By: Eiland H.B. No. 1118
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to operating a motor vehicle with a person riding in a boat
or personal watercraft being drawn by the vehicle; creating an
offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 545.4145 to read as follows:
Sec. 545.4145. PERSON RIDING IN BOAT OR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
DRAWN BY VEHICLE; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the
person operates a motor vehicle on a roadway when another person
occupies a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by the motor
vehicle.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
the person was operating the motor vehicle while launching the boat
or personal watercraft into or retrieving it from an adjacent body
of water, in a parade, or in an emergency.
(c) In this section, "boat" and "personal watercraft" have
the meanings assigned by Section 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.