By Keel                                               H.B. No. 1319
         76R5889 WP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to visibility of vehicle license plates; providing a
 1-3     criminal penalty.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 502.4091 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 502.4091.  OBSTRUCTED LICENSE PLATE.  (a) A person
 1-8     commits an offense if the person operates, or as the owner permits
 1-9     another to operate, on a public highway a motor vehicle that has
1-10     any device or material on the vehicle's license plate that:
1-11                 (1)  obstructs the clear view of the license plate; or
1-12                 (2)  comes closer than one-quarter inch to any number,
1-13     letter, character, or other writing or symbol on the license plate.
1-14           (b)  An offense under this section is a misdemeanor
1-15     punishable by a fine of not more than $200.
1-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-22                          COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
1-23           H.B. 1319 is amended as follows:
1-24           (1)  On page 1, line 7, delete the word "A" and insert the
 2-1     following after the subsection designator "(a)":  Except as
 2-2     provided by Subsection (b), a"
 2-3           (2)  On page 1, insert the following after line 13:
 2-4                 "(b)  It is not a violation of this section for a
 2-5     person to operate a vehicle or, as owner, permit another person to
 2-6     operate a vehicle that has on the vehicle's license plate a device
 2-7     or material that bears the business name or logotype of a dealer
 2-8     licensed by the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission pursuant to the
 2-9     terms of the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code."
2-10           (3)  On page 1, line 14, delete the subsection designator
2-11     "(b) and insert "(c)".
2-12                                                               Alexander