Title TN, Transportation Code

Sec. 545.358. AUTHORITY OF COMMANDING OFFICER OF UNITED STATES MILITARY RESERVATION TO ALTER SPEED LIMITS. The commanding officer of a United States military reservation, for a highway or part of a highway in the military reservation, including a highway of the state highway syst…

Sec. 545.359. CONFLICTING DESIGNATED SPEED LIMITS. An order of the Texas Transportation Commission declaring a speed limit on a part of a designated or marked route of the state highway system made under Section 545.353 or 545.362 supersedes any conflicting designated speed estab…

Sec. 545.360. DUTY OF TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. The chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission and the chairman of the State Board of Education shall provide assistance and information relevant to cons…

Sec. 545.361. SPECIAL SPEED LIMITATIONS. (a) An operator of a moped or a motorcycle equipped with a motor that has an engine piston displacement of 250 cubic centimeters or less may not drive at a speed of more than 35 miles per hour during the time specified by Section 547.302(a…

Sec. 545.362. TEMPORARY SPEED LIMITS. (a) Subject to Subsection (c), the Texas Transportation Commission may enter an order establishing prima facie speed limits of not more than 75 miles per hour applicable to all highways, including a turnpike under the authority of the Texas T…

Sec. 545.3625. CONFIDENTIALITY OF VIOLATION INFORMATION: FUEL CONSERVATION SPEED LIMIT. (a) If a person violates a maximum prima facie speed limit imposed under Section 545.362, as that law existed immediately before December 8, 1995, and the person was not traveling at a speed, …

Sec. 545.363. MINIMUM SPEED REGULATIONS. (a) An operator may not drive so slowly as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law. (b) When the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texa…

Sec. 545.364. SPEED LIMIT SIGNS AFTER CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE WORK ZONE. (a) In this section, "construction or maintenance work zone" has the meaning assigned by Section 472.022. (b) An entity that sets a lower speed limit on a road or highway in the state highway system for …

Sec. 545.365. SPEED LIMIT EXCEPTION FOR EMERGENCIES; MUNICIPAL REGULATION. (a) The regulation of the speed of a vehicle under this subchapter does not apply to: (1) an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a call; (2) a police patrol; or (3) a physician or ambulance respondi…

Sec. 545.401. RECKLESS DRIVING; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. (b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by: (1) a fine not to exceed $200; (2) confin…

Sec. 545.402. MOVING A PARKED VEHICLE. An operator may not begin movement of a stopped, standing, or parked vehicle unless the movement can be made safely. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 545.403. DRIVING THROUGH SAFETY ZONE. An operator may not drive through or in a safety zone. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 545.404. UNATTENDED MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an operator may not leave a vehicle unattended without: (1) stopping the engine; (2) locking the ignition; (3) removing the key from the ignition; (4) setting the parking brake effectively; and (5) …

Sec. 545.405. DRIVING ON MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY. An operator moving through a defile or canyon or on a mountain highway shall: (1) hold the vehicle under control and as near the right-hand edge of the highway as possible; and (2) on approaching a curve that obstructs the view of the hi…

Sec. 545.406. COASTING. (a) An operator moving on a downgrade may not coast with the gears or transmission of the vehicle in neutral. (b) An operator of a truck, tractor, or bus moving on a downgrade may not coast with the clutch disengaged. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1,…

Sec. 545.407. FOLLOWING OR OBSTRUCTING FIRE APPARATUS OR AMBULANCE. (a) An operator, unless on official business, may not follow closer than 500 feet a fire apparatus responding to a fire alarm or drive into or park the vehicle in the block where the fire apparatus has stopped to…

Sec. 545.408. CROSSING FIRE HOSE. An operator may not, without the consent of the fire department official in command, drive over an unprotected hose of a fire department if the hose is on a street or private driveway and is intended for use at a fire or alarm of fire. Acts 1995,…

Sec. 545.409. DRAWBARS AND TRAILER HITCHES; SADDLE-MOUNT TOWING. (a) The drawbar or other connection between a vehicle drawing another vehicle and the drawn vehicle: (1) must be strong enough to pull all weight drawn; and (2) may not exceed 15 feet between the vehicles except for…

Sec. 545.410. TOWING SAFETY CHAINS. (a) An operator of a passenger car or light truck may not draw a trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or another motor vehicle unless safety chains of a type approved by the department are attached in a manner approved by the department from th…

Sec. 545.411. USE OF REST AREA: OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person remains at a rest area for longer than 24 hours or erects a tent, shelter, booth, or structure at the rest area and the person: (1) has notice while conducting the activity that the activity is…

Sec. 545.412. CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEAT SYSTEMS; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger vehicle, transports a child who is younger than eight years of age, unless the child is taller than four feet, nine inches, and does not keep the child s…

Sec. 545.4121. DISMISSAL; OBTAINING CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEAT SYSTEM. (a) This section applies to an offense committed under Section 545.412. (b) It is a defense to prosecution of an offense to which this section applies that the defendant provides to the court evidence satisfa…

Sec. 545.413. SAFETY BELTS; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if: (1) the person: (A) is at least 15 years of age; (B) is riding in a passenger vehicle while the vehicle is being operated; (C) is occupying a seat that is equipped with a safety belt; and (D) is not secured …

Sec. 545.414. RIDING IN OPEN BEDS; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates an open-bed pickup truck or an open flatbed truck or draws an open flatbed trailer when a child younger than 18 years of age is occupying the bed of the truck or trailer. (b) An off…

Sec. 545.4145. RIDING IN OR ON BOAT OR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT DRAWN BY VEHICLE; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a highway or street when a child younger than 18 years of age is occupying a boat or personal watercraft being drawn by …

Sec. 545.415. BACKING A VEHICLE. (a) An operator may not back the vehicle unless the movement can be made safely and without interference with other traffic. (b) An operator may not back the vehicle on a shoulder or roadway of a limited-access or controlled-access highway. Acts 1…

Sec. 545.416. RIDING ON MOTORCYCLE OR MOPED. (a) An operator of a motorcycle or moped shall ride on the permanent and regular seat attached to the motorcycle or moped. (b) An operator may not carry another person on the motorcycle or moped, and a person who is not operating the m…

Sec. 545.4165. OPERATION OF CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES. A person may not operate a motorcycle described by Section 521.001(a)(6-a)(C)(vii) on a public highway for which the posted speed limit is more than 45 miles per hour, except that the operator may cross an intersection with a publi…

Sec. 545.417. OBSTRUCTION OF OPERATOR'S VIEW OR DRIVING MECHANISM. (a) An operator may not drive a vehicle when it is loaded so that, or when the front seat has a number of persons, exceeding three, so that: (1) the view of the operator to the front or sides of the vehicle is obs…

Sec. 545.418. OPENING VEHICLE DOORS. A person may not: (1) open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic, unless the door may be opened in reasonable safety without interfering with the movement of other traffic; or (2) leave a door on the side of a veh…

Sec. 545.419. RIDING IN HOUSE TRAILER. A person may not occupy a house trailer while it is being moved. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 545.4191. PERSON RIDING IN TRAILER OR SEMITRAILER DRAWN BY TRUCK, ROAD TRACTOR, OR TRUCK TRACTOR. (a) A person may not operate a truck, road tractor, or truck tractor when another person occupies a trailer or semitrailer being drawn by the truck, road tractor, or truck tract…

Sec. 545.420. RACING ON HIGHWAY; IMPOUNDMENT OF A VEHICLE. (a) A person may not participate in any manner in: (1) a race; (2) a vehicle speed competition or contest; (3) a drag race or acceleration contest; (4) a test of physical endurance of the operator of a vehicle; or (5) in …

Sec. 545.4205. INTERFERENCE WITH PEACE OFFICER INVESTIGATION OF HIGHWAY RACING OR RECKLESS DRIVING EXHIBITION; CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person uses the person's body, a car, or a barricade to knowingly impede or otherwise interfere with a peace off…

Sec. 545.421. FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE POLICE OFFICER; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle and wilfully fails or refuses to bring the vehicle to a stop or flees, or attempts to elude, a pursuing police vehicle when given a visual …

Sec. 545.422. CROSSING SIDEWALK OR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. (a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a sidewalk, sidewalk area, or hike and bike trail except on a permanent or authorized temporary driveway. (b) Subsection (a) does not prohibit the operation of a motor vehicle on…

Sec. 545.423. CROSSING PROPERTY. (a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle. (b) An operator may not cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, or business or …

Sec. 545.424. OPERATION OF VEHICLE BY PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. (a) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device, except in case of emergency. This subsection does not apply to a person licensed by the Federal Comm…

Sec. 545.425. USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE IN A SCHOOL CROSSING ZONE OR WHILE OPERATING A BUS WITH A MINOR PASSENGER; LOCAL AUTHORITY SIGN REQUIREMENTS; OFFENSE. (a) In this section: (1) "Hands-free device" means speakerphone capability, a telephone attachment, or another…

Sec. 545.4251. USE OF PORTABLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC MESSAGING; OFFENSE. (a) In this section: (1) "Electronic message" means data that is read from or entered into a wireless communication device for the purpose of communicating with another person. (2) "Wi…

Sec. 545.4252. USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY; OFFENSE. (a) In this section: (1) "Hands-free device" has the meaning assigned by Section 545.425. (2) "Wireless communication device" has the meaning assigned by Section 545.425. (b) Except as provided by Se…

Sec. 545.426. OPERATION OF SCHOOL BUS. (a) A person may not operate a school bus if: (1) the door of the school bus is open; or (2) the number of passengers on the bus is greater than the manufacturer's design capacity for the bus. (b) An operator of a school bus, while operating…

Sec. 545.427. OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH INSUFFICIENT UNDERCARRIAGE CLEARANCE. (a) An operator may not drive on or cross a railroad grade crossing unless the vehicle being operated has sufficient undercarriage clearance. (b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishabl…

Sec. 545.428. MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION INVOLVING PEDESTRIAN OR OTHER VULNERABLE ROAD USER WITHIN AREA OF CROSSWALK; OFFENSE. (a) In this section: (1) "Electric personal assistive mobility device" has the meaning assigned by Section 551.201. (2) "Golf cart" has the meaning assigned…

Sec. 545.429. OPERATION OF MINIATURE VEHICLE. (a) In this section, "miniature vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 502.001. (b) A person may operate a miniature vehicle on a public highway only if: (1) the vehicle has been registered and titled in accordance with the laws…

Sec. 545.451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Automated driving system" means hardware and software that, when installed on a motor vehicle and engaged, are collectively capable of operating the vehicle with Level 3 automation, Level 4 automation, or Level 5 automation by p…