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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the exhaust emission systems of certain diesel-powered |
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motor vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 547.605, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read as |
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follows: |
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(c) The owner or operator of a motor vehicle or motor |
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vehicle engine, of a model year after 1967, that is equipped with an |
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exhaust emission system: |
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(1) shall maintain the system in good working |
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condition; |
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(2) shall use the system when the motor vehicle or |
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motor vehicle engine is operated; [and] |
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(3) may not remove the system or a part of the system |
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or intentionally make the system inoperable in this state, unless |
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the owner or operator removes the system or part to install another |
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system or part intended to be equally effective in reducing |
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atmospheric emissions; and |
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(4) if the motor vehicle is a diesel-powered passenger |
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car or light truck, may not modify or reprogram the system or a part |
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of the system in a manner that the owner or operator knows or should |
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know will increase the motor vehicle's capacity to emit soot, |
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smoke, or other particulate matter. |
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(f) A court shall: |
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(1) dismiss a charge for a first offense under |
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Subsection (c)(4) if the defendant: |
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(A) after the date of the citation and before the |
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defendant's first court appearance date, obtains all inspections |
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required to be conducted annually for the vehicle under Chapter |
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548; and |
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(B) submits to the court a passing vehicle |
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inspection report from those inspections for the vehicle; and |
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(2) assess an administrative fee not to exceed $20 |
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when the charge has been remedied under Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |