School Bus Law
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.28.09 under Texas Laws
On Friday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed into law legislation passed by Congress that requires all Texas school buses purchased on or after September 1, 2010 to be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder seat belts for passengers.
Additionally, all charter (motorcoach) buses used by Texas schools to transport school children on or after September 1, 2014 must also be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder belts for passengers.
The new law is a result of the tragic school bus accident that occurred on March 29, 2006, near Devers, Texas, and took the life of two West Brook High School students and critically injured several others.
The law will be contingent on lawmakers finding the money to cover the school districts’ expenses for the seat belts. Sen. Eddie Lucio, a sponsor of the bill that Gov. Perry signed into law, does not believe finding the money will be an issue considering the vast resources in Texas.
Some school districts, including Beaumont and Galveston, have already begun installing three-point lap and shoulder belts on new school buses. Other school districts in Texas are also considering taking action before 2010.
New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, California and Florida have also all passed legislation requiring seat belts on school buses.
The passing of this law means our school children will be safer when traveling to/from school and school related events. Too many of our children have been virtually unprotected when involved in an accident where the school bus tipped or rolled over. In order to adequately protect bus occupants from sustaining serious injury or death in tip over and rollover crashes, you must keep them restrained to their seats. This law will implement a common sense approach motor vehicle safety that has been available in passenger cars for decades
Texas Child Passenger Law
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.28.09 under General Texas Defensive Driving
Texas child passenger safety laws require children younger than five years of age and less than 36 inches in height to ride in an approved car seat. Beginning September 1, 2009, a new law requires children under age 8 to ride in a booster seat, unless they are 4′9″ tall.
Additionally, Texas law states that during the operation of the vehicle, the child must be properly secured in the car seat or booster seat according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the safety seat system.
No more cell phones in school zones in Texas
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.28.09 under Texas Laws
Beginning September 1st Texas Motorists will now be required to adhere to more than just speed limits in school zones come the start of the new school year.
A new Texas law prohibits motorists from using wireless communication devices, like cell phones and PDAs, unless they are hands-free, in active school zones.
The law, which goes into effect September 1, states that the only exception to this would be if a person was making an emergency phone call to an emergency response service, hospital, fire or police department, health clinic, medical doctor’s office or an individual to administer first-aid treatment. The law won’t apply to operators of emergency vehicles acting in an official capacity or motorists licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate a radio frequency device.
Offenders of this law could face a fine of up to $200.
A new law targeting suspected Texas drunk drivers
[ No Comments ] Posted on 07.28.09 under Texas Laws
Prosecutors believe the new Texas law will help them put dangerous drunk drivers behind bars. But criminal defense attorneys warn that the price will be a major violation of personal privacy and your constitutional rights.
Sticking someone with a needle and forcing them to give blood can bring out some strong emotions. But a new law set to take effect on September 1 will allow police officers to do so even without a search warrant, if they encounter a suspected drunk driver who is a repeat offender, has a passenger under the age of 15 or has a passenger die.
The new law gives police officers unchecked discretion over whose blood they can test, creating more opportunities for abuse of power. Some believe that even innocent drivers will wind up charged with DWI while they wait months for test results to clear them.
When you get a driver’s license, the law states you consent to all this,
Prosecutors say blood test results will make it easier for them to keep the streets safe.
One District Attorney’s office states that this will “makes a huge difference in being able to obtain convictions against intoxicated drivers.”
Even though blood tests take longer to process, attorneys warn police officers will be more likely to use them whenever possible because they provide stronger evidence in court than a breathalyzer test.
Current law allows involuntary blood testing without a warrant only when there is an accident involving serious bodily injury or death.
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