September 1, 2017. RULES RELATING TO SCHOOL BUSES. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lamps. 693), Sec. (a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with video receiving equipment, including a television, a digital video disc player, a videocassette player, or similar equipment, only if the equipment is located so that the video display is not visible from the operator's seat unless the vehicle's transmission is in park or the vehicle's parking brake is applied. 12(2), eff. Brake lights: Clear, unobtrusive lenses are legal. All motor vehicles are required to have functioning stop lamp (s), as applicable to the number Blackout. (C) emit a light visible at a distance of 500 feet in normal sunlight. Sec. In this subsection, "school" means a privately or publicly supported elementary or secondary school, day-care center, preschool, or institution of higher education and includes a church if the church is engaged in providing formal education. (c) Reflective tape or paint may be used as an alternative to the reflectors required by this section if the alternative complies with the other requirements of this section. Sec. (2-b) "Highway maintenance or construction vehicle" means a highway or traffic maintenance or construction vehicle designated by the Texas Department of Transportation. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps. 547.353. 2837), Sec. (2) displayed when the vehicle service brake is applied. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. (d) A person who violates this section commits an offense. 547.202. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. (b) A truck or truck-tractor that has at least three axles is not required to have brakes on the front wheels, but must have brakes that: (1) operate on the wheels of one steerable axle if the vehicle is equipped with at least two steerable axles; and. (c) A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer that is equipped with an air or vacuum reservoir or reserve capacity shall be equipped with a check valve or equivalent device to prevent depletion of the air or vacuum supply by failure or leakage. 280 (H.B. September 1, 2018. 1 Is it safe and legal to cover just the light in the rear of my car with the red rear light tape in order to get it covered, or do I need to actually cover where the whole cover for the light was in order to be legal? (1) duplicate a standard of the United States that applies to the same aspect of vehicle equipment performance as the department standard; or. 547.331. (5) at least one rear red reflector that complies with the requirements of Section 547.325(b) and may be included as a part of the taillamp. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. (c) Auxiliary driving lamps may be used with headlamps as specified by Section 547.333. 547.102. 547.7015. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 2837), Sec. September 1, 2019. 11 (H.B. LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS ON PARKED VEHICLES. (c) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a vehicle that tows another vehicle as a commodity when at least one set of wheels of the towed vehicle is on the roadway. 10, eff. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. Tail Lamp: 2 red: rear: one on each side: A,B,C,D, E,F,G,H: Stop Lamp: 2 3171), Sec. Texas Administrative Code. Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes, a free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. (b) A truck-tractor or truck used to tow a vehicle equipped with vacuum brakes, or a truck with at least three axles that is equipped with vacuum brakes, shall be equipped with a warning signal, other than a gauge showing vacuum, that is readily audible or visible to the vehicle operator and that shows when the vacuum in the reservoir or reserve capacity is less than eight inches of mercury. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF BRAKES. 1318, Sec. Sec. Tail lamps Required 547.323. 1548), Sec. 165, Sec. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. (c) Except as provided by this section, an authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with signal lamps that: (1) are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable; (2) display four alternately flashing red lights, two located on the front at the same level and two located on the rear at the same level; and. This would mean that, subjectively (or in the eyes of the law enforcement person), all illuminated license plate frames - especially the neon ones, are NOT LEGAL. 860 (H.B. STOPLAMPS REQUIRED. (2) does not install a label that complies with Section 547.609 between the transparent material and the windshield or side or rear window of the vehicle, as applicable. 547.408. 4, eff. (d) A lighted headlamp on a parked vehicle shall be dimmed. June 15, 2007. (1) designed to operate continuously as required once applied, despite a leakage or an exhaustion of power source; and. 547.617. DEPARTMENT CERTIFICATION OR APPROVAL OF VEHICLE EQUIPMENT. (1) a windshield that has a sunscreening device that: (A) in combination with the windshield has a light transmission of 25 percent or more; (B) in combination with the windshield has a luminous reflectance of 25 percent or less; (D) does not extend downward beyond the AS-1 line or more than five inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is closer to the top of the windshield; (2) a wing vent or a window that is to the left or right of the vehicle operator if the vent or window has a sunscreening device that in combination with the vent or window has: (A) a light transmission of 25 percent or more; and. Sec. 2810), Sec. On a motor vehicle that was manufactured before 1959, the taillight or the taillight assembly, if the taillight is combined with another light, may contain a blue or purple insert of not more than one inch in diameter. (4) hazard lamps as described in Section 547.331, which shall be lighted and visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 1,000 feet from the front and rear. 882 (H.B. (b) An auxiliary driving lamp shall be mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height from 16 to 42 inches. 329), Sec. September 1, 2021. (a) An authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren, exhaust whistle, or bell: (1) of a type approved by the department; and. Sec. (e) A person may not operate a highway maintenance or construction vehicle or service vehicle that is not equipped with lamps or that does not display lighted lamps as required by the standards and specifications adopted by the Texas Department of Transportation. For clear taillight lenses to be legal, they must consist of the following components: All motor vehicles are required to have functioning stop lamp (s), as applicable to the number of stop lamp (s) equipped on the vehicle at the time the vehicle was originally manufactured. (2) may not carry in the vehicle a flare, fusee, or signal produced by flame. (2) does not install an airbag or installs a counterfeit airbag. Sec. 183, Sec. 547.609. For instance, the trailer typically must be as narrow as 8 or 8 1/2 feet. WebTo comply with Texas law, you must flip on your headlights from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. SUBCHAPTER J. (f) If a recording device is used as part of a subscription service, the subscription service agreement must disclose that the device may record or transmit information as described by Subsection (a)(2). Laws, Penalties and Restitution Definitions Means and Methods Restricted Areas in Counties Special Regulations Nongame & Other Regulations Air Gun and Arrow Gun Regulations Migratory Game Bird Regulations Fur-bearing Animal Regulations After Harvest After Harvesting a Deer or Pronghorn Tagging Deer Tagging Turkey Mandatory Harvest Reporting September 1, 2019. 12, eff. (f) A stoplamp may be included as a part of another rear lamp. (d) Subsection (c) does not apply to an offense involving a commercial motor vehicle. (a) A motorcycle or a moped shall be equipped with: (1) not more than two headlamps mounted at a height from 24 to 54 inches; (2) at least one taillamp mounted at a height from 20 to 72 inches; (3) a taillamp or separate lamp to illuminate the rear license plate that complies with the requirements of Sections 547.322(f) and (g); (4) at least one stoplamp that complies with the requirements of Section 547.323(d); and. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1, eff. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR BRAKES. RESTRICTIONS ON USE AND SALE OF TIRES. (a) A vehicle required to have brakes by this subchapter, other than special mobile equipment, shall be equipped with service brakes that: (1) comply with the performance requirements of this subchapter; and. These lights must be red in color and be mounted on the rear of the trailer, as far apart as possible. BRAKE EQUIPMENT. 892 (H.B. 547.614. 67 (S.B. For text effective December 13, 2021, see below.] Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person may not remove, damage, destroy, misplace, or extinguish a warning device required under Sections 547.502-547.507 when the device is being displayed or used as required. 1136 (H.B. 908 (S.B. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR OTHER BUSES. 1, eff. (a) The engine and power mechanism of a motor vehicle shall be equipped and adjusted to prevent the escape of excessive smoke or fumes. (a) A motor vehicle lamp or illuminating device, other than a headlamp, spotlamp, auxiliary lamp, turn signal lamp, or emergency vehicle, tow truck, or school bus warning lamp, that projects a beam with an intensity brighter than 300 candlepower shall be directed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam strikes the roadway at a distance of more than 75 feet from the vehicle. (b) A motor vehicle specially designed as a mobile unit used by a licensed television station may have video receiving equipment located so that the video display is visible from the operator's side, but the receiver may be used only when the vehicle is stopped. 547.355. (b) This section applies to a truck, bus, truck-tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer at least 80 inches wide or at least 30 feet long. 547.405. HEADLAMPS REQUIRED. 3832), Sec. June 14, 2019. Additional information on lighting can be found in the Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 547, Subchapters D & E. The inspection criteria for tail lamps states: "Tail lamp. September 1, 2019. APPLICABILITY. 1, eff. (a) A person may appeal an order entered under Section 547.207 to a district court in Travis County only if a hearing was held by the department and the person: (2) appeared at the hearing on compliance. 20.021, eff. 809 (H.B. MINIMUM LIGHTING EQUIPMENT REQUIRED. (c) A tire used on a moving vehicle may not have on its periphery a block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or other protuberance of a material other than rubber that projects beyond the tread of the traction surface, unless the protuberance: (2) is a tire chain of reasonable proportion that is used as required for safety because of a condition that might cause the vehicle to skid. The director shall adopt standards and specifications that: (1) apply to the color, size, and mounting position of a slow-moving-vehicle emblem; and. (2) the ground below the motorcycle or moped. 9.02, eff. (c) The department may not require a manufacturer of a vehicle or of an item of vehicle equipment subject to a motor vehicle safety standard of the United States to use an outside laboratory or a specified laboratory.