By: Phelan H.B. No. 2774

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the installation of unsafe motor vehicle tires; creating a criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 727, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 727.005 to read as follows:

Sec. 727.005. INSTALLATION OF UNSAFE TIRES; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if:

(1) the person owns or operates a business that installs tires on motor vehicles;

(2) the person or an employee of the person installs a tire on a motor vehicle to be used on a public street or highway;

(3) the tire is or will be subject to inspection under Section 548.051; and

(4) the person knows that the tire:

(A) has tire tread less than one-sixteenth of an inch deep;

(B) has a localized worn spot that exposes the ply or cord through the tread;

(C) has a tread or sidewall crack, cut, or snag as measured on the outside of the tire that is more than one inch long and deep enough to expose the body cords;

(D) has any visible bump, bulge, or knot apparently related to tread or sidewall separation or partial failure of the tire structure, including bead area;

(E) has been regrooved or recut below the original groove depth, except for a special regroovable tire that has extra undertread rubber for that purpose and is identified as a regroovable tire;

(F) has been repaired temporarily by the use of a blowout patch or boot;

(G) has worn tread wear indicators that contact the road in any two adjacent major grooves in the center or middle of the tire; or

(H) does not otherwise meet applicable Department of Public Safety safety standards for the tire adopted under Section 547.101.

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.