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


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1679
By: Bosse
Transportation
2/27/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current 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.  A tow truck operator
removing a heavy vehicle from the scene of an accident at the behest of a
city police officer could be 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

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.