By: Pickett (Senate Sponsor - Carona) H.B. No. 313
         (In the Senate - Received from the House March 29, 2007;
  April 3, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Transportation and Homeland Security; April 23, 2007, reported
  favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 23, 2007,
  sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to an exemption from registration in this state for
  certain foreign commercial motor vehicles.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 648.101, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A foreign commercial motor vehicle is exempt from
  Chapter 502 and any other law of this state requiring the vehicle to
  be registered in this state, including a law providing for a
  temporary registration permit, if:
               (1)  the vehicle is engaged solely in transportation of
  cargo across the border into or from a border commercial zone;
               (2)  for each load of cargo transported the vehicle
  remains in this state:
                     (A)  not more than 24 hours; or
                     (B)  not more than 48 hours, if:
                           (i)  the vehicle is unable to leave this
  state within 24 hours because of circumstances beyond the control
  of the motor carrier operating the vehicle; and
                           (ii)  all financial responsibility
  requirements applying to the vehicle are satisfied;
               (3)  the vehicle is registered and licensed as required
  by the law of another [state or] country as evidenced by a valid
  metal license plate attached to the front or rear of the exterior of
  the vehicle; and
               (4)  the country in which the person that owns or
  controls the vehicle is domiciled or is a citizen provides a
  reciprocal exemption for commercial motor vehicles owned or
  controlled by residents of this state.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any reciprocity agreement between this
  state and another state of the United States, a foreign commercial
  motor vehicle that engages primarily in transportation of cargo
  across the border into or from a border commercial zone must be:
               (1)  registered in this state; or
               (2)  operated under the exemption provided by this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
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