by a person other than the owner of the vehicle without
8-11 the effective consent of the owner; or
8-12 (6) the license plate depicted in the recorded image
8-13 of the violation was a stolen plate and being displayed on a motor
8-14 vehicle other than the motor vehicle for which the plate had been
8-15 issued.
8-16 (b) The hearing officer may admit and consider evidence on
8-17 any other matter or issue that the officer considers pertinent.
8-18 (c) To demonstrate that at the time of the violation the
8-19 motor vehicle was a stolen vehicle or the license plate displayed
8-20 on the motor vehicle was a stolen plate, the owner must submit
8-21 proof acceptable to the hearing officer that the theft of the
8-22 vehicle or license plate had been timely reported to the
8-23 appropriate law enforcement agency.
8-24 Sec. 707.014. SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH STOLEN
8-25 VEHICLE OR LICENSE PLATE. (a) If the hearing officer at an
8-26 administrative adjudication hearing finds that at the time and
8-27 place of the violation the motor vehicle was a stolen vehicle or
9-1 that the license plate displayed on the vehicle was a stolen
9-2 license plate, the officer shall provide to the designated
9-3 department, agency, or office a copy of any evidence received at
9-4 the hearing that identifies the operator of the vehicle at that
9-5 time and place.
9-6 (b) On receipt of the evidence from the hearing officer, the
9-7 designated department, agency, or office may issue and mail a
9-8 citation or summons to the person shown by the evidence to have
9-9 been the operator of the vehicle at the time and place of the
9-10 violation.
9-11 (c) In addition to alleging that the person was operating
9-12 the vehicle at the time and place of the violation, a citation or
9-13 summons under this section must:
9-14 (1) comply with Section 707.009(c); and
9-15 (2) be mailed not later than the 30th day after the
9-16 date the evidence is received from the hearing officer.
9-17 (d) The person named in the citation or summons may contest
9-18 the violation or the imposition of the civil penalty in the same
9-19 manner that the owner of a vehicle may contest a violation or the
9-20 imposition of a civil penalty under this chapter.
9-21 Sec. 707.015. IMPOSITION OF CIVIL PENALTY NOT A CONVICTION.
9-22 The imposition of a civil penalty under this chapter is not a
9-23 conviction and may not be considered a conviction for any purpose.
9-24 Sec. 707.016. INDEMNIFICATION TO OWNER OF LEASED OR RENTED
9-25 VEHICLE. (a) This section applies only to an owner of a vehicle
9-26 being operated by a person other than the owner pursuant to a bona
9-27 fide lease or rental agreement when a violation of Section
10-1 544.007(d) occurs.
10-2 (b) If a civil penalty is imposed on and collected from the
10-3 owner for the violation of Section 544.007(d), the person leasing
10-4 or renting the vehicle at the time of the violation is liable to
10-5 the owner for an amount equal to the amount of the civil penalty
10-6 plus a reasonable administrative fee in an amount determined by the
10-7 owner not to exceed the amount of the civil penalty.
10-8 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
10-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
10-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
10-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
10-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
10-13 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
10-14 passage, and it is so enacted.