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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of |
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reckless driving. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 545.401, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (e) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (b-1), an [An] offense under this |
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section is a misdemeanor punishable by: |
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(1) a fine not to exceed $200; |
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(2) confinement in county jail for not more than 30 |
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days; or |
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(3) both the fine and the confinement. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), an offense under this |
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section is a Class B misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the |
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offense that: |
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(1) as a result of the offense the person caused a |
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collision and another person suffered bodily injury as a result of |
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the collision; and |
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(2) at the time of the offense the person was operating |
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the vehicle: |
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(A) at a speed of 20 miles per hour or more over |
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the posted speed limit in an urban district; |
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(B) at a speed of 30 miles per hour or more over |
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the posted speed limit outside of an urban district; or |
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(C) while using a portable wireless |
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communication device. |
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(e) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this |
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section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor |
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may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |