85R6003 JTS-D
 
  By: Watson S.B. No. 1652
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the designation of an area of highway by a municipality
  as an immediate removal area.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 683.002(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  For the purposes of this chapter, a motor vehicle is
  abandoned if the motor vehicle:
               (1)  is inoperable, is more than five years old, and has
  been left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours;
               (2)  has remained illegally on public property for more
  than 48 hours;
               (3)  has remained on private property without the
  consent of the owner or person in charge of the property for more
  than 48 hours;
               (4)  has been left unattended on the right-of-way of a
  designated county, state, or federal highway for more than 48
  hours;
               (5)  has been left unattended for more than 24 hours on
  the right-of-way of a turnpike project constructed and maintained
  by the Texas Turnpike Authority division of the Texas Department of
  Transportation or a controlled access highway; [or]
               (6)  is considered an abandoned motor vehicle under
  Section 644.153(r); or
               (7)  is unattended in an area designated by a
  municipality as an immediate removal area as provided by Section
  683.004.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 683, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 683.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 683.004.  DESIGNATION OF IMMEDIATE REMOVAL AREAS. (a)
  A municipality may designate a segment of highway in the
  municipality's jurisdiction as an area in which the immediate
  removal of unattended vehicles is necessary to prevent traffic
  safety hazards.
         (b)  A municipality that makes a designation under
  Subsection (a) must post signs in the area providing conspicuous
  notice that the area is an immediate removal area and that
  unattended vehicles may be immediately towed.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.