82R7212 NAJ-D
 
  By: Schwertner H.B. No. 1047
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the impoundment of a motor vehicle if operated without
  financial responsibility and a driver's license.
         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)  A peace officer may impound the vehicle of a person
  who:
               (1)  operates a motor vehicle in violation of Section
  601.051; and
               (2)  fails to display a driver's license to the officer
  under Section 521.025.
         (b)  A peace officer who impounds a motor vehicle under
  Subsection (a) shall issue the person a written explanation, on a
  form designed by the law enforcement agency that employs the
  officer, as to how the owner or operator of the vehicle may recover
  the motor vehicle from that law enforcement agency.
         (c)  The law enforcement agency that impounds a motor vehicle
  under Subsection (a) may release the vehicle to the owner or
  operator of the vehicle only if the owner or operator:
               (1)  provides to the law enforcement agency 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 a driver's
  license issued to that person; and
               (3)  pays for the cost of the impoundment.
         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.