BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 511
86R6171 AAF-D	By: Rodr�guez
	Transportation
	4/4/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Concerned observers note the high incidence of motor vehicle accidents due to tire blowouts, tire thread separations, and bald tires. S.B. 511 seeks to prevent these tire-related accidents by creating an offense for the installation of tires that are considered to be unsafe or in violation of applicable safety standards adopted by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

As proposed, S.B. 511 amends current law relating to the installation of unsafe motor vehicle tires; creating a criminal offense.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 727, Transportation Code, by adding Section 727.005, as follows:

Sec. 727.005. INSTALLATION OF UNSAFE TIRES; OFFENSE. (a) Establishes that 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 (Vehicles and Equipment Subject to Inspection); 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 of the State of Texas safety standards for the tire adopted under Section 547.101 (Rules and Standards in General).

(b) Provides that this section does not apply to the reinstallation of a tire on a motor vehicle that had been removed from the motor vehicle.

(c) Establishes that an offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.