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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to toll collection by the Texas Department of |
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Transportation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 228.054(a) and (b), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e) and Section |
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228.060, the operator of a vehicle, other than an authorized |
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emergency vehicle, as defined by Section 541.201, that is driven or |
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towed through a toll collection facility shall pay the proper |
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toll. The exemption from payment of a toll for an authorized |
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emergency vehicle applies regardless of whether the vehicle is: |
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(1) responding to an emergency; |
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(2) displaying a flashing light; or |
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(3) marked as an emergency vehicle. |
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(b) The operator of a vehicle who drives or tows a vehicle |
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through a toll collection facility and does not pay the proper toll |
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before the eighth day after driving or towing the vehicle through |
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the facility commits an offense. |
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SECTION 2. Section 228.057, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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(g) The department shall post at least one sign before the |
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last exit on a department toll road before a toll collection |
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facility for which a transponder is the only means of paying the |
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toll and before the penultimate exit before such a toll collection |
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facility. The signs must inform motor vehicle operators that the |
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operators are approaching a toll collection facility for which a |
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transponder is the only means of paying the toll. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 228, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 228.060 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 228.060. ALTERNATIVE TOLLING METHOD. (a) As an |
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alternative to requiring payment of a toll at the time a vehicle is |
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driven or towed through a toll collection facility, the department |
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shall allow the registered owner of the vehicle to pay the toll |
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using the department's Internet website before the eighth day after |
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the date the vehicle is driven or towed through the facility. |
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(b) The registered owner of a vehicle may not use the |
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department's Internet website to pay a toll more than twice in any |
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three-month period. |
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(c) The department may impose an administrative fee not to |
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exceed $1 for processing a payment under this section. |
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SECTION 4. (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 the purposes of this section, an offense is committed |
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before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense |
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occurs 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |