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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to weight limits on a vehicle loaded with certain |
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agricultural products. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 621.508, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 621.508. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE FOR OPERATING VEHICLE |
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OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT OR AXLE WEIGHT. It is an |
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affirmative defense to prosecution of, or an action under |
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Subchapter F for, the offense of operating a vehicle with a gross |
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[single axle] weight or [tandem] axle weight heavier than the gross |
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weight or axle weight authorized by law that at the time of the |
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offense the vehicle: |
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(1) had a gross [single axle] weight [or tandem axle
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weight] that was not heavier than the [axle] weight authorized by |
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law plus 10 [12] percent; |
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(2) was loaded with timber, pulp wood, wood chips, or |
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cotton, livestock, or other agricultural products that are: |
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(A) in their natural state; and |
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(B) being transported from the place of |
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production to the place of first marketing or first processing; and |
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(3) was not being operated on a portion of the national |
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system of interstate and defense highways. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |