78R5832 JD-D

By:  Raymond                                                      H.B. No. 1260



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the issuance of permits by the City of Laredo for the 
operation of oversize and overweight vehicles on certain highways; 
providing penalties.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by 
adding Subchapter L to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER L.  CITY OF LAREDO PERMITS
	Sec. 623.251.  PERMITS BY CITY OF LAREDO.  (a)  The 
department may authorize the City of Laredo to issue permits for the 
movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo on 
Farm-to-Market Road 1472 and the Bob Bullock Loop (Loop 20) from 
Columbia Solidarity Bridge and the World Trade Bridge to Interstate 
Highway 35.
	(b)  The department may not authorize the issuance of a 
permit for the movement of equipment and commodities with a gross 
weight of more than 125,000 pounds.
	(c)  A permit issued under this section:                                
		(1)  must be carried in the vehicle for which it is 
issued; and      
		(2)  does not authorize the operation on the national 
system of interstate and defense highways in this state of vehicles 
with a weight greater than that authorized by federal law.
	Sec. 623.252.  MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.  The City of Laredo 
when issuing permits under this subchapter shall make payments to 
the department to provide for the maintenance of the state highways 
subject to this subchapter in accordance with Section 623.253.
	Sec. 623.253.  PERMIT FEES.  The amount of the fee for a 
permit issued under this subchapter is the fee otherwise required 
for a permit issued by the department under this chapter for the 
oversize or overweight vehicle.  Of each fee collected for the 
issuance of a permit under this subchapter, the City of Laredo:
		(1)  may retain 15 percent to defray administrative 
expenses; and    
		(2)  shall send the remainder to the department for 
deposit to the credit of the state highway fund for the maintenance 
of the state highways subject to this subchapter.
	Sec. 623.254.  PERMIT REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  A permit issued 
under this subchapter must include:
		(1)  the name of the applicant;                                        
		(2)  the date of issuance;                                             
		(3)  the signature of the officer or employee of the 
City of Laredo authorized to approve the issuance of the permit;
		(4)  a statement of the kind of cargo being transported 
over the roadway designated in the permit, the maximum weight and 
dimensions of the equipment, and the kind and weight of each 
commodity to be transported;
		(5)  a statement of any condition on which the permit is 
issued;     
		(6)  a statement that the cargo shall be transported 
over the most direct route from the Columbia Solidarity Bridge or 
the World Trade Bridge and Interstate Highway 35;
		(7)  the name of the driver of the vehicle in which the 
cargo is to be transported; and
		(8)  the location where the cargo was loaded.                          
	(b)  The City of Laredo shall report to the department all 
permits issued under this subchapter.
	Sec. 623.255.  TIME OF MOVEMENT.  A permit issued under this 
subchapter shall specify the time in which movement authorized by 
the permit is allowed.
	Sec. 623.256.  SPEED LIMIT.  Movement authorized by a permit 
issued under this subchapter may not exceed the lesser of the posted 
speed limit or 55 miles per hour.  An offense under this section is a 
Class C misdemeanor and a moving violation.
	Sec. 623.257.  ENFORCEMENT.  The Department of Public Safety 
may enforce this subchapter.
	Sec. 623.258.  EXPIRATION.  This subchapter expires March 1, 
2007.    
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.