|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the operation of a vehicle by a person under 18 years of |
|
age. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Sec. 545.424, Transportation Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 545.424. OPERATION OF VEHICLE BY PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS |
|
OF AGE. (a) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor |
|
vehicle while using a wireless communications device, except in |
|
case of emergency. |
|
(a-1) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor |
|
vehicle during the 12-month period following issuance of an |
|
original Class A, B, or C driver's license to the person: |
|
(1) after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless the |
|
operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or |
|
participate in employment or a school-related activity or because |
|
of a medical emergency; or |
|
(2) with more than one passenger in the vehicle under |
|
21 years of age who is not a family member. |
|
(b) A person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted |
|
motorcycle license or moped license may not operate a motorcycle or |
|
moped while using a wireless communications device, except in case |
|
of emergency. |
|
(b-1) A person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted |
|
motorcycle license or moped license, during the 12-month period |
|
following the issuance of an original motorcycle license or moped |
|
license to the person, may not operate a motorcycle or moped after |
|
midnight and before 5 a.m. unless: |
|
(1) the person is in sight of the person's parent or |
|
guardian; or |
|
(2) the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the |
|
operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related |
|
activity or because of a medical emergency. |
|
(c) This section does not apply to: |
|
(1) the holder of a hardship license;
|
|
(2) a person operating a motor vehicle while |
|
accompanied in the manner required by Section 521.222(d)(2) for the |
|
holder of an instruction permit; or |
|
(3) a person licensed by the Federal Communications |
|
Commission to operate a wireless communication device or a radio |
|
frequency device. |
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |