78R1843 JTS-F

By:  Ogden                                                        S.B. No. 488



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to vehicle weight.                                                   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 621.102, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
	(i)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person may not 
operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles on a road for which the 
commission has established a maximum weight under this section if 
the weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds the 
maximum weight established by the commission.
	SECTION 2.  Section 621.301, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person may not 
operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles on a road for which the 
commissioners court of a county has established a maximum weight 
under this section if the vehicle or combination of vehicles 
exceeds the maximum weight established by the commissioners court.
	SECTION 3.  Section 621.506(a), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person commits an offense if the person:                                
		(1)  operates a vehicle or combination of vehicles in 
violation of Section 621.101, 621.102, 621.301, 622.012, 622.031, 
622.133, 622.953, or 623.162;  or
		(2)  loads a vehicle or causes a vehicle to be loaded in 
violation of Section 621.503.
	SECTION 4.  Section 623.019(c), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor and, 
except as provided by Subsection (d), is punishable by a fine of:
		(1)  not less than $300 or more than $500 if the offense 
involves a vehicle having a single axle weight, tandem axle weight, 
orgross weight that is heavier than 5,000 but not heavier than 
10,000 pounds over the vehicle's allowable [gross] weight;  or
		(2)  not less than $500 or more than $1,000 if the 
offense involves a vehicle having a single axle weight, tandem axle 
weight, or gross weight that is at least 10,000 pounds heavier than 
the vehicle's allowable [gross] weight.
	SECTION 5.  Section 621.402(c), as added by Chapter 941, 
Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is repealed.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.