82R17231 NAJ-D
 
  By: Schwertner, Phillips H.B. No. 1047
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1047:
 
  By:  Bonnen C.S.H.B. No. 1047
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the impoundment of a motor vehicle if operated without
  financial responsibility.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 601, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 601.0535 to read as follows:
         Sec. 601.0535.  IMPOUNDMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLE BY PEACE
  OFFICER.  (a)  In this section, "owner of a vehicle" and "vehicle
  storage facility" have the meanings assigned by Section 2303.002,
  Occupations Code.
         (b)  A peace officer may impound the vehicle of a person who:
               (1)  is involved in a motor vehicle accident or is
  stopped for an alleged violation of a local traffic ordinance, a
  state traffic law, or any other law that applies to the operation of
  a vehicle on a roadway; and
               (2)  operates a motor vehicle in violation of Section
  601.051.
         (c)  A peace officer who impounds a motor vehicle under
  Subsection (b) shall instruct the operator of the vehicle as to how
  the owner of the vehicle may recover the motor vehicle from that law
  enforcement agency or a vehicle storage facility authorized to
  remove and store the vehicle by that law enforcement agency.
         (d)  The law enforcement agency or authorized vehicle
  storage facility that impounds a motor vehicle under this section
  may release the vehicle to the owner of the vehicle only if the
  owner:
               (1)  provides to the law enforcement agency or
  authorized vehicle storage facility evidence consistent with:
                     (A)  Section 601.053, showing that on the date the
  vehicle was impounded, the motor vehicle was in compliance with
  Section 601.051;
                     (B)  Section 601.052, showing that on that date
  the vehicle was exempt from the requirements of Section 601.051; or
                     (C)  Section 601.053, showing that financial
  responsibility for the vehicle has been obtained and is valid;
               (2)  provides to the law enforcement agency or
  authorized vehicle storage facility a driver's license issued to
  the owner of the vehicle; and
               (3)  pays all associated fees authorized under Chapters
  2303 and 2308, Occupations Code.
         (e)  The law enforcement agency or authorized vehicle
  storage facility that impounds a motor vehicle under this section
  may release the vehicle to a person who is shown as a lienholder on
  the vehicle's certificate of title only if the person:
               (1)  provides to the law enforcement agency or
  authorized vehicle storage facility a statement from an officer of
  the lienholder establishing that the obligation secured by the
  vehicle is in default; and
               (2)  pays all associated fees authorized under Chapters
  2303 and 2308, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2011. An offense
  committed before September 1, 2011, is governed by the law in effect
  on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section,
  an offense was committed before September 1, 2011, if any element of
  the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.