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.