By: Jackson, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Brimer) H.B. No. 372
(In the Senate - Received from the House March 30, 2005;
April 5, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation and Homeland Security; April 25, 2005, reported
adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following
vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 25, 2005, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 372 By: Brimer
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the required use of towing safety chains on certain
vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 545.410, Transportation
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) An operator of a passenger car or light truck may not
draw a trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or another motor
vehicle unless safety chains of a type approved by the department
are attached in a manner approved by the department from the
trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or drawn motor vehicle to the
drawing vehicle. The department by rule shall exempt certain types
of trailers that exhibit adequate safety standards from the
requirements of this subsection [This subsection does not apply to
the drawing of a trailer or semitrailer used for agricultural
purposes].
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 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 covered 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.
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