OUR TEXASS GOVERNMENT AT WORK.....


Subject: Legislative overkill: HB 652

This has been set for a public hearing on 3-20-07:

The bill doubles penalties on any other infractions if a driver is "reading"
- - and that could mean reading a stop sign. It also covers use of 2 way radios,
and the operation of 'computers,' such as those that show odometer readings or gas mileage.
It's a 'dream bill' for local authorities who are 'speed trap' minded.

COMMITTEE:
   Transportation

TIME & DATE:
   8:00 AM, Tuesday, March 20, 2007

PLACE:
   E2.012

CHAIR:
   Rep. Mike Krusee


Committee members:


The proposal:




80R2236 JRJ-D
   
   By: Quintanilla H.B. No. 652

   
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the penalty for an offense committed during the
inattentive operation of a motor vehicle.
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
        SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 542, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 542.405 to read as follows:
        Sec. 542.405. INATTENTIVE DRIVING; FINE FOR OFFENSE. (a)   
An offense under this subtitle is punishable by a fine that is at
least twice the minimum fine applicable to the offense and not more
than twice the maximum fine that is applicable to the offense if the
person who commits the offense is at the time of the offense
operating a motor vehicle while:
               (1) reading;
               (2) writing;
               (3) performing personal grooming;
               (4) consuming food or a beverage;
               (5) interacting with a pet;
              (6) interacting with a vehicle passenger;
              (7) using a personal communications device; or
               (8) engaging in another activity that prevents the
operator from safely operating the motor vehicle.
        (b) For the purposes of this section:
               (1) "Personal grooming" includes:
                     (A) applying makeup;
                     (B) shaving;
                     (C) combing hair; or
                     (D) attending to another personal hygiene or
appearance task.
               (2) "Personal communications device" includes:
                     (A) a radio;
                     (B) a personal stereo;
                     (C) a compact disc player;
                     (D) an audio or video device;
                     (E) a personal computer;
                     (F) a two-way radio, including a citizen's band
radio;
                     (G) a pager;
                     (H) a telephone;
                    (I) a wireless messaging device;
                     (J) a facsimile machine;
                     (K) a radar detector;
                    (L) a personal digital assistant;
                    (M) a geographic positioning system receiver; or
                     (N) a similar device.
        SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before
the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs
before that date.
        (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this
Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
        SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.



HB00652I

Yall better stick to drivin' the car. Do them Texas gals do a lot of shavin' while drivin'?
Scott
ranger32007-03-23 20:25:48

Ya sure, you betcha, with the fastest highway limits in the country those Texas gals better not be shavin under da arms at highway speeds, could cause some acidents, never mind the razor nicks..Sorry the penguin.. spielman52007-03-24 08:45:01

Man, if I ever make it down to Texas, I better take the bus. What if I gotta blow my nose or scratch myself.
They got a good one in Bangor, Maine.  If adults in a car are smoking and children are in the car, they can pull you over just for that and fine you. Now, I don't smoke and it bugs the crap out of me to see people smoking with kids in the back seat, but isn't Big Brother getting a little to BIG?
Up here the gals just braid it. Like to see em do that while driving.

Is it OK for the kids to smoke in the back seat while you are driving?

[QUOTE=dwright] Is it OK for the kids to smoke in the back seat while you are driving?[/QUOTE]


As long as they are strapped into their child safety seats, and the windows are down...