HBA-AMW H.B. 620 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 620
By: Capelo
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, drivers ticketed for speeding up to 24 miles per hour
(mph) over the speed limit are allowed to take a defensive driving course
to avoid having the ticket affect their automobile insurance rates. Under
the current speed limit of 70 mph on many Texas roads, a driver may drive
up to 94 mph and still be eligible to take a defensive driving course and
have the speeding ticket removed from the driver's record.  House Bill 620
provides that a speeding offense is ineligible for dismissal of a charge on
completion of a driving safety course if the offense is for speeding 20,
rather than 25, miles per hour over the posted speed limit.   

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 620 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to speeding
offenses eligible for dismissal of a charge on completion of a driving
safety course.  The bill provides that a speeding offense is ineligible if
the offense is for speeding 20, rather than 25, miles per hour or more over
the posted speed limit. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.