By: Pickett (Senate Sponsor - Carona) H.B. No. 548

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2009; May 6, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security; May 19, 2009, reported favorably, as amended, by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 19, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1 By: Carona

Amend the H.B. No. 548 in Section 1 of the bill, on page 1, line 25, immediately following the word "facility" by adding the following:

"unless the vehicle is seized as evidence, in which case the vehicle may be taken to a storage facility as designated by the peace officer involved"

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the impoundment of certain motor vehicles involved in the commission of the offense of racing on a highway.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 545.420, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:

(i) This subsection applies only to a motor vehicle used in the commission of an offense under this section that results in an accident with property damage or personal injury. A peace officer shall require the vehicle to be taken to the nearest licensed vehicle storage facility. The owner of a motor vehicle that is removed or stored under this subsection is liable for all removal and storage fees incurred and is not entitled to take possession of the vehicle until those fees are paid.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that date.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

* * * * *