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                                                                  S.B. No. 209




AN ACT

relating to prohibiting a motor vehicle from being equipped with 
certain video equipment and devices.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 547.611, Transportation 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 547.611.  USE OF CERTAIN VIDEO EQUIPMENT AND TELEVISION 
RECEIVERS [PERMITTED].
	SECTION 2.  Subsections (a) and (c), Section 547.611, 
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A motor vehicle may be equipped with video receiving 
equipment, including a television [and similar equipment], a 
digital video disc player, a videocassette player, or similar 
equipment, only if the equipment is located so that the video 
display is not visible from the operator's seat.
	(c)  This section does not prohibit the use of:                                
		(1)  equipment used:                                                          
			(A)  exclusively for receiving digital 
information for commercial purposes;
			(B)  exclusively for a safety or law enforcement 
purpose, if each installation is approved by the department; [or]
			(C)  in a remote television transmission truck; or                           
			(D)  exclusively for monitoring the performance 
of equipment installed on a vehicle used for safety purposes in 
connection with the operations of a natural gas, water, or electric 
utility; or
		(2)  a monitoring device that:                                                
			(A)  produces an electronic display; and                                     
			(B)  is used exclusively in conjunction with a 
mobile navigation system installed in the vehicle.
	SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                      
	(b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to an 
offense committed on or after September 1, 2003.
	(c)  An offense committed before September 1, 2003, is 
covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For purposes of 
this section, an offense was committed before September 1, 2003, if 
any element of the offense was committed before that date.

                                                                              




______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 209 passed the Senate on 
March 11, 2003, by a viva-voce vote.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 209 passed the House on 
April 25, 2003, by a non-record vote.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor