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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of certain vehicles used for package |
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delivery; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 551, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. PACKAGE DELIVERY VEHICLES |
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Sec. 551.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "All-terrain vehicle" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 502.001. |
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(2) "Golf cart" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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502.001. |
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(3) "Motor carrier" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 643.001. |
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(4) "Neighborhood electric vehicle" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 551.301. |
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(5) "Public highway" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 502.001. |
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(6) "Recreational off-highway vehicle" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 502.001. |
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(7) "Utility vehicle" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 551.401. |
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Sec. 551.452. LICENSE PLATES FOR PACKAGE DELIVERY VEHICLES. |
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(a) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may issue |
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distinguishing license plates for a vehicle operated by a motor |
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carrier for the purpose of picking up and delivering mail, parcels, |
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and packages if the vehicle: |
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(1) is: |
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(A) an all-terrain vehicle; |
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(B) a golf cart; |
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(C) a neighborhood electric vehicle; |
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(D) a recreational off-highway vehicle; or |
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(E) a utility vehicle; and |
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(2) is equipped with headlamps, taillamps, |
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reflectors, a parking brake, and mirrors, in addition to any other |
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equipment required by law. |
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(b) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles by rule shall |
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establish a procedure to issue the license plates to be used only |
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for operation in accordance with this subchapter. |
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(c) The license plates must include the words "Package |
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Delivery." |
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(d) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may charge a |
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license plate fee not to exceed $25 annually to be deposited to the |
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credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund. |
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Sec. 551.453. LIMITED OPERATION. (a) A motor carrier may |
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operate, for the purpose of picking up or delivering mail, parcels, |
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or packages, a vehicle bearing license plates issued under Section |
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551.452 on a public highway that is not an interstate or a |
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limited-access or controlled-access highway and that has a speed |
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limit of not more than 35 miles per hour. |
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(b) The Department of Motor Vehicles may not require the |
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registration of a vehicle operated under Subsection (a) unless the |
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registration is required by other law. |
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Sec. 551.454. OPERATION ON PROPERTY OF SUBDIVISION OR |
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CONDOMINIUM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Condominium" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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82.003, Property Code. |
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(2) "Declaration" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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82.003, Property Code. |
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(3) "Property owners' association" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 202.001, Property Code. |
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(4) "Restrictions" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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209.002, Property Code. |
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(5) "Subdivision" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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209.002, Property Code. |
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(b) A property owners' association may adopt reasonable |
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safety and use rules for the operation, for the purpose of picking |
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up or delivering mail, parcels, or packages, of a vehicle bearing |
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license plates issued under Section 551.452 on the property of a |
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subdivision or condominium managed or regulated by the association. |
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(c) A motor carrier may operate, for the purpose of picking |
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up or delivering mail, parcels, or packages, a vehicle bearing |
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license plates issued under Section 551.452 on the property of a |
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subdivision subject to restrictions or a condominium that has in |
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place a declaration, in a manner that complies with any applicable |
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rules adopted by a property owners' association that manages or |
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regulates the subdivision or condominium. |
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Sec. 551.455. OPERATION IN MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES. |
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(a) In addition to the operation authorized by Sections 551.453 and |
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551.454, the governing body of a municipality may allow a motor |
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carrier to operate, for the purpose of picking up or delivering |
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mail, parcels, or packages, a vehicle bearing license plates issued |
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under Section 551.452 on all or part of a public highway that: |
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(1) is in the corporate boundaries of the |
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municipality; and |
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(2) has a speed limit of not more than 35 miles per |
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hour. |
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(b) In addition to the operation authorized by Sections |
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551.453 and 551.454, a county commissioners court may allow a motor |
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carrier to operate, for the purpose of picking up or delivering |
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mail, parcels, or packages, a vehicle bearing license plates issued |
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under Section 551.452 on all or part of a public highway that: |
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(1) is located in the unincorporated area of the |
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county; and |
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(2) has a speed limit of not more than 35 miles per |
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hour. |
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Sec. 551.456. CROSSING CERTAIN ROADWAYS. A vehicle bearing |
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license plates issued under Section 551.452 may cross |
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intersections, including on or through a road or street that has a |
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speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. |
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Sec. 551.457. CONFLICTS. In the case of a conflict between |
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this subchapter and other law, including Chapters 502 and 663, this |
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subchapter controls. |
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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, 2017. |