H.B. No. 900
AN ACT
relating to the operation of all-terrain vehicles by law
enforcement officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 663.037, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (e) and (f) and by adding Subsection (g) to
read as follows:
(e) The director of the Department of Public Safety shall
adopt standards and specifications that apply to the color, size,
and mounting position of the flag required under Subsections
[Subsection] (d)(2) and (g)(2).
(f) Except as provided by Subsection (g), this [This]
section does not apply to the operation of an all-terrain vehicle
that is owned by the state, a county, or a municipality by a person
who is an authorized operator of the vehicle.
(g) A peace officer may operate an all-terrain vehicle on a
public street, road, or highway that is not an interstate or
limited-access highway only if:
(1) the transportation is in connection with the
performance of the officer's official duty;
(2) the officer attaches to the back of the vehicle on
top of an eight-foot-long pole a triangular orange flag;
(3) the vehicle's headlights and taillights are
illuminated;
(4) the officer holds a driver's license, as defined by
Section 521.001; and
(5) the operation of the all-terrain vehicle does not
exceed a distance of 25 miles from the point of origin to the
destination.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 900 was passed by the House on April
2, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 900 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor