By: Scott (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 1473

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2011; April 20, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security; May 19, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2011, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating the offense of altering a disabled parking placard.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 681.0111, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 681.0111. MANUFACTURE, SALE, POSSESSION, OR USE OF COUNTERFEIT OR ALTERED PLACARD.

SECTION 2. Sections 681.0111(a) and (b), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if, without the department's authorization, the person:

(1) manufactures, sells, or possesses a placard that is deceptively similar to a disabled parking placard; or

(2) alters a genuine disabled parking placard.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly parks a vehicle displaying a counterfeit or altered placard in a parking space or area designated specifically for persons with disabilities.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

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