BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1671
80R5946 JTS-D By: Homer (Seliger)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Texas Transportation Code allows persons and neighborhood associations to erect a gate across certain neighborhood and third-class roads. Since the time this code was enacted, these roads have seen increasing amounts of motor vehicle traffic. Several problems have arisen; for instance, farm machinery is larger and needs more room for clearance. The gates also cause unnecessary delay to emergency vehicles. Emergency personnel must stop the vehicle, exit the vehicle, open the gate, get back in the vehicle, drive through the gate, and then get out and close the gate or be guilty of an offense for failing to close the gate.
As proposed, H.B. 1671 prohibits a person from erecting a gate under Section 251.010, Transportation Code, unless approved by the commissioners' court of the county.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 251.010, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (e) to prohibit a person from erecting a gate under this section unless the gate is approved by the commissioners court of the county.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.