AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, a person commits an offense if the person drives around a barricade or disobeys the instructions, signals, warnings, or markings of a warning sign. Interested parties have expressed concern about drivers being unaware of the speed limit in construction or maintenance work zones and therefore commit an offense as the nearest speed limit signs may not be near a construction or maintenance work zone. H.B. 1097 seeks to alleviate this problem by placing additional requirements on the signs marking a construction or maintenance work zone.
H.B. 1097 amends current law relating to the definition of a construction or maintenance work zone on a highway or street.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 472.022(e)(2), Transportation Code, as follows:
(2) Redefines "construction or maintenance work zone" to mean a portion of a highway or street:
(A) where highway construction or maintenance is being undertaken, other than mobile operations as defined by the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices;
(B) that is marked by at least one sign, rather than by signs:
(i) indicating that it is a construction or maintenance work zone;
(ii) indicating the maximum lawful speed, rather than where the zone begins and ends; and
(iii) stating: "Fines double when workers present"; and
(C) that is marked by signs indicating where the zone begins and ends.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.