78R6881 JRJ-D

By:  Raymond                                                      H.B. No. 3496



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the penalty for speeding in a school zone.                        
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 542, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 542.405 to read as follows:
	Sec. 542.405.  FINE FOR OFFENSE IN SCHOOL CROSSING ZONE.  If 
an offense under Subchapter H, Chapter 545, is committed in a school 
crossing zone when a reduced speed limit applies:
		(1)  the minimum fine applicable to the offense is 
twice the minimum fine that would be applicable to the offense if it 
were committed outside a school crossing zone; and
		(2)  the maximum fine applicable to the offense is 
twice the maximum fine that would be applicable to the offense if it 
were committed outside a school crossing zone.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies 
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 
Act.  For the purposes of this section, an offense is committed 
before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense 
occurs before that date.
	(b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this 
Act is governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.