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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of certain lighting equipment on motor |
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vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 547.105(b) and (c), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The Texas Department of Transportation may adopt |
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standards and specifications for lighting that permit the use of |
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amber or white flashing lights for identification purposes on |
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highway maintenance and service equipment, including snow-removal |
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equipment. |
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(c) The standards and specifications adopted under this |
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section must comply with [are in lieu of] the standards and |
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specifications otherwise provided by this chapter for lamps on |
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vehicles. |
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SECTION 2. Section 547.305, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections |
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(c-1) and (g) to read as follows: |
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(c) A person may not operate a motor vehicle equipped with a |
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flashing or alternating light that is red, white, or blue [beacon,
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flashing, or alternating light] unless the equipment is: |
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(1) used as specifically authorized by this chapter; |
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or |
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(2) a running lamp, headlamp, taillamp, backup lamp, |
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or turn signal lamp that is used as authorized by law. |
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(c-1) A vehicle may not be equipped or operated with |
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alternately flashing lighting equipment that is blue in color |
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unless the vehicle is: |
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(1) an authorized emergency vehicle that is a police |
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vehicle; or |
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(2) a vehicle used for law enforcement purposes that |
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is owned or leased by the federal government. |
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(d) A vehicle may not be equipped or operated with |
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alternately flashing lighting equipment that is red in color unless |
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[described by Section 547.701 or 547.702 only if] the vehicle is: |
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(1) a school bus; |
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(2) an authorized emergency vehicle; |
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(3) a church bus that has the words "church bus" |
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printed on the front and rear of the bus so as to be clearly |
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discernible [discernable] to other vehicle operators; or |
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(4) a tow truck while under the direction of a law |
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enforcement officer at the scene of an accident or while hooking up |
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to a disabled vehicle on a roadway[; or
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[(5)
a tow truck with a mounted light bar which has
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turn signals and stop lamps in addition to those required by
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Sections 547.322, 547.323, and 547.324, Transportation Code]. |
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(e) A vehicle [person] may not be equipped or operated with |
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alternately flashing lighting equipment that is white in color |
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unless the vehicle is: |
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(1) a vehicle described by Subsection (d); or |
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(2) [operate] highway maintenance or service |
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equipment, including snow-removal equipment[, that is not equipped
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with lamps or that does not display lighted lamps as required by the
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standards and specifications adopted by the Texas Department of
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Transportation]. |
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(g) The lighting conditions authorized by this section are |
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in addition to the lighting requirements under Sections |
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547.321-547.324. |
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SECTION 3. Section 547.305(b), Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |