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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the installation of unsafe motor vehicle tires; |
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creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 727, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 727.005 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 727.005. INSTALLATION OF UNSAFE TIRES; OFFENSE. (a) A |
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person commits an offense if: |
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(1) the person owns or operates a business that |
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installs tires on motor vehicles; |
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(2) the person or an employee of the person installs a |
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tire on a motor vehicle to be used on a public street or highway; |
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(3) the tire is or will be subject to inspection under |
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Section 548.051; and |
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(4) the person knows that the tire: |
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(A) has tire tread less than one-sixteenth of an |
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inch deep; |
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(B) has a localized worn spot that exposes the |
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ply or cord through the tread; |
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(C) has a tread or sidewall crack, cut, or snag as |
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measured on the outside of the tire that is more than one inch long |
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and deep enough to expose the body cords; |
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(D) has any visible bump, bulge, or knot |
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apparently related to tread or sidewall separation or partial |
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failure of the tire structure, including bead area; |
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(E) has been regrooved or recut below the |
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original groove depth, except for a special regroovable tire that |
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has extra undertread rubber for that purpose and is identified as a |
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regroovable tire; |
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(F) has been repaired temporarily by the use of a |
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blowout patch or boot; |
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(G) has worn tread wear indicators that contact |
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the road in any two adjacent major grooves in the center or middle |
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of the tire; or |
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(H) does not otherwise meet applicable |
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Department of Public Safety safety standards for the tire adopted |
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under Section 547.101. |
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(b) This section does not apply to the reinstallation of a |
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tire on a motor vehicle that had been removed from the motor |
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vehicle. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor |
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punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |