AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Increased energy sector activity in the Eagle Ford Shale has led to a dramatic rise in commercial truck traffic in and around the region. Particularly in areas closest to the Port of Corpus Christi and major highways, state and county law enforcement entities struggle to adequately enforce weight limits and other safety standards for commercial vehicles. The prevalence of illegal overweight and oversized trucks has resulted in an increase in accidents and traffic fatalities. S.B. 320 increases roadway safety in an area of the state that has experienced a dramatic increase in commercial truck traffic and related accidents by authorizing police officers in certain municipalities to become certified to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)
C.S.S.B. 320 amends current law relating to the enforcement of certain motor vehicle weight and safety standards.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas in SECTION 1 (Section 621.402, Transportation Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 621.402, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (e), as follows:
(e) Provides that the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas:
(1) is required to establish by rule uniform weighing procedures for weight enforcement officers to ensure an accurate weight is obtained for a motor vehicle; and
(2) is authorized to revoke or rescind the authority of:
(A) a weight enforcement officer who fails to comply with those rules; or
(B) weight enforcement officers of a municipal police department, sheriff's department, or constable's office that fails to comply with those rules.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 644.101(b), Transportation Code, to include a municipality located in a county with a population between 60,000 and 66,000 adjacent to a bay connected to the Gulf of Mexico among certain enumerated municipalities in which a police officer of the municipality is eligible to apply for a certification to enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. Makes a nonsubstantive change.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.