| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a prohibition of certain motor vehicles resembling |
|
|
emergency medical services vehicles; creating a criminal offense. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 773, Health and Safety |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 773.017 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 773.017. USE OF CERTAIN EXTERNAL MOTOR VEHICLE |
|
|
MARKINGS OR FEATURES PROHIBITED; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) A person |
|
|
may not operate a motor vehicle in this state that resembles an |
|
|
emergency medical services vehicle unless the person uses the motor |
|
|
vehicle: |
|
|
(1) as an emergency medical services vehicle under |
|
|
this chapter; or |
|
|
(2) for other legitimate governmental functions, |
|
|
including police or firefighting services. |
|
|
(b) A motor vehicle resembles an emergency medical services |
|
|
vehicle if the motor vehicle has on the exterior of the motor |
|
|
vehicle any of the following markings or features: |
|
|
(1) the word "ambulance" or a derivation of that word; |
|
|
(2) a star of life as trademarked by the National |
|
|
Highway Traffic Safety Administration; |
|
|
(3) a Maltese cross commonly used by fire departments; |
|
|
(4) forward-facing flashing red, white, or blue |
|
|
lights; |
|
|
(5) a siren; |
|
|
(6) the words "critical care transport," "emergency," |
|
|
"emergency medical services," or "mobile intensive care unit"; or |
|
|
(7) the acronym "EMS" or "MICU". |
|
|
(c) A person commits an offense if the person violates this |
|
|
section. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor. |
|
|
(d) This section does not apply to a motor vehicle bearing a |
|
|
license plate issued or approved under Section 504.501 or 504.502, |
|
|
Transportation Code. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |