By: Shapiro S.B. No. 148 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the violation of certain traffic laws by a person 1-3 licensed by the United States Department of State or who claims 1-4 diplomatic or consular immunity. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 543, Transportation Code, 1-7 is amended by adding Section 543.011 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 543.011. PERSONS LICENSED BY STATE DEPARTMENT OR 1-9 CLAIMING DIPLOMATIC OR CONSULAR IMMUNITY. (a) This section 1-10 applies to a person who: 1-11 (1) is stopped or issued a notice to appear by a peace 1-12 officer in connection with a violation of: 1-13 (A) this subtitle; 1-14 (B) Section 49.03 or 49.04, Penal Code; or 1-15 (C) Section 49.07 or 49.08, Penal Code, 1-16 involving operation of a motor vehicle; and 1-17 (2) presents to the peace officer a driver's license 1-18 issued by the United States Department of State or claims 1-19 immunities or privileges under 22 U.S.C. Chapter 6. 1-20 (b) A peace officer who stops or issues a notice to appear 1-21 to a person to whom this section applies shall record all relevant 1-22 information from any driver's license or identification card 1-23 presented by the person or any statement made by the person 1-24 relating to immunities or privileges and promptly deliver the 1-25 record to the law enforcement agency that employs the peace 2-1 officer. 2-2 (c) The law enforcement agency shall: 2-3 (1) as soon as practicable contact the United States 2-4 Department of State to verify the person's status and immunity, if 2-5 any; and 2-6 (2) not later than the fifth working day after the 2-7 date of the stop or issuance of the notice to appear, send to the 2-8 Bureau of Diplomatic Security Office of Foreign Missions of the 2-9 United States Department of State the following: 2-10 (A) a copy of any notice to appear issued to the 2-11 person and any accident report prepared; or 2-12 (B) if a notice to appear was not issued and an 2-13 accident report was not prepared, a written report of the incident. 2-14 (d) This section does not affect application of a law 2-15 described by Subsection (a)(1) to a person to whom this section 2-16 applies. 2-17 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.