HBA-MSH H.B. 3072 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3072
By: Chisum
Transportation
4/19/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Recent changes in automobile design have altered the size and position of
stoplamps and turn signal lamps in ways that may decrease the visibility of
those lamps.  Current law does not specify the size of these lamps, and for
stoplamps only specifies that it be mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
House Bill 3072 sets forth provisions relating to the size and position of
vehicle stoplamps and turn signal lamps. 

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 3072 amends the Transportation Code to require that a vehicle
stoplamp emit a red light that illuminates continuously while the vehicle
service brake is applied and deletes the requirement that a stoplamp may
also emit an amber light or a color between red and amber.  The bill
prohibits a single compartment stoplamp from having a functional lighted
lens area of less than 50 square centimeters.  If multiple compartment
lamps or multiple lamps are used, the bill prohibits each compartment or
lamp from having a functional lighted lens area of less than 22 square
centimeters. The bill requires certain vehicles to be equipped with a
high-mounted stoplamp that has an effective projected luminous area of at
least 4-1/2 square inches and specifies other requirements for the
high-mounted stoplamp. 

The bill prohibits a single compartment turn signal lamp from having a
functional lighted lens area of less than 50 square centimeters.  If
multiple compartment lamps or multiple lamps are used, the bill prohibits
each compartment or lamp from having a functional lighted lens area of less
than 22 square centimeters. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.