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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the penalty for an offense committed during the |
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inattentive operation of a motor vehicle. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 542, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 542.405 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 542.405. INATTENTIVE DRIVING; FINE FOR OFFENSE. (a) |
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An offense under this subtitle is punishable by a fine that is at |
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least twice the minimum fine applicable to the offense and not more |
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than twice the maximum fine that is applicable to the offense if the |
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person who commits the offense is at the time of the offense |
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operating a motor vehicle while: |
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(1) reading; |
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(2) writing; |
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(3) performing personal grooming; |
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(4) consuming food or a beverage; |
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(5) interacting with a pet; |
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(6) interacting with a vehicle passenger; |
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(7) using a personal communications device; or |
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(8) engaging in another activity that prevents the |
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operator from safely operating the motor vehicle. |
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(b) For the purposes of this section: |
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(1) "Personal grooming" includes: |
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(A) applying makeup; |
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(B) shaving; |
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(C) combing hair; or |
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(D) attending to another personal hygiene or |
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appearance task. |
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(2) "Personal communications device" includes: |
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(A) a radio; |
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(B) a personal stereo; |
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(C) a compact disc player; |
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(D) an audio or video device; |
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(E) a personal computer; |
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(F) a two-way radio, including a citizen's band |
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radio; |
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(G) a pager; |
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(H) a telephone; |
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(I) a wireless messaging device; |
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(J) a facsimile machine; |
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(K) a radar detector; |
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(L) a personal digital assistant; |
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(M) a geographic positioning system receiver; or |
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(N) a similar device. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies |
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only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before |
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the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs |
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before that date. |
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(b) An offense committed before the effective date of this |
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Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |