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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of vehicles transporting mobile cranes; |
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authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 621.102(d), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section |
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623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192, |
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623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.
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2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may |
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operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road |
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for which the executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation has set a maximum weight under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 621.301(e), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) A vehicle operating under a permit issued under Section |
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623.011, 623.071, 623.094, 623.121, 623.142, 623.181, 623.192, |
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623.212, [or] 623.321, or 623.402 [as added by Chapter 1135 (H.B.
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2741), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,] may |
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operate under the conditions authorized by the permit over a road |
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for which the commissioners court has set a maximum weight under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter U to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER U. MOBILE CRANES |
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Sec. 623.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mobile |
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crane" means a self-propelled vehicle that is: |
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(1) used solely to raise, shift, or lower heavy |
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weights by means of a projecting, swinging mast with an engine for |
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power on a chassis permanently constructed or assembled for that |
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purpose; and |
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(2) designed to be moved between operating locations |
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by transport over a roadway. |
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Sec. 623.402. PERMIT FOR VEHICLE TRANSPORTING MOBILE CRANE. |
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(a) The department shall issue a permit that authorizes the |
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operation of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting a |
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mobile crane at a gross weight that is not heavier than 100,000 |
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pounds. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), to qualify for a |
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permit under this subchapter, a permit fee of $1,000 must be paid. |
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(c) A permit issued under this subchapter: |
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(1) is valid for one year, except as provided by |
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Subsection (e); and |
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(2) must be carried in the vehicle for which it is |
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issued. |
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(d) A vehicle issued a permit under this subchapter may |
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operate on a state, county, or municipal road, including a |
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load-zoned county road or a frontage road adjacent to a federal |
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interstate highway, if the vehicle displays a sticker required by |
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Section 623.403 and does not exceed the maximum gross weight |
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authorized under Subsection (a). |
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(e) The department may issue a permit under this subchapter |
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that is valid for a period of less than one year. The department |
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shall prorate the applicable fee required by Subsection (b) for a |
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permit issued under this subsection as necessary to reflect the |
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term of the permit. |
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Sec. 623.403. PERMIT STICKER. (a) When the department |
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issues a permit under this subchapter, the department shall issue a |
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sticker to be placed on the front windshield of the vehicle. The |
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department shall design the form of the sticker to aid in the |
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enforcement of weight limits for vehicles. |
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(b) The sticker must: |
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(1) indicate the expiration date of the permit; and |
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(2) be removed from the vehicle when: |
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(A) the permit for operation of the vehicle |
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expires; |
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(B) a lease of the vehicle expires; or |
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(C) the vehicle is sold. |
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Sec. 623.404. COUNTY DESIGNATION. The department by rule |
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shall require an applicant under this subchapter to designate in |
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the permit application the counties in which the applicant intends |
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to operate. |
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Sec. 623.405. DISTRIBUTION OF FEE. Of the fee collected |
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under this subchapter for a permit, 50 percent of the amount |
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collected shall be divided among and distributed to the counties |
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designated under Section 623.404 in permit applications according |
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to department rule. |
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Sec. 623.406. CERTAIN COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ACTIONS |
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PROHIBITED. Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a |
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county or municipality may not require a permit, fee, or license for |
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the operation of a vehicle described by Section 623.402(a) in |
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addition to a permit, fee, or license required by state law. |
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Sec. 623.407. TIMES AND DAYS OF MOVEMENT. (a) Movement |
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authorized by a permit issued under this subchapter may be made on |
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any day, provided that in a county with a population of more than |
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300,000, movement may not be made between: |
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(1) 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.; and |
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(2) 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. |
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(b) The Texas Department of Transportation may limit the |
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hours for travel on certain routes because of heavy traffic |
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conditions. |
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(c) The Texas Department of Transportation shall publish |
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the limitation on movements prescribed by this section and the |
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limitations adopted under Subsection (b) and shall make the |
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publications available to the public. Each limitation adopted by |
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the Texas Department of Transportation must be made available to |
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the public before it takes effect. |
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Sec. 623.408. INTERSTATE AND DEFENSE HIGHWAYS. (a) This |
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subchapter does not authorize the operation on the national system |
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of interstate and defense highways in this state of a vehicle of a |
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size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section |
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127. |
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(b) If the United States authorizes the operation on the |
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national system of interstate and defense highways of a vehicle of a |
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size or weight greater than those permitted under 23 U.S.C. Section |
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127 on September 1, 2017, the new limit automatically takes effect |
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on the national system of interstate and defense highways in this |
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state. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |