HBA-MSH H.B. 1679 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1679
By: Bosse
Transportation
7/25/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Vehicle weight restrictions apply on public highways outside a city and on
state-maintained highways within cities.  An operator is required to obtain
a permit before exceeding these restrictions.  Prior to the 77th
Legislature, a tow truck operator removing a heavy vehicle from the scene
of an accident at the behest of a city police officer could have been
issued a citation by a county or state law enforcement officer for
exceeding the weight restrictions.  House Bill 1679 exempts a tow truck
operator from the permit requirement if the operator is removing a vehicle
from the scene of an accident and towing the vehicle to the nearest place
of repair, terminal, or storage. 

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 1679 amends the Transportation Code to provide that tow truck
operators are not required to obtain a permit to exceed vehicle load weight
limitations if the tow truck provides services necessary to remove
disabled, abandoned, or accident-damaged vehicles and is towing another
vehicle or vehicle combination directly to the nearest authorized place of
repair, terminal, or vehicle storage facility.  The bill does not authorize
a person to operate a vehicle that exceeds federal weight limits on the
national system of interstate and defense highways in Texas. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

May 16, 2001.