By Gallego, Alexander, Siebert, H.B. No. 3328
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to speed limits on highways of this state.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 545.352, Transportation Code, is amended
1-5 by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
1-6 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) 75 [70] miles per hour in daytime and 65 miles per
1-13 hour 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, or passenger car or light truck towing a
1-17 trailer or semitrailer designed and used primarily to transport
1-18 dogs or livestock, on a highway numbered by this state or the
1-19 United States outside an urban district, including a farm-to-market
1-20 or ranch-to-market road;
1-21 (3) 60 miles per hour in daytime and 55 miles per hour
1-22 in nighttime if the vehicle is a passenger car or motorcycle on a
1-23 highway that is outside an urban district and not a highway
1-24 numbered by this state or the United States;
1-25 (4) 60 miles per hour outside an urban district if a
2-1 speed limit for the vehicle is not otherwise specified by this
2-2 section; or
2-3 (5) outside an urban district:
2-4 (A) 50 miles per hour if the vehicle is a school
2-5 bus on a highway other than an interstate highway;
2-6 (B) 55 miles per hour if the vehicle is a school
2-7 bus on an interstate highway; or
2-8 (C) 60 miles per hour in daytime and 55 miles
2-9 per hour in nighttime if the vehicle is a truck, other than a light
2-10 truck, or if the vehicle is a truck tractor, trailer, or
2-11 semitrailer, or a vehicle towing a trailer, semitrailer, another
2-12 motor vehicle or towable recreational vehicle.
2-13 (e) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), in a county having a
2-14 population of less than 25,000, a speed of 80 miles per hour is
2-15 lawful for a vehicle described by Subsection (b)(2) on an
2-16 interstate highway that runs east and west.
2-17 SECTION 2. Section 545.353(d), Transportation Code, is
2-18 amended to read as follows:
2-19 (d) The commission may not:
2-20 (1) modify the rules established by Section
2-21 545.351(b);
2-22 (2) establish a speed limit of more than 75 [70] miles
2-23 per hour except as provided by Section 545.352(e); or
2-24 (3) increase the speed limit for a vehicle described
2-25 by Section 545.352(b)(5).
2-26 SECTION 3. Notwithstanding the change in law made by this
2-27 Act, on a highway or portion of a highway that on the effective
3-1 date of this Act has a speed limit of 70 miles per hour in daytime
3-2 and 65 miles per hour in nighttime, the speed limit may be
3-3 increased as provided by this Act only if the Texas Department of
3-4 Transportation determines that the increase is appropriate on that
3-5 highway or portion of highway.
3-6 SECTION 4. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-7 The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense
3-8 committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes
3-9 of this section, an offense is committed before the effective date
3-10 of this Act if any element of the offense occurs before that date.
3-11 (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this
3-12 Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
3-13 and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
3-14 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.