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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study concerning enforcement of following distance |
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laws in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter Z to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 411.951. STUDY AND REPORT ON FOLLOWING DISTANCE |
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ENFORCEMENT. (a) The department shall conduct a study of the |
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incidence of, and costs associated with, drivers' failure to |
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maintain safe following distance as required by Section 545.062, |
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Transportation Code. At a minimum, the study must: |
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(1) determine whether current enforcement methods |
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adequately deter violations of Section 545.062, Transportation |
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Code; and |
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(2) make recommendations concerning ways to enhance |
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enforcement methods, if the department determines that current |
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enforcement methods are inadequate. |
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(b) In conducting the study described by Subsection (a), the |
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department may consider the use of technologies such as laser, |
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radar, or other electronic or mechanical devices that would enable |
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peace officers to measure the distance between two or more motor |
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vehicles in motion. |
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(c) Not later than January 15, 2017, the department shall |
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submit a report on the results of the study conducted under this |
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section to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the presiding officer of each standing |
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committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over transportation |
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matters. The report must: |
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(1) describe the impact that the recommendations made |
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under Subsection (a)(2), if any, have, or are predicted to have, on |
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the incidence of unsafe following distance in this state; and |
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(2) include recommendations for proposed legislation |
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appropriate to regulate or mitigate the use of the technologies |
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described by Subsection (b), if the recommendations made under |
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Subsection (a)(2) include the use of technologies described by |
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Subsection (b). |
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(d) This section expires August 31, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |