INTRODUCED
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HOUSE COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE
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SECTION 1. The heading to
Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Transportation Code, is amended to read as
follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. GOLF CARTS [AND
UTILITY VEHICLES]
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 2. Section 551.401,
Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 551.401. DEFINITIONS.
In this subchapter, "golf [:
[(1) "Golf]
cart" and "public highway" have the meanings assigned by
Section 502.001.
[(2) "Utility vehicle"
means a motor vehicle that is not a golf cart or lawn mower and is:
[(A) equipped with
side-by-side seating for the use of the operator and a passenger;
[(B) designed to propel
itself with at least four tires in contact with the ground;
[(C) designed by the
manufacturer for off-highway use only; and
[(D) designed by the
manufacturer primarily for utility work and not for recreational purposes.]
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 3. Sections
551.404(a-1) and (b), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a-1) In addition to the
operation authorized by Section 551.403, the commissioners court of a
county described by Subsection (a-2) may allow an operator to operate a
golf cart [or utility vehicle] on all or part of a public highway
that:
(1) is located in the
unincorporated area of the county; and
(2) has a speed limit of not
more than 35 miles per hour.
(b) A golf cart [or
utility vehicle] operated under this section must have the following
equipment:
(1) headlamps;
(2) taillamps;
(3) reflectors;
(4) a parking brake;
and
(5) mirrors.
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No
equivalent provision
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SECTION 4. Subchapter F,
Chapter 551, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 551.406 to
read as follows:
Sec. 551.406. RULES IN
MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES. A master planned community may adopt
reasonable safety and maintenance rules for the operation of a golf cart in
that community.
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 5. Chapter 551,
Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. COMMERCIAL UTILITY VEHICLES
Sec. 551.451.
DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Commercial utility vehicle" means a motor
vehicle that is not a golf cart or lawn mower and is:
(A) equipped with side-by-side seating for use by the operator
and a passenger;
(B) designed to propel itself with at least four tires in
contact with the ground;
(C) designed by the manufacturer for on- or off-highway use;
and
(D) designed by the manufacturer primarily for commercial
utility work and not for recreational purposes.
(2) "Golf cart"
and "public highway"
have the meanings assigned by Section 502.001.
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SECTION 1. Chapter 551,
Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. PACKAGE DELIVERY VEHICLES
Sec. 551.451.
DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "All-terrain vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
Section 502.001.
(2) "Golf cart"
has the meaning assigned by Section 502.001.
(3) "Motor carrier" has the meaning assigned by
Section 643.001.
(4) "Neighborhood electric vehicle" has the meaning
assigned by Section 551.301.
(5) "Public highway" has the meaning assigned by
Section 502.001.
(6) "Recreational off-highway vehicle" has the
meaning assigned by Section 502.001.
(7) "Utility vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
Section 551.401.
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Sec. 551.452. REGISTRATION. (a) The Texas Department of Motor
Vehicles may register a commercial utility vehicle for operation on public
highways in accordance with this subchapter.
(b) The Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles may issue license plates for a commercial utility vehicle as authorized by Subsection (c).
(c) The Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles by rule shall establish a procedure to issue the license plates
to be used for operation in accordance with this subchapter.
(d) The Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles may charge a fee not to exceed $25 for the cost of the
license plates.
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(See Sec. 551.453(b),
below)
Sec. 551.452. LICENSE PLATES FOR PACKAGE DELIVERY VEHICLES.
(a) The Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles may issue distinguishing
license plates for a vehicle operated by
a motor carrier for the purpose of picking up and delivering mail, parcels,
and packages if the vehicle:
(1) is:
(A) an all-terrain vehicle;
(B) a golf cart;
(C) a neighborhood electric vehicle;
(D) a recreational off-highway vehicle; or
(E) a utility vehicle; and
(2) is equipped with headlamps, taillamps, reflectors, a
parking brake, and mirrors, in addition to any other equipment required by
law.
(b) The Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles by rule shall establish a procedure to issue the license
plates to be used only for operation in accordance with this subchapter.
(c) The license plates must include the words "Package
Delivery."
(d) The Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles may charge a license plate fee not to exceed $25 annually to be deposited to the credit of the
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
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Sec. 551.453. LIMITED OPERATION. (a) An operator may operate
a commercial utility vehicle:
(1) in a master planned community:
(A) that has in place a uniform set of restrictive covenants;
and
(B) for which a county or municipality has approved a plat; or
(2) on a public or private beach.
(b) An operator who is an employee or agent of a political
subdivision may operate a commercial utility vehicle that is owned by the
political subdivision on any public highway.
(See Sec. 551.452(a),
above)
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Sec. 551.453. LIMITED OPERATION. (a) A motor carrier may
operate, for the purpose of picking up or delivering mail, parcels, or
packages, a vehicle bearing license plates issued under Section 551.452 on
a public highway that is not an interstate or a limited-access or
controlled-access highway and that has a speed limit of not more than 35
miles per hour.
(b) The Department of Motor Vehicles may not require the
registration of a vehicle operated under Subsection (a) unless the
registration is required by other law.
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No
equivalent provision.
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Sec. 551.454. OPERATION
ON PROPERTY OF SUBDIVISION OR CONDOMINIUM. (a) In this section:
(1)
"Condominium" has the meaning assigned by Section 82.003,
Property Code.
(2)
"Declaration" has the meaning assigned by Section 82.003,
Property Code.
(3) "Property
owners' association" has the meaning assigned by Section 202.001,
Property Code.
(4)
"Restrictions" has the meaning assigned by Section 209.002,
Property Code.
(5)
"Subdivision" has the meaning assigned by Section 209.002,
Property Code.
(b) A property owners'
association may adopt reasonable safety and use rules for the operation,
for the purpose of picking up or delivering mail, parcels, or packages, of
a vehicle bearing license plates issued under Section 551.452 on the
property of a subdivision or condominium managed or regulated by the
association.
(c) A motor carrier may
operate, for the purpose of picking up or delivering mail, parcels, or
packages, a vehicle bearing license plates issued under Section 551.452 on
the property of a subdivision subject to restrictions or a condominium that
has in place a declaration, in a manner that complies with any applicable
rules adopted by a property owners' association that manages or regulates
the subdivision or condominium.
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Sec. 551.454. OPERATION IN
MUNICIPALITIES AND CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In addition to the operation
authorized by Section 551.453, the
governing body of a municipality may allow an
operator to operate a commercial utility vehicle on all or part of a public
highway that:
(1) is in the corporate
boundaries of the municipality; and
(2) has a posted speed
limit of not more than 35 miles per hour.
(b) In addition to the operation authorized by Section
551.453, the commissioners court of a
county described by Subsection (c) may allow an operator to operate a
commercial utility vehicle on all or part of a public highway that:
(1) is located in the
unincorporated area of the county; and
(2) has a speed limit of
not more than 35 miles per hour.
(c) Subsection (b) applies only to a county that:
(1) borders or contains a portion of the Red River;
(2) borders or contains a portion of the Guadalupe River and
contains a part of a barrier island that borders the Gulf of Mexico; or
(3) is adjacent to a county described by Subdivision (2) and:
(A) has a population of less than 30,000; and
(B) contains a part of a barrier island that borders the Gulf
of Mexico.
(d) A commercial utility vehicle operated under this section
must have the following equipment:
(1) headlamps;
(2) taillamps;
(3) reflectors;
(4) a parking brake; and
(5) mirrors.
Sec. 551.455. CROSSING
CERTAIN ROADWAYS. A commercial utility
vehicle may cross intersections, including on or through a road or
street that has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
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Sec. 551.455. OPERATION
IN MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES. (a) In addition to the operation
authorized by Sections 551.453 and
551.454, the governing body of a municipality may allow a motor carrier to operate, for the purpose of
picking up or delivering mail, parcels, or packages, a vehicle bearing
license plates issued under Section 551.452 on all or part of a public
highway that:
(1) is in the corporate
boundaries of the municipality; and
(2) has a speed limit of
not more than 35 miles per hour.
(b) In addition to the operation authorized by Sections
551.453 and 551.454, a county
commissioners court may allow a motor carrier to operate, for the purpose
of picking up or delivering mail, parcels, or packages, a vehicle bearing
license plates issued under Section 551.452 on all or part of a public
highway that:
(1) is located in the
unincorporated area of the county; and
(2) has a speed limit of
not more than 35 miles per hour.
Sec. 551.456. CROSSING
CERTAIN ROADWAYS. A vehicle bearing
license plates issued under Section 551.452 may cross intersections,
including on or through a road or street that has a speed limit of more
than 35 miles per hour.
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No
equivalent provision.
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Sec. 551.457. CONFLICTS.
In the case of a conflict between this subchapter and other law, including
Chapters 502 and 663, this subchapter controls.
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Sec. 551.456. RULES IN
MASTER PLANNED COMMUNITIES. A master planned community may adopt
reasonable safety and maintenance rules for the operation of a commercial
utility vehicle in that community.
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No
equivalent provision.
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SECTION 6. This Act takes
effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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SECTION 2. Same as introduced
version.
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