BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 614
80R2602 JRJ-D By: Quintanilla, King, Susan (Shapleigh)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
At intersections that include state highways, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) oversees the operations of any traffic signal signs or lights. TxDOT follows the rules established by the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for traffic light intervals. The use of this standard by TxDOT provides the driving public with standard intervals at all traffic light locations which control intersections with state roads. However, this standard is currently not applied to an intersection at which a photographic traffic monitoring system is in use.
H.B. 614 requires that all intersections which monitor traffic with red light cameras follow the rules established by the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices so that motorists have uniform expectations for the yellow light intervals.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 544, Transportation Code, by adding Section 544.013, as follows:
Sec. 544.013. STANDARD INTERVAL REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS. (a) Defines "photographic traffic monitoring system" and "recorded image."
(b) Requires the minimum change interval for a steady yellow signal at an intersection at which a photographic traffic monitoring system is in use to be established in accordance with the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.