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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation and inspection of mopeds; increasing a |
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fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 521.085(a) and (b), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except [Unless prohibited by Chapter 522, and except] as |
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provided by Subsection (b), Section 521.225, and Chapter 522, the |
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license holder may operate any vehicle of the type for which that |
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class of license is issued and any lesser type of vehicle other than |
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a motorcycle [or moped]. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit a license holder from |
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operating a lesser type of vehicle that is: |
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(1) a motorcycle described by Section 521.001(a)(6-a) |
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or an autocycle as defined by Section 501.008; [or] |
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(2) a type of motorcycle defined by the department |
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under Section 521.001(c) and designated by the department as |
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qualifying for operation under this section; or |
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(3) a moped. |
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SECTION 2. Section 521.122(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The department may include on the driver's license: |
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(1) an authorization to operate a motorcycle [or
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moped] if the license holder has met all requirements for a Class M |
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license; or |
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(2) an authorization for a person younger than 18 |
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years of age to operate a moped as provided by Section 521.225. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 521.225, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.225. MOPED AUTHORIZATION FOR PERSON YOUNGER THAN |
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18 YEARS OF AGE [LICENSE]. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 521.225(a) and (b), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person 15 years of age or older but under 18 years of |
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age may [not] operate a moped only if [unless] the person holds: |
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(1) a Class M license; or |
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(2) another class of [a] driver's license with an |
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authorization to operate a moped. [An applicant for a moped license
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must be 15 years of age or older.] |
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(b) The department may issue an authorization to operate a |
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moped to a person who: |
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(1) is 15 years of age or older but under 18 years of |
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age; and |
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(2) passes [The department shall administer to an
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applicant for a moped license] a written examination relating |
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specifically to the traffic laws applicable to the operation of |
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mopeds. [A test involving the operation of the vehicle is not
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required.] |
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SECTION 5. Section 522.029(f), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(f) If a commercial driver's license includes an |
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authorization to operate a motorcycle [or moped], the fee for the |
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driver's license is increased by $8. |
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SECTION 6. Section 522.041(e), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) The holder of a commercial driver's license or |
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commercial learner's permit may drive any vehicle in the class for |
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which the license or permit is issued and lesser classes of vehicles |
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except a motorcycle [or moped]. The holder may drive a motorcycle |
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only if authorization to drive a motorcycle is shown on the |
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commercial driver's license and the requirements for issuance of a |
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motorcycle license have been met. This subsection does not |
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prohibit a person from operating a lesser type of vehicle that is a |
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moped. |
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SECTION 7. Section 548.051(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A moped is subject to inspection in the same manner as a |
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motorcycle[, except that the only items of equipment required to be
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inspected are the brakes, headlamps, rear lamps, and reflectors,
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which must comply with the standards prescribed by Sections 547.408
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and 547.801]. |
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SECTION 8. Section 548.501(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Sections 548.503 and 548.504, the |
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fee for inspection of a motor vehicle [other than a moped] is |
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$12.50. [The fee for inspection of a moped is $5.75.] |
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SECTION 9. Section 521.225(c), Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 10. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Department |
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of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall: |
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(1) develop the written examination required by |
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Section 521.225(b), Transportation Code, as amended by this Act; |
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and |
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(2) adopt the rules necessary to implement Section |
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521.225, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |