By Shapiro                                             S.B. No. 148
         77R1394 DWS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a stop or arrest for violation of certain traffic laws
 1-3     by a person licensed by the United States Department of State or
 1-4     who claims diplomatic 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 IMMUNITY.  (a)  This section applies to a
1-10     person who:
1-11                 (1)  is stopped or arrested by a peace officer in
1-12     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 arrests a person to whom
1-21     this section applies shall record all relevant information from any
1-22     driver's license or identification card presented by the person or
1-23     any statement made by the person relating to immunities or
1-24     privileges and promptly deliver the record to the law enforcement
 2-1     agency that employs the peace 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 arrest, send to the Bureau of Diplomatic
 2-8     Security Office of Foreign Missions of the United States Department
 2-9     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 in connection with the stop
2-12     or arrest; or
2-13                       (B)  if a notice to appear was not issued and an
2-14     accident report was not prepared, a written report of the incident.
2-15           (d)  This section does not affect application of a law
2-16     described by Subsection (a)(1) to a person to whom this section
2-17     applies.
2-18           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.