By:  Duncan                                            S.B. No. 492
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to load and weight limits on certain bridges.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subsection (c), Section 623.011, Transportation
 1-5     Code, is amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (c)  A permit issued under this section:
 1-7                 (1)  is valid for one year; and
 1-8                 (2)  must be carried in the vehicle for which it is
 1-9     issued[; and]
1-10                 [(3)  does not authorize the operation on the national
1-11     system of interstate and defense highways in this state of vehicles
1-12     with a weight greater than authorized by federal law].
1-13           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 623, Transportation Code,
1-14     is amended by adding Section 623.0113 to read as follows:
1-15           Sec. 623.0113.  ROUTE RESTRICTIONS; EXCEPTION.  (a)  A permit
1-16     issued under Section 623.011 does not authorize the operation of
1-17     the vehicle for which the permit is issued on:
1-18                 (1)  the national system of interstate and defense
1-19     highways in this state if the weight of the vehicle is greater than
1-20     authorized by federal law; or
1-21                 (2)  a bridge for which a maximum weight and load limit
1-22     have been established and posted by the Texas Transportation
1-23     Commission under Section 621.102 or the commissioners court of a
1-24     county under Section 621.301, if the gross weight of the vehicle
1-25     and load or the axles and wheel loads are greater than the limits
 2-1     established and posted under those sections.
 2-2           (b)  A restriction under Subsection (a)(2) does not apply if
 2-3     the bridge is along the only public highway or road that the
 2-4     vehicle for which the permit is issued can use to travel from its
 2-5     point of origin to its destination.  The holder of a permit shall
 2-6     notify the office of the county judge or the office of the sheriff
 2-7     within 24 hours prior to any operation of a vehicle on a bridge if
 2-8     the gross weight of the vehicle and load or the axles and wheel
 2-9     loads are greater than the limits established by the county.
2-10           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-11     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-12     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-13     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-14     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.