BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1798
80R7423 JD-F By: Martinez Fischer (Uresti)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Several of the metropolitan transit authorities in Texas are considering the creation of a special bus rapid transit system, which will allow the mass transit vehicles to travel in some places on dedicated roadways or on restricted pieces of existing roadways. To allow these bus rapid transit systems to operate properly, certain designated rights-of-way need to be created to allow the vehicles to operate efficiently and avoid traffic slowdowns.
H.B. 1798 creates criminal penalties for certain vehicles that use or block the designated right of way of a metropolitan transit authority using a bus rapid transit system.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 451, Transportation Code, by adding Section 451.113, as follows:
Sec. 451.113. DRIVING ON CERTAIN AUTHORITY RIGHT-OF-WAY; PENALTY. Provides that a person commits a Class C misdemeanor if, as the operator of a motor vehicle, the person drives on a designated right-of-way of an authority that is used in connection with a motor bus rapid transit system. Provides that it is an exception to the application of this section that the person was driving a motor vehicle owned or under the control of the authority and was authorized to drive the vehicle on the designated right-of-way, or was driving an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined by Section 541.201 (defining "authorized emergency vehicle"), and responding to a call. Authorizes this section to be enforced by any peace officer listed in Article 2.12 (Who Are Peace Officers), Code of Criminal Procedure, in whose jurisdiction the offense is committed.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.