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