By: Brown of Brazos H.B. No. 3394
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to use of certain video equipment and television
receivers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 547.611, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (c) by adding (3) and (4) to read as follows:
(a) motor vehicle may be equipped with video receiving
equipment, including a television, 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.
(b) A motor vehicle specially designed as a mobile unit used
by a licensed television station may have video receiving equipment
located so that the video display is visible from the operator's
side, but the receiver may be used only when the vehicle is stopped.
(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;
(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[.] :
(3) a visual display used to enhance or supplement the
driver's view forward, behind, or to the sides of a motor vehicle
for the purpose of maneuvering the vehicle; or
(4) a television receiver, video monitor, television
or video screen, or any other, similar means of visually displaying
a television broadcast or video signal, if that equipment has an
interlock device that, when the motor vehicle is driven, disables
the equipment for all uses except as a visual display described in
(3) inclusive.