79R1374 DWS-D

By:  Goolsby                                                      H.B. No. 245



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the offense of failing to use safety belts.                       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 545.413(a), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person commits an offense if the person:                                
		(1)  is at least 15 years of age;                                             
		(2)  is riding in [the front seat of] a passenger 
vehicle while the vehicle is being operated;
		(3)  is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety 
belt; and           
		(4)  is not secured by a safety belt.                                         
	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, 2005.