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.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 148 passed the Senate on
         March 1, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
         present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 148 passed the House on
         May 17, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor