HBA-TBM, CBW H.B. 162 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 162 By: Pickett Insurance 2/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current state law does not allow a vehicle to be impounded when the driver is involved in a traffic accident and fails to show proof of financial responsibility. However, some municipal police departments currently have policies in place that allow their officers to impound the vehicles of uninsured motorists. House Bill 162 creates a uniform law that allows peace officers to impound a vehicle when the driver is involved in a traffic accident and fails to show proof of financial responsibility. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 162 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a peace officer to impound a motor vehicle involved in an accident if a person operating a motor vehicle fails to provide evidence of financial responsibility. If an officer impounds a motor vehicle, the bill requires the officer to issue the person a written explanation as to how the owner or operator of the vehicle may recover the motor vehicle. The bill authorizes the release of a vehicle if the owner or operator provides evidence of financial responsibility showing that financial responsibility for the vehicle has been obtained since the accident and is valid and the owner or operator pays for the cost of impoundment. The bill authorizes the law enforcement agency to release the vehicle if the owner or operator provides evidence showing that on the date of impoundment, the motor vehicle was in compliance with provisions related to the requirement of financial responsibility or exceptions to financial responsibility, and provides that the owner or operator is not required to pay for the cost of the impoundment. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.